Costa Rica – Best Places to Visit in Each Region

Categories

Costa Rica is evidence that big things can come in small packages. In this compact country, its varied landscapes offer so much to see and do. From the lush rainforest and incredible wildlife to sandy beaches and volcanoes, it is a destination that really packs a punch. Each region of Costa Rica offers something entirely different, so choosing which places to visit can be challenging.

This list will help you experience the best of Costa Rica.

The Pacific Coast Beaches
The Guanacaste region of Costa Rica is renowned for the best beaches along its Pacific Coast. In Playa Hermosa, you'll discover a mellow vibe and black sand beaches. Further south in Playa Conchal, you’ll find a sparkling beach with sand that consists of tiny crushed shells.

Excellent surfing waves have put Playa Tamarindo on the map as one of the best beaches for beginners to learn catching waves. With over 300 days a year of surfable waves, Playa Guiones on the Nicoya Peninsula is another popular paradise for surfers.

The coastal village of Nosara is a health and wellness haven with year-round yoga retreats for beginners and experienced yogis.

Volcanoes
The iconic Arenal Volcano offers more than the obvious photo opportunities. You can trek through the old lava fields formed by the 1968 eruption in Arenal Volcano National Park. Fly through the canopy on a zipline tour. After an adrenaline-filled day, soak in the mineral-rich hot springs of Arenal Volcano.

Irazu Volcano is the tallest volcano in Costa Rica. The road up to the peak is easily accessible by car and leads straight up to the summit craters. It's incredibly scenic.

Poas Volcano is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. It’s periodically closed due to sulfuric emissions and volcanic activity and sulfuric emissions. If you visit Costa Rica when it’s open, be sure to see Poas’s two colorful crater lakes.

Costa Rica Rainforest
Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula is one of Costa Rica’s most remote locations. But Corcovado’s seclusion helps make it a very unique and extraordinary experience. National Geographic referred to it as the “most biologically intense place on Earth.” It is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, including rare tapirs, pumas, and jaguars, as well as over 350 bird species, marine animals, and my favorite…smiling sloths.

Monteverde is Costa Rica’s most renowned destination for cloud forests. At Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, you can see the rainforest from different vantage points – above, below, and within the canopy itself. You can hike the trails below the canopy to glimpse the endangered Quetzal. See spectacular views from suspension bridges within the canopy. But nothing compares to the feeling of soaring along a zipline peering down into the rainforest canopy. 

The Caribbean Coast
Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast offers so much more than just beautiful beaches. Afro-Caribbean traditions mix with the Latin American heritage creating a unique island vibe with fewer crowds than the Pacific Coast. The beaches along Tortuguero National Park are protected nesting sites for endangered turtles. Watch baby green turtles scurry across the sand to the sea. For an authentic experience, visit the small village of Manzanillo for Costa Rican culture, food, and attitude.

We design personalized Costa Rica vacations filled with enriching experiences so that you come home with extraordinary memories.

Schedule Your Complimentary Vacation Consultation Today