There is so very much to see and do in Costa Rica that first-time tourists might have difficulty deciding what to visit and how to prioritize their days. Hopefully, this Top 10 list of places to visit will help take some of the guesswork out of it.
Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna area
La Fortuna is a town in the Northern Plains, home of the majestic Arenal Volcano (as shown in the photo above), and one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica for its natural and geological wealth. It has a wide variety for tourists. The thermal waters from Arenal Volcano are rich in minerals associated with welfare, it is one of the most visited sites in the country where you can relax and enjoy a unique natural setting in the middle of the rainforest. In addition, you can find the country’s largest artificial lake; Lake Arenal is located between beautiful forests and mountains.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Monteverde Cloud Forest
The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the natural jewels of Costa Rica, as it is one of the forests of this type that still exists in the world and also one of the best known worldwide for scientific research produced in the area. It is located in the Sierra de Tilarán and is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity; approximately 10% of its flora is endemic. The town of Santa Elena offers a variety of hotels and restaurants, along with a wide range of activities, both adventure and recreation, including a new activity that involves climbing trees with ropes for rappelling, canyoning, zip lines, and walks in the various private reserves in the area.
Manuel Antonio National Park and its Beaches
Manuel Antonio National Park is located in the Central Pacific, and it is the second most visited park in Costa Rica. The beauty of its white-sand beaches and emerald waters is one of the biggest attractions in the area. According to Forbes (2012), Manuel Antonio is the eighth site for the world’s most beautiful beach. The village is anchored in a patch of tropical rainforest in which you can easily observe many species of wildlife, including howler monkeys, sloths, deer, and raccoons, among many others. Its tourism offers can suit all budgets, and you can find very luxurious hotels as well as hostel-type accommodation. This area is known for its themed restaurants and nightlife.
Poás Volcano National Park
Poas Volcano and Botos Lagoon
The Poas Volcano is located in the Central Volcanic Cordillera, about 2700 meters above sea level. This volcano has long been one of the most visited places in the country, both for its proximity to the Central Valley and because it boasts one of the world’s largest geyser craters, approximately 1.32 kilometers in diameter. Most of the time, it lies hidden in the clouds and reveals itself only for a few hours a day to show its vastness and the bright colors of its acid lake; it is currently considered an active volcano. The volcano also has a second crater that lies in a green lagoon due to the high content of sulfuric acid. Poas Volcano National Park has excellent infrastructure that is special for comforting all visitors; it also offers safe roads both to the crater and the Botos Lagoon.
Irazú Volcano
Located in the Central Volcanic Range, about 31 kilometers from the city of Cartago, is another active volcano, the Irazu. This is the highest in the country, reaching 3,432 meters above sea level. This name is indigenous (Istarú) which means ‘hill of tremor and thunder’. It is protected by the park and has four craters and two lagoons. This volcanic series includes Irazu Volcano and Turrialba, which is why they are often referred to as twin volcanoes. Nearby, you will find many attractions, such as flower plantations, trout fishing sites, the Old Duran Sanitarium, and the colonial church Quirkot, among others. Also, in this area, one can appreciate the Guayabo National Monument, which is an archaeological site of great importance to the country, recently declared a World Heritage Site for Engineering.
Tortuguero Channels
Tortuguero Channels
Tortuguero channels represent the country’s second-largest wetland and are considered by many visitors to be the Amazon of Costa Rica for their natural beauty and rich biodiversity. It is located in the northern part of the Costa Rican Caribbean, and you can only access the area by boat or plane as there are no roads. It is the nesting place of the country’s most important green turtle, especially between March and October. The village of Tortuguero lies between the channels and the open sea, and it is the only town center area, you can find many hotels along the channels. Tortuguero is a magical place for bird watching because you can find more than 400 different species. Moreover, it is a site where one can have a unique experience immersed in nature.
Puerto Viejo of Talamanca and Cahuita
In the Caribbean, there are two villages that are clearly identified by their full cultural richness of African descent and indigenous nuances. Food, drink, music, and customs make this area a wonderful attraction for both domestic and foreign visitors. Its beaches keep visitors happy while enjoying the sun and the rainforest that reaches the sea. Its natural wealth is well represented in Cahuita National Park and in the live coral reefs (35 different species of coral) that surround Punta Cahuita. For lovers of surfing and snorkeling, the Caribbean is one of the most beautiful options.
Drake Bay
Drake Bay and Corcovado National Park
Located north of the Osa Peninsula, are Corcovado National Park and Drake Bay. It is one of the sites with a lower influx of tourists but with a wonderful and unique natural and archaeological wealth in the country. Corcovado is considered the place with the highest concentration of flora and fauna in the country, making it a mega-biodiverse area, that is also known as the open zoo of Costa Rica. Until recently, Drake Bay, specifically the people of Agujitas, could only be visited by sea. Its beaches are rocky and contain scenic beauty. In addition to the wildlife that inhabits these lands, the area is also known for nearby attractions such as Caño Island, the Térraba-Tiller, and the Archaeological Museum of Stone Spheres, among others.
Guanacaste Beach
The province of Guanacaste is home to dozens of beautiful beaches on its 200-kilometer Pacific coast, some of which are internationally renowned for their beauty and the activities that are made in the vicinity, such as snorkeling, diving, and sailing trips, among others. Guanacaste beaches offer the best areas for surfing and sport fishing offshore. Among the outstanding beaches of Guanacaste are: Tamarindo, Flamingo, Penca, Conchal, and Samara. The Guanacaste landscape is dominated by a dry tropical forest and the biodiversity therein. Given the popularity of the province, this area is accessible by way of the Daniel Oduber International Airport.
San Gerardo de Dota
Providence and San Gerardo de Dota
Both the people of Providence and the village of San Gerardo de Dota belong to Los Santos, known for its high-quality coffee and its particularly beautiful scenery. This zone is located in the Cerro de la Muerte, in the Province of San José, although it is accessible from the city of Cartago. Until very recently, this area was recognized as one of the most significant new tourist destinations, especially for birders and bird-watching specialists because it is a very important nesting site for Quetzal. Among the attractions of the area is the Savegre River, recognized as the cleanest river in the Americas, and its three beautiful waterfalls.
**To watch our YouTube channel video of Costa Rica’s best eco-tours, click HERE.