Best Places to Travel for Extreme Sports2 min read

To some, the thought of jumping hundreds of feet off a cliff into a pool of water below is terrifying.

And then there are those who think, Where can I sign up?

If you’re part of the latter group of adrenaline junkies, you’ve probably done your fair share of thrilling activities. But there are some places around the world that can provide an experience like no other.

If you’re planning on visiting any of these areas below, be sure to try an activity that will surely get your blood pumping:

• Costa Rica: From beaches to jungles to tropical rainforests, it’s no wonder Costa Rica is a popular tourist favorite. But one of the best ways to see the local fauna and flora? Zip lining through the dense tropical region. Climb across cables and platforms, and slide down lines through the rainforest canopy. While there are plenty of places to go, Monteverde, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio are known to have some of the best zip lining in the country.
• New Zealand: Known as one of the best destinations in the world for extreme sports enthusiasts, New Zealand will be a place you want to return to again and again. Try the Ledge Urban Bungy, whose jumping point is located 1,312 feet over Queenstown. And thanks to a special harness, you can even do flips, twists, and other stunts after you jump. Or, you can always go for a joyful swing on the Nevis Swing, which is the highest of its kind in the world. If being suspended at high heights isn’t your thing, you can always opt for white water rafting, mountain biking, skydiving, and more.
• Switzerland: A popular destination for adrenaline junkies in Europe, Switzerland offers bungee jumping, river rafting, canyon jumping, skydiving, rock climbing, and snowboarding through the Alps. Paragliding is another popular option— if you do go, try it at either Interlaken (1,870 feet high) or from the top of Schilthorn, which is 9,744 feet high.
• Africa: From sandboarding in Zambia to shark cage diving in South Africa, you won’t run out of things to do in Africa. If you’re in Zambia, you’ll also want to go whitewater rafting down the Zambezi River, which ranks as a Grade 5 (the second most difficult grade of rapids).
• Nicaragua: While surfing, kayaking, and the like are easy to find out in Nicaragua, the country features another kind of sport unique to the area: Volcano boarding. Similar to dune boarding, volcano boarding means a trip down the side of an active—not erupting—volcano. High speeds have been clocked at around 50 mph, guaranteeing a unique thrill.