Boasting a biodiversity like none other and landscapes ranging from soaring volcanos to seemingly endless stretches of beach, Costa Rica is a destination brimming with beauty and the potential for adventure. Discover the best of the country with this Costa Rica travel guide.Â
It’s no wonder why a place like Costa Rica continues to show up on travellers’ radars year after year. Costa Rica translates as the ‘rich coast’ – an apt name for a country that is rich in landscapes and life.I’m not joking. You can access cloud forests, volcanoes, waterfalls, lakes and the ocean (all in one day).Â
You can also experience activities as chill as soaking in natural hot springs near Arenal Volcano or as epic as hiking whilst hanging 45 metres (150 feet) in the air at MÃstico Arenal Hanging Bridges.
This eco-friendly destination is home to some stunning wildlife and half a million species of animals and insects. How about getting up-close views of unbelievable wildlife like toucans, sloths, anteaters and even jaguars (hopefully not too close)? I don’t blame you if you’re booking right now.
Adventure lovers have been flocking here for the past few decades – desperately trying (but failing) to keep it a secret. I can see why. Costa Rica is a great place to release your inner adventure and go hiking, swimming, surfing or even horseback riding. Alternatively, if you prefer to keep the adrenaline levels down, there are plenty of stunning beaches to lounge on.
I just got back from another research trip to this magnificent country and can’t wait to share what I learned. This Costa Rica trip guide will tell you everything you need to know about discovering pura vida on your holiday.Â
Overall, Costa Rica travel is best from December to March when the weather is warm and dry. But here’s a look at when to visit specific locations.
San José – The Festival de la Luz is a beautiful December event with fireworks and parade floats.
Arenal – Go in February for epic views and the dry season.Â
Tamarindo – July offers nice beach weather and lower rates.
Don’t sleep on a stay in the capital city of San José. There is great nightlife, outstanding museums, and architecture, and you’re only a 2-hour drive from Braulio Carrillo National Park at Hotel Grano De Oro.Â
One of the easier reached national parks, Manuel Antonio is both a wildlife and a beach-lover’s dream. I loved my stay at the cute boutique hotel La Vela, where rooms come with spacious terraces and the complex is built around a relaxing pool area. Plus it’s very close to both the beach and the entrance to the national park.Â
I love Playa Conchal as a home base because you can stay at The Westin Reserva Conchal, where you’re positioned near the amazing beaches of Tamarindo and the stunning Gulf of Nicoya.
You’ll have easy access to the brilliant spa and hot springs in La Fortuna from the luxe Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort. You can also get to Arenal Volcano in around 30 minutes.Â
Stay at Eco Boutique Hotel Vista Las Islas Reserva Natural in this lovely little port town on the Pacific. The location is a perfect hub if you visit Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.Â
Packing for your Costa Rica trip? Don’t forget…Â
Travel Insurance is a must when you visit Costa Rica. In fact, I never travel internationally without booking insurance.Â
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Corcovado National Park is an incredible experience and one I recommend prioritising for your Costa Rica trip if you want an incredible wildlife-centred experience.
Numbers are limited and you have to take a guided tour to enter the park – no worries, you’d want one anyway to learn about the incredible biodiversity in this 424-square-kilometre (164 sq miles) nature reserve on the Osa Peninsula.
You’ll walk through lush rainforests and beautiful beaches while spotting squirrel monkeys, anteaters, sloths, Baird’s tapirs, and maybe even a bull shark or two (swim carefully).Â
If you want a truly immersive experience, I booked a three-day hike in the park with Sukia Travels and would highly recommend it.Â
Manuel Antonio National Park is a smaller park at under 5,000 acres. But it’s full of fun activities like swimming at the stunning Playa Escondido, hiking through the mangroves and spending time admiring the parks numerous animal inhabitants.
Taking a guided tour can help you spot the elusive (and adorable) titi monkey, which you won’t see anywhere outside of Manuel Antonio.
Arenal is a massive stratovolcano that has been dormant since 2010. This mammoth volcano eclipses the horizon; this, coupled with its idyllic backdrop makes for some unbeatable scenery.
It offers some of the best hiking trails, like the beautiful Rio Fortuna Waterfall, which you can explore on your own or with an expert guide. Sure, it’s one of the more popular options in Costa Rica, but for good reason.Â
Try your hand at some white water rafting, hiking, waterfall rappelling or book yourself a tour. When you’re done with the excitement, kick back and relax in the volcanic hot springs – one of my real favourites.
There’s a ton to do in nearby La Fortuna. Walking across the MÃstico Arenal Hanging Bridges and soaking in nearby Baldi Hot Springs are my favourites.
Santa Teresa, once a hidden gem, now attracts plenty of tourists to surf and enjoy the relaxed charm of the sea.
Well known for its thriving restaurant scene, something you’ll definitely appreciate after a day riding the waves.
For your mind, body and soul, there are some great yoga dens that are perfectly located for stunning views of the sea.
The foggy rainforest trails in Monteverde Cloud Forest are absolutely spectacular. It’s one of the world’s only remaining cloud forests and allows you to see rare wildlife like jaguars and the endangered three-wattled bellbird, as well as the biggest orchid collection in the world.
Walking across the 170-foot-high (eek) hanging bridge over the forest is a must.
If you’re travelling to Costa Rica for beaches, make a beeline for the lively coastal town of Tamarindo.
Whether you’re swimming at the mellow Playa Conchal or want to try surf lessons on Tamarindo Beach, the white sands and rolling waves on the Pacific Coast at Tamarindo are the perfect choice.
If you’re staying in San José, Braulio Carrillo National Park is only a 2-hour drive and a wonderful nature retreat. Visitors flock here for epic hikes, powerful waterfalls and the photogenic capuchin monkeys.
The park moves from just over 30 metres (100 feet) above sea level to over 2,895 metres (9,500 feet), offering amazing hikes like the Barva Volcano loop.Â
Although many trips to Costa Rica revolve around eco-tourism (rightfully so), don’t skip the chance to visit the capital city of San José. On the outside, San Jose may not entice you, but get a little deeper and you’ll find some real hidden gems.
Museums that have been turned into art galleries, poppin’ bars – time is never allowed to stand still in the Costa Rican capital.
There are museums dedicated to jade, gold, natural history and art for any of you culture vultures. Not to mention plenty of places to shop or party when the city comes to life at night with its clubs and music venues
Head to Heredia and take my favourite coffee plantation tour. Finca Rosa Blanca is a charming family-run operation where you can see step by step how the farmers choose the beans, ferment them and turn them into delicious cups of java.
14 Days
Tamarindo – Playa Conchal – Playa Quesara – Puntarenas – Playa Manuel Antonio – Parque Nacional Corcovado
Drive down the Pacific Coast and around the Gulf of Nicoya to discover Costa Rica’s best beaches.
14-18 Days
Braulio Carrillo National Park – Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio – Parque Nacional Corcovado – Refugio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo
See the vast rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches of Costa Rica National Parks.
3-5 Days
San José – Braulio Carrillo National Park – Poás Volcano – Arenal
This itinerary is perfect for a holiday weekend or a long layover in Costa Rica.
7-9 Days
Refugio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo – Gulf of Nicoya – Osa Peninsula – Poás Volcano
Explore some of my favourite off-the-radar locations in Costa Rica on this road trip for the ages.
The Osa Peninsula offers an abundance of activities on land and in the water. It’s home to an insane 250,000 species of plants and animals. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit a tropical fjord with bioluminescence (really) and watch whales at Golfo Dulce.
Be sure to fit in a visit to the Gulf of Nicoya, which stretches over 121 kilometres (75 miles). The white sands and towering palm trees at beaches like Samara Beach make it very hard to leave.
Head to the 65 square kilometres national park in northern Costa Rica and take a hike up the active Poas Volcano. It’s steep and long at 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) high, but the views of the surreal blue-green waters of Lake Botos are worth the 1-hour hike.
Gandoca-Manzanillo is a beautiful wildlife reserve on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica near the Panama border.Â
Travel here to see sloths, monkeys, turtles, and over 300 birds in the rainforests and near the postcard-perfect beaches.
While you need to pay to get into the best national parks in Costa Rica, you can have plenty of free outdoor adventures. For starters, you can visit nearly any beach in the country for free.Â
But if you want a free history lesson, you’re in luck. Guru Walk offers a great tour of San José’s History and Architecture you can reserve for free (just tip at the end). Alternatively, book a nightlife tour in the capital city.
Ceviche – You may know it (and love it), but fresh fish marinated in lime juice and spices is excellent in Costa Rica.
Gallo Pinto – Rice and beans, usually served with veggies or eggs.
Casado – A staple with rotating ingredients including meat, veggies, and salsas.
Chorreada – A popular breakfast item that’s essentially a corn-based pancake.
Cacique Guaro – Sugarcane spirit used in cocktails like sours or highballs.
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