Top Destinations
Costa Rica's Top Destinations offer visitors a wide range of activities and accommodations that have attracted visitors from all over the world. In many of these destinations, visitors are captivated by the unique natural landscape and habitat. Other visitors are drawn to a destination’s developed tourism infrastructure with tours, nightlife, and restaurant options.
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Arenal
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One of the most spectacular and awe inspiring displays of natural beauty is the Arenal Volcano (Volcán Arenal). Don’t be surprised if you hear a hearty rumble, at 5,389 ft (1,643 m), Costa Rica’s most active volcano erupts constantly, giving spectators a healthy dose of fireworks and puffs of steam into the air. Laying dormant for hundreds of years, the sleeping giant unexpectedly exploded in 1968, revealing its hidden fury. The Arenal volcano left the nearby town of Tabacón and its inhabitants in ruins, completely destroying and covering in ash whatever had been there.
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Manuel Antonio
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Set high above the enchanting national park, Manuel Antonio boasts world-class views and beaches. Accommodation choices are plentiful, with some of the country's most inspired lodging options to choose from. Just imagine sparkling white sandy beaches, shimmering blue water and the fresh ocean breeze, all from the rocking chair on your patio. You'll feel stress magically leave your body as you soak up the sun in Manuel Antonio.
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Monteverde
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Cool, misty rainforest and deep green foliage is what has made Monteverde an absolute hot spot for eco tourism in the Central Highlands of Costa Rica. This zone is home to a string of volcanoes, both active and dormant, beautiful national parks and diverse weather.
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Tamarindo
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Once a quite fishing hamlet, Tamarindo has evolved to be the area’s most developed and accessible tourist town. Located on the central west coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, Tamarindo offers visitors of whatever budget a chance to experience the region’s unspoiled beaches and incredible biodiversity in a range of accommodations. Despite the town’s recent and ongoing development, it still retains that laidback vibe so characteristic of the region.
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Drake Bay
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Resting on the northern side of the Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay (Bahía Drake) is an adventure-seekers paradise. It is named after Sir Francis Drake who is believed to have ventured here in the late 16 century. With scattered hotels and lodges, Drake Bay is the ideal vacation spot for those wishing to relax and escape from it all. If, after you have arrived, you decide that the isolation is too much, the rustic area around the bay provides a plethora of activities at your disposal. These include scuba diving, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking (Corcovado National Park), sport fishing, bird-watching or exploring
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Tortuguero
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The Caribbean Coast is home to the beautiful town of Tortuguero and it’s National Park. This sun drenched zone with its sparsely spaced coastal villages offers a completely laid back and relaxed atmosphere. The culture is vastly different on this coast compared to the rest of the country with its prominent Afro-Caribbean influence notable as well in the delicious cuisine found here.
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Jaco
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Playa Jaco is the closest beach to San Jose, the Central Valley and is one of the most visited coastal destinations in Costa Rica. The beach is a 2.5 mile (4 km) strip which offers world renowned surfing and more. Much like Costa Rica's metropolitan areas, Jaco's offers most services, such as a post office, health center and branches of major banks. Furthermore, there are an abundance of surf shops, hotels and restaurants affordable for the budget travelers as well as those wishing to live a bit more luxuriously.
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Puerto Viejo de Limon
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Known for its laidback attitude and famous for it surfing, Puerto Viejo beckons visitors to come experience Costa Rica’s eccentric side. The village’s cultural influences are interesting to be sure: a mix of Afro-Caribbean, Bribri Indian, tico and hippyesque counterculture, this small port town is an anthropological study in itself. A mere 11 miles (18 km) from Cahuita, Puerto Viejo is accessible via Highway 36 or by simply walking south, along the beach.
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Mal Pais - Santa Teresa
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The sleepy beach hamlet of Malpais is billed as a surfer's paradise, and the surf is indeed exceptional; It provides consistent and outstanding swells. Located 4 miles (6.5 km) north of Cabo Blanco National Park, Malpais sits at the southwestern cusp of the Nicoya Peninsula, opposite Montezuma. If the Nicoya Peninsula is considered laidback, then Malpais is its epitome- an excellent place to kickback and unwind.
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Rincon de La Vieja
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Encompassed by the scenic Guanacaste Mountain Range, the Rincon de la Vieja cinder volcano sits amid 34,800 acres of national park territory. It is a great place to escape from Guancaste's sun-splashed beaches and to enjoy cool air, refreshing waterfalls, beautiful birds, and fantastic hiking. Its unique environment offers a different kind of Guanacaste vacation experience.
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