23

APR

Interview by Aurora Lucas      Some look to magazines and billboards to find inspiration. At Desafío, we seek the heroic in everyday people. Flor Moreno, a female whitewater raft guide working for usat Desafio, is surely one o..

01

DEC

Arenal Rafting River Clean Up and Adopt a Tree Team Building Programby Christine Larson-Krishnan, Community BuilderHigh school students from the Valle Azul (Blue Valley) Costa Rican public school went rafting on the Río Balsa for a Costa Rica raftin..

02

FEB

Vanessa Gets Lost in the Lost CanyonI started with Desafio in early 2015. The first tour I ever did was the Lost Canyon adventure. It was Saturday, April 25th and the weather was perfect. It was beautiful, clear and sunny. It was my first ever extrem..

21

SEP

Jason Rocks Gravity Falls by Jason Salas, Adventure Specialist My first tour and the best one we have is definitely Gravity Falls! The first time I went was in August and I got picked up at headquarters and the guides made the ride fun. I remember ..

11

NOV

A Second Family for Miguel in the Lost Canyon by Miguel, Canyoneering Guide My first and FAVORITE tour is the Lost Canyon. I did it the first time more than five years ago. I was living in Monteverde and actually moved where I was to be a guide in t..

27

SEP

Carlos plants a tree, falls in love with rafting by Carlos Oviedo – Desafio Finance Manager The first Desafio tour I did was the Rio Balsa right after I started working with the company in 2009. I was supposed to go out with the normal raftin..

31

JAN

Osvaldo Conquers His Fears on the MAMBO COMBO by Osvaldo VegaThe first tour I went on with Desafio was about a year and a half ago and it was the Mambo Combo. The two tours that our company is most famous for, rafting and canyoneering – combined in..

07

MAR

SMOOTH OPERATOR... by Tui Frye, Events Planner The other day I was thinking about just how unique we are at Desafio Adventure Company. I have been a wedding and events coordinator for many years in Costa Rica and part of my planning included sendin..

17

MAY

By Tui Frye A company policy at Desafio is that all staff and partners experience their key adventures. It is important part of the company culture and philosophy that everyone understands that it is an experience vs. a product that we are sell..

27

MAY

Doing what you love in Costa Rica - Getting to know Nature Guide Milton Muñoz by Christine Krishnan Every day I try to learn something new about someone on our Team Desafio. Chats around the coffee maker or lunch time reveal fascin..

29

JUL

By: Anjelica Veca   By far one of the more exciting and physically engaging tours offered by Desafío, the Gravity Falls tour is an eclectic mix of waterfall rappelling, rock climbing, hiking, swimming, Tarzan swinging, and, of course, c..

04

AUG

By: Anjelica Veca   I have had the very good fortune of being able to spend a hefty amount of time in Costa Rica over the past couple of years, and because of that I can tell you all that this was not my first rodeo—or shall I say, not m..

08

AUG

By: Katherine C. It all started on December the 25th. I was told by my boyfriend the day before to be ready at 8:15 a.m. He didn’t want to tell me anything; I asked many questions and there was no answer for any of them. I finally told him to ..

08

AUG

By: Jason   I’ve worked at Desafio for almost a year; it’s been great and thanks to this job I’ve been able to develop my personality and am getting closer to achieving the many goals that I have, like becoming a US Marine ju..

08

AUG

By: David   One of my favorite things to do in La Fortuna is to go on bike rides. There are so many places to explore around this amazing area; it’s impossible to get bored. When I ride my bike, I look at the landscape and I thank God fo..

08

AUG

By: Greg Reeser   My favorite tour is the Desafio Gravity Falls Extreme Combo because it includes three of the most fun activities there are to do in Costa Rica (canyoneering, mountain biking, and rafting).   What better way to start th..

08

AUG

By: Justin   Some people would say they like doing rafting or zip-lining, other people would rather go hiking in the forest or swimming in the river. In my case, when I think of my favorite tour, the first thought that comes to my mind is alwa..

09

AUG

By: Kimberly   On my days off I love going home. My last day off I went and did a few things I have never done before. My mother wanted me to go walk with her and dad around our family's property. I am not so into walking through oran..

09

AUG

By: Maichal   There many things to do in the epicenter of adventure known as La Fortuna, or as the tourists call it “Arenal.” For local activities, you can start by hiring a guide to teach you amazing things about the area and its ..

10

AUG

Written by: Daisy Translated by: Anjelica   On my day off, I like to do the following:   Visit family   When I have several days off, I usually go to La Francia (the town where I grew up) to visit my family, especially my mom..

19

AUG

By: Anjelica Veca   One of the most frequent worries I hear people express when they’re considering a whitewater rafting tour is “what if I fall out of the raft?” To this, my response is always the same: you’ll be ok. Y..

29

AUG

By: Anjelica Veca   Knock knock Who’s there? SUP What’s SUP? Pura vida, man! What’s up with you?!   ...crickets.   Yeah, I know; no one thought it was funny here, either. But you can’t knock a girl for..

02

SEP

By: Anjelica Veca   After three weeks of activities out on the water, I ventured into the Costa Rican rainforest and spent a morning exploring the hanging bridges at Arenal National Park. It was a morning well spent, and I would recommend the ..

16

SEP

By: Anjelica Veca   Although Rosie, our tour guide, had warned us about the alligators and crocodiles in the river, the temptation to dip my hand in the water won out. After all, the name of the river is Río Frío (Cold River)&mda..

20

JAN

The New, Long-Awaited Desafio Web PageWelcome to our new website - there are still a few kinks to work out, but we hope it provides you with the information you need to create the most-memorable Costa Rica Vacation complete with an easy reservation..

06

OCT

By: Christine Krishnan, Desafio Community Collaborator    Sometimes it is hard to explain to friends and family what it is like living in rural Costa Rica surrounded by volcanoes, raging rivers, rugged mountains, rainforest and lush green..

07

OCT

Yesterday, while my coworker Justin was with the briefing of a G Adventures group, we had a lovely older lady come in named Jenna. She had booked the Lost Canyon tour, but she had no idea what exactly she bought. So..

07

OCT

By: Anjelica Veca   While most babies come into this world kicking and screaming, Desafio’s newest baby, Gravity Falls, arrived on the scene in a quieter way. It was born through a process of exploration, measurement, and daring by four ..

28

FEB

On October 26-31, 2016 an elite group of executive thought leaders were invited to participate in a revolutionary event deep in the heart of the Costa Rican jungle at the base of the Arenal Volcano: the Executive Thought Leadership Summit 2016 with&n..

13

APR

By: Anjelica Veca and Christine Krishnan   Just as the US economy started its meltdown in 2007, Costa Rica's iconic Arenal Volcano--formally one of the most-active volcanoes in the world--was having a meltdown of its own.   The once..

14

MAY

One of our clients wrote this blog about her recent trip to Playa Samara, Costa Rica with Desafio. She explains how this family vacation turned into a much-needed adventure enabling her to look at the world through different-colored lenses. How many ..

26

MAY

Since the very beginning, Desafio has been dedicated to giving back to local communities and over the years it has developed various projects and itineraries ideal for groups looking to do team building and community service trips in Costa Rica...

19

JUN

By: Anjelica Veca   Over the years, Desafio Adventure Company has garnered a reputation for being one of the top innovators of adventure in Costa Rica and a visionary in the touristic hub of La Fortuna.   This week, the well-established..

23

JUN

The culture-and-nature-centric Adventure Connection San Jose - La Fortuna with a visit to the La Paz waterfall, the Poas Volcano, and a local coffee plantation has gotten a makeover.   With the recent activity of the Poas Volcano and the ..

27

JUN

Let your vacation be the battery-recharger that you need without missing out on any of the adventure!   We’ve been in the business of providing fun and adventure for a long time—25 years, to be exact! So we know having #SeriousFun ..

29

JUN

Top Things To Do for Families and Children in La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano Area   I am the mom of an adventurous five-year-old who’s a bit of a wanderluster and enjoys going on trips with her globetrotting parents. But even at her y..

29

JUN

The lively adventure-jungle town of Sarapiqui is making a big comeback especially now that the new highway joining La Fortuna to Sarapiqui will open the end of July 2017. Tourists can soon enjoy adventures in Sarapiqui in just over an hour's driv..

27

SEP

by Christine Larson-Krishnan, Community Collaborator   I love this time of year in Costa Rica from September to November. It makes me proud to live here and I always look forward to enveloping myself in local culture and traditions.   I..

10

OCT

Monteverde, Costa Rica—Desafio Adventure Company is launching the most extreme rafting tour on the Tenorio River from the Monteverde Cloud Forest.   “Monteverde is the perfect hub for adventure and one of the best rafting trips is ..

12

OCT

Monteverde, Costa Rica—Desafio Adventure Company lanza el tour de rafting más extremo en el Río Tenorio desde el bosque nuboso de Monteverde.   Monteverde es el lugar perfecto para aprovechar de una multitud de aventuras y ..

13

FEB

It is 2018. It is the year of challenges, growth, and transformation. It should also be the year of wellness, meaningful epic adventures, and an opportunity to truly embrace our present moment.   What better way to embrace change than to truly ..

17

APR

Every two years the Costa Rican Tourism Board encourages tour outfitters to apply for the renowned Certificate of Sustainable Tourism (CST) and depending on our adherence to go a set of rigorous ecological practices, we can be awarded between 1 ..

30

APR

Advice on Going Solo in Costa Rica for Independent Travellers by Christine Larson I remember finding my father's Robert Frost book in his library and browsing the dog-eared pages to the heavily underlined part that read: "Two roads diverg..

10

MAY

Find Yourself through Transformational Travel in Costa Rica by Christine Larson, Community Collaborator    I’ve been thinking a lot about the parallels between the world we live in right now and what things were like back in the 19..

07

MAR

Costa Rica Cooking Class in La Fortuna is one of the Top Things to Do in Arenal Costa Rica by Christine Larson, co-owner, Desafio Adventure Company  Who ever said Costa Rican cuisine was only about “rice and beans” needs to experie..

02

JUN

Top 6 Important Tips for Travelling with Kids in Costa Rica by Christine Krishnan, Community Collaborator at Desafio Adventure Company Are you looking for a vacation destination that is adventure-filled and kid-friendly at the same time? Costa Rica..

29

DEC

  Traveler to Traveler Costa Rica Safety Tips by Matt Tremblay, Desafio clilent Costa Rica is a safe country to visit, but when travelling to any foreign country it is important to keep in mind the local culture and safety of that particular..

20

JAN

Imaginative Recycling Projects and other fun activities with School Children in Costa Rica by Maichal Ledgster, Desafio Adventure Specialist The Desert Garden Montessori school from the United States asked us to help them with a fun recycling proje..

16

JUL

Tishal Turknett is currently studying Business Marketing with a minor in Spanish at Georgia College & State University, in Milledgeville, Georgia, USA. She came to Costa Rica to do a one month long internship with Desafio, with the intention t..

20

SEP

Time to Take the Family on a Trip to Costa Rica - Make Mine Worry-Free, please! by Christine Krishnan, Desafio Adventure CompanyA recent report on CNN mentioned 84% of Americans say the most-important part of a vacati..

20

MAY

Last Chance Adventures in Costa Rica by Christine Krishnan, Community Builder, Desafio Adventure Company Costa Rica in English means "Rich Coast," but these days it's more like "Hot Coast." The ocean water on the coasts has increa..

29

JUN

If you've been to Costa Rica, one of the comments you've probably made to friends and family back home is OMG! The roads in Costa Rica are just horrible!"As you probably realized, driving and maintaining vehicles in Costa Rica is a huge ..

06

DEC

The Zen of Costa Rica's Mysterious Address System: Getting Around a country with virtually no street signs or street names and address numbersby Christine Krishnan, Community Builder, Desafio Adventure CompanyWhen I first came to Costa Rica, I w..

11

OCT

Book a Private Tour in Costa Rica for the Best One-on-One Service with Desafíoby Christine Larson-KrishnanA mother of two teen-aged boys mentioned the other day how great it was that she and her husband and elderly mother-in-law were able to do ou..

25

MAY

Continuing Education in Costa Ricaby Christine Krishnan, Community Outreach Many people are curious about what Costa Rica is like before they come to visit. One of the questions we get the most is: "I don't speak Spanish. Will it be hard for me..

10

SEP

White Water Rafting in Arenal, Costa RicaWhen the rain gets going in green season in Costa Rica, the river rafting trips get really exciting. As the rivers swell with rainwater, it’s your cue to hop aboard for a fun, wild ride down a beautiful..

06

DEC

Style: Costa Rican Recommended for: Families with children, Travelers on a budget, Locals, Meals served: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Opening hours: 7 am-10 pm What is a “Soda” in Costa Rica?“Sodas” are cute little casual rest..

17

JAN

Styles: International and Typical Recommended for: Families with children, Romance, Large groups, Local cuisineMeals served: Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Opening hours: 10 am-11 pm La Fortuna, the major hub for restaurants and night life, has many diffe..

09

MAY

The Rainforest Cafe is located 25 meters south of the southwest corner of the central park in La Fortuna.  As coffee is king in Costa Rica,  you can find it just about anywhere, but Rainforest Café has much more than a standard coffee . Th..

11

JUL

Café Mediterraneo’s great service and friendliness will make you feel like you’ve been here before, even it’s your first time.  Located 400 meters south of downtown La Fortuna, its just a short walk and has some of the best views of the ..

12

DEC

GOOD EATS in La Fortuna: Chocolate Fusion CafeWe love supporting local entrepreneurs. Jessica and her husband found the perfect niche for us sweet tooths in La Fortuna.Chocolate Fusion Café is well-known  as the go-to place for delicious han..

27

AUG

Desafio Adventure Company is proud to present the Desafío Explorer's Club for your chance to earn Freebies and Discounts on your future vacations!   We know you are looking for authentic, unique and interesting experience..

12

MAY

Top Four Tours on Lake Arenal Costa RicaLake Arenal in Costa Rica is one of the country’s most scenic points of interest. Green rolling hills of forest and pastureland surround the deep blue lake, with the near-perfect conical symmetry of Aren..

04

NOV

A Question of Values and Ethics: How my past experiences in politics helps me understand the Costa Rica tour industryby Christine Larson-Krishnan, Community Builder I got my schooling at Madison, Wisconsin. But when I say schooling, it's not jus..

11

FEB

Canyoning in Costa Rica: The Perspective of a Canyoning Professional by Eliomar Campos Vargas, Desafio Canyon Leader The other day, Christine asked me to write a super-detailed description of our Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoning tou..

13

APR

Planning a Team Building, Incentive or Corporate Event in Costa Rica   by Christine Krishnan, Community Outreach   Team-building activities for Meetings & Incentive groups, students and corporate events have become pretty mainstream -..

20

DEC

Climate News from Arenal Costa Rica in the Northern Zone How climate affects tourism by Suresh Krishnan, Founder of Desafio Adventure Company Our clients often ask us: "What if it's raining - we can go on our tour?" And the answer is a resounding..

16

JUL

Community Art beautifies Rural Costa Rica SchoolDesafio, along with different organizations and individual good-doers came together to help Cerro Alegre, a local elementary school by providing dance outfits for their dance group, painting the school ..

26

SEP

The Top 10 Reasons to Visit Costa Ric 1. The People A local farmer getting his bulls ready to make sugar cane juice in Costa Rica. The people in Costa Rica are often referred to as “Ticos" for men, and “ Ticas" for women. They are kn..

04

MAY

A plate with a view! We can't imagine a better place to really catch the true flavor of the Caribbean than the Cool & Calm Cafe. Right front and center of Playa Manzanillo, this local hangout dishes up rice n beans like no other. Go for any..

18

MAR

A Saturday Afternoon in La Fortuna near the Arenal Volcanoby Suresh and Christine Krishnan, owners of Desafio Adventure CompanyIt's a late Saturday afternoon in downtown La Fortuna at the base of one of the world's most-iconic volcanoes. Th..

13

JAN

From our Kitchen to Yours: Fresh Flavors from the Desafio Kitchen by Christine Krishnan, Desafío Adventure CompanyI remember several years ago we launched a new tour kayaking and rafting down the picturesque Rio Arenal during the rainy season. The..

09

AUG

Single Traveler Finds Adventure and Easy Traveling with Desafío Adventure Connections in Costa Rica!  by P.M.OrtizI arrived in #CostaRica with one thing on my mind… #WhiteWaterRafting ! I’d heard from friends about the legendary #Rio..

04

DEC

I was Inspi(red) todayby Christine Krishnan, Community BuilderToday I wore my favorite red t-shirt. It says Inspi(red) on it. I bought it for 800 colones (roughly a US$1.30) at my favorite "Ropa Americana" or local thrift store.I had no idea what ..

13

APR

Wanderlusting Kitty and Crusading Animal Lovers in La Fortunaby Christine Larson-Krishnan, Community BuilderA group of tourists came through Costa Rica that had a special addition to the group – a cute little furry calico kitten their tour leader f..

18

SEP

  Done a guided rappel down a 150-foot gushing waterfall? Fun, but what’s next, you ask? Are you ready for the next extreme adventure adrenaline fix? How about waterfall jumping?   Waterfall jumping is Costa Rica's version of ..

21

MAR

Canyoning in Costa Rica: The wildest, craziest, most adventurous thing I've done!by Tui Frye, Events & IncentivesMy first time canyoning came somewhat unexpectedly. I actually had it scheduled earlier in the week, but had to postpone as I was..

03

MAY

  The First Adventure Alone as a New Parent! by Tui Frye, Events Planner  I have a soon-to-be three year old daughter and I also have a confession to make. We have never really left her with anyone. There have been a few occasions that w..

04

APR

Canyoning was a LIFE CHANGING Experienceby Selina WalkerDesafio: To Challenge To Explore To Inspire, or is it.... Desafio: To Challenge to Explore To CHANGE LIVES?After last week's challenging canyoneering tour, I think the latter is correct. Son..

09

DEC

Filling your Easter Basket at Desafío's Annual "Búsqueda de Tesoros"by Christine KrishnanI grew up in a very German household and out of all of the holidays, I'm pretty sure Easter was my mother's favorite. She went out of her way to pl..

22

SEP

The Costa Rica Adventure Academy was started by Suresh Krishnan, the owner of Desafio Adventure Company. His goal is to train the next generation of adventure guides based on leadership, safety and service, improving the adventure industry and creati..

02

OCT

If you could only hear the sizzle... by Christine Krishnan Years ago my father told me the classic customer service story about "selling the sizzle, not the steak..." It's more important to focus on the experience around a product being sold rath..

14

NOV

Fun for Families in La Fortuna Top 13 Things To Do for Families and Children in La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano I am the mom of an adventurous five-year-old who's a bit of a wanderluster and enjoys going on trips with her globetrotting parents. But ..

04

JUL

Is Rafting Safe in Costa Rica?by Selina WalkerWhite water rafting is one of Costa Rica's most popular and safest activities for travelers and locals. Costa Rica has a dense amount of rivers and mountains spread out over a diverse terrain, so fun ..

24

FEB

Desafio Provides Totally Unique Team Building Activities by Tui Frye, Special Events and Incentives Coordinator   We recently had the opportunity to host a Corporate Olympic Beach Games for a GPS company out of California. There were 44 peo..

25

JUL

Howler Monkeys in Costa Rica Offer Impressive Jungle Sound Effects by Christine Larson-Krishnan, Community Builder The other day I asked a young visitor what the favorite part of her vacation to Costa Rica had been.Without missing a beat she exclaime..

09

JUN

Count on Desafio Adventure Company for Costa Rica Incentive Travel Planning by Christine Larson-Krishnan Several years ago the Miami Dolphins' executive board came down to do some Team Building Activities in Costa Rica with us. We took them raf..