Fodor's Essential Costa Rica
Whether you want to surf in Manuel Antonio, zip-line through the Monteverde Cloud Forest,...
Costa Rica has it all: nowhere else can you gaze upon a volcano while soaking in a hot spring one day, hike deep into a rain forest the next, and end your trip learning to surf at a luxurious seaside resort. Miles of pristine beaches on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, fabulous national parks with plentiful opportunities for wildlife viewing, and world-renowned eco-lodges have made this one of the hottest destinations around. The welcoming people of Costa Rica, and their mellow pura vida lifestyle, add warmth to every visit.
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Top Destinations
Top Destinations

Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific

Central Valley

Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast

San Jose

Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Coast

Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Arenal and La Fortuna

Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena

Nosara

Tamarindo

Manuel Antonio

Jaco

Dominical

Ballena National Marine Park

Samara

Puerto Jimenez

Escazu

Cahuita

Alajuela

Malpais and Santa Teresa

Heredia

Playas del Coco

Tortuguero

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

Turrialba

Montezuma

Quepos

San Isidro de El General

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

The Orosi Valley

Liberia

Santa Ana

Limon

Playa Hermosa

San Vito

Playa Grande

Puntarenas

Cartago

Playa Flamingo

Playa Potrero

Playa Avellanas

Brasilito and Playa Conchal

Palo Verde National Park

Playa Zancudo

Drake Bay

Bahia Salinas

Papagayo Peninsula

Sarchi

Poas Volcano National Park

Atenas

San Gerardo de Dota

Playa Pavones

Nicoya

Playa Hermosa

Nuevo Arenal

Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos)

Playa Negra

Playa Ocotal

San Antonio de Belen

Golfito

Tilaran

Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge

Tarcoles

Cabo Matapalo

San Ramon

Playa Langosta

Grecia

Guapiles

San Gerardo de Rivas

Santo Domingo

Playa Herradura

Playa Carrillo

Zona de Los Santos

Curu National Wildlife Refuge

Santa Rosa National Park

La Cruz

Esterillos Este

Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge

Playa Junquillal

Punta Islita

Siquirres

Carate

Isla Tortuga

Carara National Park

Punta Leona

Playa Bejuco

Crossing into Panama via Sixaola

Playa Tambor Area

Playa Bahia Junquillal

Cahuita National Park

Chirripo National Park

Braulio Carrillo National Park

Barra Honda National Park

Corcovado National Park

Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Preserve

Playa Pan de Azucar

Irazu Volcano

Volcan Arenal National Park

Crossing into Nicaragua at Peñas Blancas

Barra del Colorado

San Jose

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Arenal and La Fortuna

Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena

Nosara

Manuel Antonio

Tamarindo

Jaco

Dominical

Samara

Escazu

Puerto Jimenez

Cahuita

Malpais and Santa Teresa

Alajuela

Heredia

Playas del Coco

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

Turrialba

Montezuma

Quepos

San Isidro de El General

Santa Ana

Liberia

Limon

Playa Hermosa

Playa Grande

San Vito

Puntarenas

Cartago

Playa Flamingo

Playa Potrero

Playa Avellanas

Brasilito and Playa Conchal

Playa Zancudo

Drake Bay

Palo Verde National Park

Sarchi

San Gerardo de Dota

Atenas

Playa Negra

Playa Hermosa

Playa Pavones

Playa Ocotal

San Antonio de Belen

Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos)

Nuevo Arenal

Cabo Matapalo

Golfito

Tarcoles

Tilaran

Playa Langosta

Grecia

San Ramon

Santo Domingo

Guapiles

San Gerardo de Rivas

Playa Herradura

Playa Carrillo

Esterillos Este

La Cruz

Siquirres

Punta Islita

Playa Junquillal

Punta Leona

Playa Tambor Area

Carate

Playa Bejuco

Playa Bahia Junquillal

Playa Pan de Azucar

Irazu Volcano

Barra del Colorado

Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific

Central Valley

Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast

Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Coast

Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands

Tortuguero

The Orosi Valley

Bahia Salinas

Papagayo Peninsula

Nicoya

Zona de Los Santos

Ballena National Marine Park

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

Poas Volcano National Park

Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge

Curu National Wildlife Refuge

Santa Rosa National Park

Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge

Carara National Park

Cahuita National Park

Braulio Carrillo National Park

Corcovado National Park

Chirripo National Park

Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Preserve

Barra Honda National Park

Volcan Arenal National Park
All Destinations
Expand All Collapse All
Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula
- Bahia Salinas
- Barra Honda National Park
- Brasilito and Playa Conchal
- Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Preserve
- Crossing into Nicaragua at Peñas Blancas
- Curu National Wildlife Refuge
- Isla Tortuga
- La Cruz
- Liberia
- Malpais and Santa Teresa
- Montezuma
- Nicoya
- Nosara
- Palo Verde National Park
- Papagayo Peninsula
- Playa Avellanas
- Playa Bahia Junquillal
- Playa Carrillo
- Playa Flamingo
- Playa Grande
- Playa Hermosa
- Playa Junquillal
- Playa Langosta
- Playa Negra
- Playa Ocotal
- Playa Pan de Azucar
- Playa Potrero
- Playa Tambor Area
- Playas del Coco
- Punta Islita
- Puntarenas
- Rincon de la Vieja National Park
- Samara
- Santa Rosa National Park
- Tamarindo
Top Experiences
Top Experiences
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Shop NowFodor's Essential Costa Rica
Whether you want to surf in Manuel Antonio, zip-line through the Monteverde Cloud Forest,...