Costa Rica is a small country, covering 51,100 km², about 0.03% of the Earth’s surface. Despite its small size, the country is home to nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity.
Moreover, Costa Rica has 1,300 km of beautiful coastline, seven active volcanoes, and lush cloud forests and rainforests.
Its diverse landscapes are impressive. People worldwide visit to enjoy its natural parks, sunny beaches, and the Pura Vida lifestyle.
Enjoy hiking, zip-lining, visiting a volcano, walking on hanging bridges, white-water rafting, and surfing. Costa Rica has many options for nature lovers, intrepid travelers, and those who love to relax and soak in the vibes. Here, we will highlight some of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Top Places
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES & COASTLINE
Sunbathing, surfing, snorkeling, diving, boat tours, sailboat cruises
Manuel Antonio National Park: the best place to vacation in Costa Rica.
Manuel Antonio is the entrance to Costa Rica’s smallest and most famous national park. It is located just past Quepos on the Central Pacific Coast. It offers a range of boutique hotels and fine dining options.
Forbes Magazine calls it one of the most beautiful parks in the world, with scenic trails and stunning beaches. To avoid crowds and see wildlife, visit on weekdays during the high season when you might spot sloths, monkeys, and iguanas.
Manuel Antonio Beach also offers family-friendly activities like parasailing, surfing lessons, kayaking, and seaside restaurants serving fresh seafood. It’s a great destination to experience the best of Costa Rica.
Montezuma, Mal País, and Santa Teresa: Costa Rica’s top beach and surf destinations.
Montezuma, Mal País, and Santa Teresa are charming beach towns at the southern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. These towns have beautiful natural scenery, including the well-known Montezuma Waterfall. This waterfall attracts hikers to its cool river pools.
Cabo Blanco, one of Costa Rica’s first absolute reserves, is located here and is recognized for starting the national park movement in the country. Further north, the beaches of Santa Teresa and Mal País are known for great surfing, a relaxed vibe, and beautiful sunsets.
Puerto Viejo and Cahuita: Where to go on the Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica.
The southeastern Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica is famous for its lively Afro-Caribbean culture and beautiful beaches. It is also known as the Reggae capital of the country.
Popular destinations like Puerto Viejo are famous for their lively activities and beautiful white and black sand beaches. A highlight is the famous Salsa Brava wave.
The area also includes the stunning Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, vibrant restaurants, bars, and shops.
Cahuita, a quiet village about 10 kilometers north, is home to Cahuita National Park. This park protects some of Costa Rica’s best coral reefs and a lush tropical rainforest. Visitors can relax on the beach, which is shaped like a horseshoe. Palm trees and wildlife surround the beach, such as herons, monkeys, and iguanas.
Tamarindo: Costa Rica’s most popular family vacation spot.
Playa Tamarindo has changed a lot in the last thirty years. It went from a quiet fishing village to a busy tourist spot on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific Coast. Known for its beautiful golden sand and excellent surfing, it’s close to challenging waves at Witches Rock and Ollie’s Place.
You should take the estuary tour at the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge. Also, visit Playa Grande National Park, which has nesting leatherback turtles from March to October. The town has festivals, fine dining, local restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shops. This makes it an excellent place for family vacations and adventure tours.
MOUNTAINS: Hiking, exploring natural trails, experiencing nature at night, and sightseeing.
Cerro Chirripó: One of the best places to visit for hiking in Costa Rica.
Cerro Chirripó is the tallest mountain in Costa Rica, reaching 12,533 feet (3,820 meters) above sea level.
It is also one of the highest peaks in Central America. Hiking to the summit is a difficult challenge.
However, those who finish enjoy amazing views of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans (weather permitting). They can also see the beautiful Talamanca mountain range in the distance.
Chirripó National Park covers parts of three provinces and protects different habitats. These include alpine plateaus, marshes, fern groves, lakes, and rainforests. Visitors should book in advance to see this important destination, as access is limited to protect the delicate ecosystem.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: Where to go for pristine cloud forests and rainforests in Costa Rica.
The Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves in north-central Costa Rica are known for their diverse ecosystems. The area, where the Atlantic and Pacific life zones converge, is home to various unique animal and plant species.
Monteverde is one of Costa Rica’s top eco-destinations, often included in vacation packages. Visitors can explore the reserves on guided day and night hikes or enjoy thrilling forest views from aerial trams, canopy tours, and zip lines. Among the impressive biodiversity are jaguars, ocelots, coatis, poison dart frogs, eyelash pit vipers, and the vibrant quetzal.
San Gerardo de Dota: Costa Rica’s best birding destination.
Located 90 kilometers from San José in the Talamanca Mountains, San Gerardo de Dota offers a cooler, misty climate. This narrow valley along the Savegre River comes down from the Cerro de la Muerte Mountain Range. It is an essential corridor for biodiversity.
This region has over 2,000 species, including 1,972 that are native. It contains 20 percent of Costa Rica’s plant life, 54 percent of its mammals, and 59 percent of its bird species. In San Gerardo de Dota, you can see around 180 bird species, including the colorful resplendent quetzal. You may also spot large animals like jaguars and tapirs.
Cozy mountain lodges with fireplaces invite guests to hike and explore the abundant wildlife.
VOLCANOES
Arenal Volcano: One of Costa Rica’s top tourist attractions.
Arenal Volcano is a popular vacation spot in Costa Rica, about 2.5 hours north of San José. At 5,000 feet tall, it is currently dormant, having last erupted in 1968. After that eruption, many visitors came to see its lava displays. Since 2010, it has been quieter, with only occasional steam releases.
The Arenal area has many places to stay and exciting outdoor activities. Explore the Venado Caves or go white-water rafting on the Rio Toro for a thrill. For a quiet experience, hike in Arenal National Park, visit La Fortuna Waterfall or relax by Arenal Lake.
The rainforest has many hanging bridges and zip lines. This region is famous for its mineral-rich hot springs, which play a significant role in various wellness resorts and spas.
Irazú Volcano: Irazu Volcano is nicknamed El Coloso for its massive size.
It has a turbulent past and is a popular day trip from San Jose. The national park features hiking trails and the bright-green Diego de la Haya crater lake at its summit.
Below, the Orosi Valley is known for its rich soil and high-quality coffee. It also has hot springs that attract visitors to its public pools and wellness resorts.
Poas Volcano: The most visited in Costa Rica because of its vicinity to the capital.
The newly renovated park offers several hiking trails to the volcano’s crater overlook and its acidic lakes. The Poás volcano flanks boast fertile soil and lush beauty, featuring flowers, strawberries, and exotic crops.
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano: A Costa Rica Must See Destination.
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano is located in the northern part of Guanacaste’s Central Mountain Range. It is an exciting place to see geothermal activity on the Earth.
There, you can see steam vents, boiling clay lagoons, thermal rivers, hot spring pools, beautiful waterfalls, and wide views of grassy valleys.
Just north is Rio Celeste, located in Tenorio Volcano National Park. This 14 km river is famous for its stunning powder blue color, resulting from aluminosilicate minerals reacting with sunlight.
Both parks offer many outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, tubing, and white-water rafting. These activities attract people looking for adventure in these beautiful natural settings.
Turrialba Volcano: The most active volcano.
Significant eruptions began in 2010, leading to heavy ashfall in the Central Valley and evacuations of nearby residents.
Turrialba, known for its serene beauty and lush farmland, is a popular tourist destination during calm periods. The region’s fertile pastures support renowned dairy farms, with Turrialba cheese being a national favorite in grocery stores nationwide.
WILDLIFE & OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH
TORTUGUERO: Where to visit for fantastic turtle nesting excursions and wildlife in Costa Rica.
Tortuguero, a small town once known for turtle hunting, is now focused on wildlife protection and conservation.
You can reach Tortuguero by taking a 1.5-hour boat ride from La Pavones Dock, which is near Guapiles or Moin. During the ride, you will pass through mangroves and jungle-lined rivers. Keep an eye out for caimans, lizards, monkeys, and birds like the bare-throated tiger heron.
Tortuguero National Park is known for its leatherback, green, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles nesting grounds, attracting many spectators yearly. To visit the nesting sites, you must get permission from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE).
The town offers several eco-lodges for comfortable stays, making it easy for guests to explore the canals and beaches.
Corcovado National Park: Where to go for untouched nature, wildlife, and adventure travel.
Corcovado National Park is the largest protected area in Costa Rica. It covers 424 km² on the Osa Peninsula, located on the South Pacific Coast. This place has at least 13 different life zones, including marine habitats, mangroves, and highland rainforests. It is an excellent spot for people who love nature and wildlife.
The best time to visit is during the dry season, from December to April. Visitors can explore the park through guided hikes and overnight treks from three ranger stations around its perimeter. National Geographic has hailed it as “one of the most biologically intense places on earth.”
Drake Bay: One of the best off-the-beaten-path areas to visit in Costa Rica.
Drake Bay is a small jungle area on the northwest Osa Peninsula. It is known as the rumored hiding place of the treasures from Privateer Sir Francis Drake.
Its remote location makes it a top off-the-beaten-path attraction along the southern Pacific Coast. Visitors can reach Drake Bay by flying directly or taking a scenic 1.5-hour boat ride from Sierpe through mangrove wetlands.
This area has private eco-resorts in the forest and on the beaches. You can also find different types of accommodations in town for various budgets.
Popular activities include snorkeling at Caño Island, beachcombing, and hiking in Corcovado National Park.
How to get around in Costa Rica
The preferred method for visitors to get around Costa Rica is renting a car. At Adobe Rent a Car, we offer the perfect option for you.
There are also other options, such as;
Shuttle buses
Private hires
Public buses
Information about Costa Rica
When are the best times to visit Costa Rica?
Many travelers want to know how rainy Costa Rica gets when planning their vacations. The rainy season brings more rainfall, especially in September and October, the wettest months. However, the Caribbean Coast enjoys its best weather during these months.
St. John’s Little Summer, or el Veranillo de San Juan, is a weather event related to the El Niño Southern Oscillation. It causes less rain along the northern Pacific Coast and in Guanacaste for a few weeks in late July and early August. This makes it a great time to visit. During this period, the beaches are drier, the vegetation is lush, and wildlife is abundant.
Adobe’s FAQs
Arenal Volcano is the top tourist attraction. It offers many activities in the area, alongside stunning views of the volcano.
When you plan your trip to Costa Rica, you get to choose; if you prefer a slow reggae vibe, head to the Caribbean. If you prefer more action, head to Guanacaste, and depending on the month, you might see sea turtles.
There are many popular destinations in Costa Rica, as there is such diversity to please different tastes. The misty cloud forest of Monteverde is gorgeous. If you like the beach, visit Manuel Antonio in the Central Pacific or Guanacaste in the North Pacific. These areas have many beautiful beaches, such as Nosara, Tamarindo, and Flamingo.
The top choice for the first visit to Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio National Park. Forbes Magazine calls it one of the most beautiful parks in the world, with scenic trails and stunning beaches. We are not a Costa Rica Travel Guide, but we aim to bring you helpful information for your vacation.
There are many car rentals in Costa Rica. At Adobe Rent a Car, we are the best option for your Costa Rica travel.
