I have to admit to being a little skeptical of driving ATVs (all terrain vehicles) in a lovely, biologically diverse area. They seem a little off-message, and more appropriate for deserts or perhaps the Sierra. But at the urging of my daughters, we rented a “fleet” of ATVs from the local shop in Uvita, Jungle ATV, and had one heck of a good time.
The company is very safety-conscious, and has a little test track to ensure that everyone is under control. Our group of six rented three singles and one four-passenger. Everyone wears helmets, and there are strict rules about passing or goofing off, which we appreciated. On our particular day, it was raining most of the time, so everyone got soaked, and some got cold at the higher elevations, so you may want to bring a very light waterproof windbreaker/poncho with you if the weather is threatening.
Our trip lasted close to five hours. We saw waterfalls, visited a coffee plantation, drove through shallow rivers, and climbed up to about 4,000 from sea level. Everyone said that it was a great way to see the “backwoods” of the area, and all driving was on dirt roads (shared with cars and pickups on occasion.) We had one breakdown which was handled by the guides with no problems.
Costs (2024) were $100 for a single and $400 for a quad. There are higher performance models if you prefer. I don’t know if I’ll be doing this on every visit to the South Pacific Coast, but it’s a pretty fun afternoon, especially with a large group.