Adventure activities in Costa Rica and their regulation (ICT)

Costa Rica is a major destination for adventure tourism, with activities common throughout the country: canopy/zip-lining over forests, rafting and kayaking on rivers, surfing on both coasts, diving and snorkeling, hanging bridges in cloud forest areas, horseback riding, and visits to active volcanoes with varying levels of access depending on their activity.

Safety regulation: formally registered adventure tourism companies with the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) must comply with the "Reglamento para la Operacion de Actividades de Turismo de Aventura", which establishes safety requirements for users and personnel — including that guides/operators be properly trained and certified (by the ICT, the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje, or internationally recognized organizations depending on the activity). This regulation has been updated in recent years.

Tourism declaration: to operate formally, a tourism company (including adventure companies) can process a "declaratoria turistica" with the ICT, which involves inspection and classification according to the regulation for tourism companies and activities. Additionally, the ICT offers the Certificacion para la Sostenibilidad Turistica (CST), a seal that evaluates a company's environmental, social, and quality management (it is not mandatory, but serves as a reference of reliability).

Practical recommendation: hire registered operators with a good reputation (verifiable reviews, a physical office or formal presence, a sign of the "declaratoria turistica" or the CST seal) instead of informal operators who offer lower prices on the street or beach — the safety difference in activities such as canopy, whitewater rafting, or diving can be significant, as an informal operator does not necessarily meet the same standards for equipment and trained personnel.

Active volcanoes: several of the country's most visited volcanoes (for example Rincon de la Vieja and Poas — see specific information sheets for each park) are active volcanoes monitored by the Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI). When seismic, gas, or eruptive activity increases, SINAC may close the park totally or partially or restrict access to certain trails or viewpoints for safety, sometimes without a fixed reopening date. This pattern of temporary closures is a normal part of visiting active volcanic areas in Costa Rica, not an exception — before planning a visit focused on a specific volcano, it is advisable to check the current status of the park at sinac.go.cr or OVSICORI news.

Note: specific safety regulations and personnel certification requirements may be updated over time — for a specific high-risk activity (high-category rafting, diving, paragliding), verify directly with the operator their registration with the ICT and their experience, in addition to the day's weather conditions.