Discover
Costa Rica
The ultimate eco-tourism destination with lush rainforests, volcanoes, and incredible wildlife.
Top Destinations
Explore our curated selection of landmarks and cities you must visit.
Arenal Volcano
Towering above the lush Costa Rican rainforest, Arenal Volcano is an iconic, perfectly symmetrical stratovolcano that defines the landscape of La Fortuna. For decades, it was one of the world's most active volcanoes, though it has entered a resting phase since 2010. The surrounding national park is a sanctuary of biodiversity, featuring winding trails through old-growth forests and old lava flows. Its geothermal activity also feeds the region's world-famous natural hot springs.
Best Time
December to April (Dry Season) for the clearest views, though the green season offers lush landscapes.
Insider Tip
For the best chance of...
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Suspended in the mist of the Tilarán Mountain Range, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is a magical, otherworldly ecosystem. Due to its high altitude and unique atmospheric conditions, the forest is constantly shrouded in low-hanging clouds that provide essential moisture. This verdant environment supports an astounding array of flora and fauna, including thousands of plant species, hundreds of bird species, and elusive mammals like jaguars and pumas.
Best Time
February to May, when the weather is slightly drier and the quetzal breeding season peaks.
Insider Tip
Take a guided night tour;...
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica's smallest but most popular national park, famous for its breathtaking combination of pristine white-sand beaches and dense, wildlife-rich tropical rainforest. The park features well-maintained trails that skirt the coastline and weave through the jungle, offering stunning viewpoints of the Pacific Ocean. Its beaches, such as Playa Manuel Antonio, are protected coves with calm, crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Best Time
December to April for sunny beach days, though expect larger crowds.
Insider Tip
Arrive right when the park...
Tortuguero National Park
Often referred to as the 'Amazon of Costa Rica', Tortuguero is a vast network of navigable canals, lush wetlands, and dense lowland rainforests on the remote Caribbean coast. Accessible only by boat or small plane, this isolated sanctuary feels entirely disconnected from the modern world. The park's dark-sand beaches serve as one of the most important nesting sites in the Western Hemisphere for endangered sea turtles.
Best Time
July to October to witness the Green Sea Turtle nesting season.
Insider Tip
Opt for a silent, paddle-powered...
Corcovado National Park
Famously dubbed by National Geographic as 'the most biologically intense place on Earth', Corcovado National Park is a rugged, untamed wilderness encompassing primary rainforests, mangrove swamps, and deserted beaches. Located on the remote Osa Peninsula, it is one of the last remaining strongholds for endangered species like the Baird's tapir, harpy eagle, and jaguars. The park's immense biodiversity accounts for roughly 2.5% of all the species on the planet.
Best Time
January to April (dry season) is essential, as heavy rains make trails impassable the rest of the year.
Insider Tip
Base yourself in Drake Bay...
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is the vibrant heart of the Guanacaste Gold Coast, transformed from a quiet fishing village into a bustling, energetic surf town. The town boasts a long, sweeping crescent of golden sand, backed by world-class restaurants, boutique shops, and a lively nightlife scene. Its consistent, rolling waves make it one of the premier destinations in Central America for both beginner and experienced surfers.
Best Time
December to April for endless sunshine, though surfers enjoy great swells year-round.
Insider Tip
Escape the main beach crowds...
La Fortuna Waterfall
Emerging dramatically from the dense, emerald-green jungle canopy, the La Fortuna Waterfall plunges roughly 230 feet (70 meters) into an icy, jade-colored pool below. Fed by the Arenal River, which travels through the rainforest of the Arenal mountain range, this majestic cascade is a powerful display of nature's force. The descent to the base involves a steep, scenic staircase built directly into the side of the canyon.
Best Time
Year-round, but visiting early in the morning ensures fewer crowds and better lighting for photography.
Insider Tip
Wear sturdy water shoes; the...
Poas Volcano
Poas Volcano National Park features one of the largest and most active open craters in the world, stretching nearly a mile across and plunging over 1,000 feet deep. At the bottom of this massive caldera sits an acidic, vivid turquoise crater lake that frequently emits sulfurous gases and dramatic geysers of steam. Surrounding the volatile crater is a stark, otherworldly landscape that transitions into a dense, stunted cloud forest filled with unique flora.
Best Time
January to April. Arrive exactly when the park opens (8:00 AM) before clouds obscure the crater.
Insider Tip
Tickets are strictly limited and...
Celeste River (Rio Celeste)
Hidden deep within the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Rio Celeste is famous for its stunning, unearthly, opaque turquoise coloration. This optical illusion is caused by a natural chemical reaction where two clear rivers meet and volcanic minerals mix, scattering sunlight to create the vibrant blue hue. The moderately challenging hike to see the river winds through lush rainforest and culminates at a spectacular, similarly colored waterfall.
Best Time
December to April. During heavy rains, the river can turn brown with mud, losing its blue color.
Insider Tip
Swimming is strictly prohibited inside...
Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park is a laid-back, stunningly beautiful coastal reserve that protects Costa Rica's largest and most vibrant coral reef system. The park features a scenic coastal trail that meanders between palm-fringed, white-sand beaches on one side and dense, swampy coastal rainforest on the other. It heavily reflects the relaxed, Afro-Caribbean culture of the surrounding region, offering a distinctly different vibe from the Pacific coast.
Best Time
September and October bring the calmest seas and clearest water for snorkeling on the Caribbean side.
Insider Tip
Enter through the Kelly Creek...
Nicoya Peninsula
The Nicoya Peninsula is a sprawling, rugged landmass jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, renowned for its secluded beaches, dirt roads, and bohemian surf towns. It is most famous globally for being one of the world's five 'Blue Zones,' regions where a remarkably high concentration of people live active, healthy lives well past the age of 100. The landscape is a mix of dry tropical forests, rolling hills, and dramatic, rocky coastlines.
Best Time
December to April for dry weather, though the unpaved roads are easier to navigate during this time.
Insider Tip
Embrace the local diet of...
San Jose (National Theatre)
The National Theatre of Costa Rica (Teatro Nacional) is the architectural and cultural crown jewel of the capital city, San Jose. Opened in 1897, this exquisite neoclassical building was financed largely by a tax on coffee exports, showcasing the wealth of the late 19th-century coffee boom. The interior is lavishly decorated with Italian marble, gold leaf, and magnificent murals, including the famous 'Allegory of Coffee and Bananas'.
Best Time
Year-round. Ideal for spending a cultural day in the city before or after a flight.
Insider Tip
Check the schedule in advance;...
Rincon de la Vieja
Rincon de la Vieja National Park is a rugged, geothermally active wonderland centered around the massive, smoldering Rincon de la Vieja volcano. The park's landscape is remarkably diverse, featuring dry tropical forests, cascading waterfalls, and 'Las Pailas'—a thrilling trail of bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and sulfurous hot springs. The region serves as an adventure hub, surrounded by eco-lodges offering horseback riding, zip-lining, and canyoning.
Best Time
December to April (dry season) is best for hiking, as trails can get very muddy during the green season.
Insider Tip
Hike the Las Pailas loop...
Irazu Volcano
Standing at a towering 11,260 feet (3,432 meters), Irazu Volcano is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica. Its summit boasts a stark, lunar-like landscape completely devoid of vegetation, featuring several craters, the largest of which contains a striking, bright emerald-green crater lake. The high altitude means the climate here is surprisingly cold and alpine, a sharp contrast to the tropical warmth of the rest of the country.
Best Time
December to April. Arrive early (8:00 AM) for the highest chance of a cloud-free view.
Insider Tip
Bring a warm jacket and...
Tabacon Hot Springs
Tabacon is the crown jewel of La Fortuna's geothermal attractions, a luxurious, naturally flowing hot springs resort set amidst a sprawling, meticulously landscaped botanical garden. Unlike many other resorts that pump and heat their water, Tabacon's thermal river flows completely naturally from the magma-heated depths of the Arenal Volcano. The water cascades over hundreds of waterfalls, forming dozens of secluded, mineral-rich pools of varying temperatures.
Best Time
Late afternoon into the evening, to experience the gardens transitioning from daylight to romantic night lighting.
Insider Tip
Book an evening pass that...
Nosara
Nosara is a chic, eco-conscious haven tucked away on the Nicoya Peninsula, famous for strictly protecting its pristine beaches from large-scale commercial development. The town is spread out among dense jungle rather than built on the beachfront, giving it a peaceful, integrated-with-nature feel. It has evolved into a world-renowned destination for wellness, boasting an incredibly high concentration of premium yoga institutes and health-focused cafes.
Best Time
December to April (dry season) is ideal, though May and June offer beautiful green scenery with fewer crowds.
Insider Tip
Rent an ATV or a...
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Puerto Viejo is a vibrant, deeply relaxed seaside town on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast, known for its unique blend of Afro-Caribbean, indigenous, and expat cultures. The town is characterized by its colorful wooden houses, spicy Caribbean cuisine, and the rhythmic sounds of reggae and calypso music filling the air. The surrounding coastline features some of the country's most beautiful, wild, and undeveloped beaches, backed by dense jungle.
Best Time
September and October, when the Caribbean side uniquely experiences a 'mini-summer' of clear, sunny days.
Insider Tip
Rent a beach cruiser bicycle...
Uvita (Whale Tail)
Uvita is a quiet, emerging coastal town famous as the gateway to the Marino Ballena National Park, a protected marine reserve in the South Pacific. The park's most iconic feature is the 'Tombolo,' a striking natural sandbar and rock formation that spectacularly takes the exact shape of a giant whale's tail at low tide. This region remains less developed, characterized by dramatic, jungle-covered mountains plunging straight into the ocean.
Best Time
August to October and January to March for peak humpback whale watching seasons.
Insider Tip
Check the local tide charts...
Braulio Carrillo
Braulio Carrillo National Park is a massive, rugged expanse of virgin rainforest and cloud forest that protects the steep, volcanic mountains just north of San Jose. It is one of the most topographically varied and heavily forested areas in Costa Rica, characterized by extremely dense vegetation, deep river canyons, and towering waterfalls. The main highway between San Jose and the Caribbean coast violently cuts right through it, offering drivers breathtaking, misty jungle views.
Best Time
February to April, though you should expect rain year-round as this is a true rainforest.
Insider Tip
Take the Rainforest Aerial Tram...
Drake Bay
Drake Bay is a remote, fiercely beautiful coastal community situated on the northern side of the wild Osa Peninsula. Accessible primarily by boat or small plane, this secluded destination feels like the absolute edge of the world, defined by dark sandy coves, dramatic rocky outcrops, and dense jungle backing. It serves as the primary gateway and luxurious basecamp for exploring the intense wilderness of Corcovado National Park.
Best Time
January to April (dry season). Heavy rains make the region extremely difficult to access from August to November.
Insider Tip
Opt for the scenic boat...
Travel Tips for Costa Rica
- 1.
Learn 'Pura Vida'
- 2.
Book eco-lodges early
- 3.
Carry rain gear in green season