So many people are getting excited these days over adventure travel, with a wide range of adrenaline-pumping activities available to travelers worldwide. Adventure travel has been described as the kind of tourism which involves the possibility of actual, physical risk and usually requires certain specialized skills and physical abilities to be able to participate and enjoy. Here’s a look at five countries that we think offer some of the best adventure options out there!
1. New Zealand
From the friendly Kiwis themselves, to the lush and rugged countryside, New Zealand is a great destination for adventure seekers. In fact, they are completely spoiled for choice there.
On North Island, explore the dramatic thermal wonders of this volcanic land, taking in the ancient Kauri forests and original Maori culture, with golden beaches always close at hand. Biking and hiking is the best way to get around and experience everything first hand.
Head to South Island and enjoy everything from the gorgeous beaches to the icy Franz Josef Glacier and everything in between, while experiencing some of the best natural wonders of this world.
2. South Africa
Diverse, wild and rugged, South Africa has loads to offer the adventure junkie–from wildlife safaris to extreme sports and water-based activities. Those with a head for heights can bungee jump from the top of the 216-meter high Bloukrans Bridge, spanning the Bloukrans River close to Nature’s Valley in the Western Cape. This is believed to be the highest bungee jump in the world.
Adventurers wishing to stay nearer the water can enjoy cage diving with the Great White Shark in Gansbaai in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, not far from Cape Town. While no actual diving skills are required, this certainly takes a fair amount of courage to come face to face with those terrifying teeth.
The country also offers white water rafting excursions, mountain climbing, cave exploration and many more adrenaline rushes.
3. Costa Rica
Costa Rica rings with the term “Pura Vida,” which translates in English to “full of life,” and this is an apt description of this eco-sensitive South American country. The coastline is perfect for beach lovers, surfers, scuba divers and fishing enthusiasts, while the interior of the country lures the adventure lover with its natural beauty. Any trip to Costa Rica should aim to take in some form of adventure.
Traveling inland takes a visitor to the volcanoes, cloud forests and rain forests of Costa Rica and exciting rivers, perfect for a wild white water adventure. While sustainable tourism is the name of the game in Costa Rica, the opportunities for adventure are endless.
Flickr image by Joe Dsilva4.Mexico
Mexico offers many opportunities for the adventure enthusiast in several different locations. Known as the “Aquarium of the World,” Baja California Sur offers great marine adventures, including getting up front and personal with gray whales, diving and swimming with the whale sharks, sea lions and sea turtles, sea kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding around the islands in the Sea of Cortes. Hike through the area to see 7,000-year-old cave paintings and more history in this lush and beautiful Mexican location.
5. Brazil
How about enjoying an adventure cruise, traveling right into the heart of the wild and remote Amazon jungles of Brazil? There is a range of great options available, including jungle expeditions, fishing tours, bird watching, hiking, trekking and kayaking. One option is a visit to the Mamiraua Reserve with its amazing number of Amazonian fauna, offering around 400 bird species and 45 mammal species, including monkeys, sloths and the legendary river dolphins.
Accommodations range from a lowly tent right up to various luxury lodges, situated in remote areas and surrounded by abundant and exciting wildlife. It is also possible to visit remote Indian tribes, living just as they have for hundreds of years.
For something a bit more accessible, you can also do activities like paragliding in Rio – there can’t be a better city to sail over for an incredible birds eye view.
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