17 Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica

The best places to visit in Costa Rica are La Fortuna for Arenal Volcano and its hot springs, Monteverde for cloud forest, Manuel Antonio for wildlife on the beach, Tortuguero for nesting sea turtles, and the Nicoya Peninsula for surf towns like Santa Teresa. A first trip of 10 to 14 days covers three or four regions comfortably.

Where to Go in Costa Rica

Costa Rica protects about a quarter of its land in national parks and reserves, and the variety packed into a country smaller than West Virginia is what makes it work. Volcanoes, cloud forest, two coastlines and remote rainforest are rarely more than a day’s drive apart.

What it is oversold for is a quick, cheap beach holiday. Roads are slow, park tickets and tours add up, and the most rewarding places, Corcovado and Tortuguero, take real effort to reach.

This guide covers 17 places, from easy first-trip bases to remote parks. Universal Traveller checked park fees, opening days, access rules and the hotels named here in October 2026.

Costa Rica Destinations Compared

1. Monteverde

Monteverde sits in the Tilarán Mountains and is one of the most popular places for nature in Costa Rica. Its name means green mountain in Spanish, and the area is a landscape of rolling hills and dense forest wrapped in near-constant cloud.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is next to the village, and the red-eyed tree frog, an unofficial symbol of Costa Rica, lives in its protected forest. The reserve gets crowded at times, so the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve nearby is a quieter alternative.

Monteverde Lodge and Gardens and the Trapp Family Lodge are two of the best-regarded hotels in Monteverde. Both bring real comfort to the raw cloud forest setting.

Book one of the professionally guided nature walks. A guide with a spotting scope is the key to understanding why Monteverde is famous for its biodiversity, and the night walks find kinkajous, tarantulas and sleeping birds.

Verdict: Worth it, but go with a guide and start early. Unguided midday walks in fog often show little more than green.

This guided night walk in the Kinkajou Forest is where most visitors see Monteverde’s nocturnal animals, rated 4.5 from over 1,600 reviews.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in Monteverde

2. Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the Caribbean coast is one of Costa Rica’s best places for surfing, and surfers travel far for the Salsa Brava reef break. It is often called the best wave in the country, but it breaks over shallow reef and is for experts only.

The surf culture comes with a strong Afro-Caribbean and Rasta influence, and Jamaican roots shape the town’s music and food. Rice and beans cooked in coconut milk and spicy rondón soup are the dishes to order.

Beyond the surf, the coast has white and black sand beaches suited to snorkeling and dolphin watching, and Cahuita National Park is a short drive north. Locals also run cultural tours, from chocolate-making to birdwatching.

Accommodation is mostly small and simple. Hotel Le Cameleon on Playa Cocles is the best-known high-end option, but there are no large resorts like those in La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio, and the laid-back feel is the reason to come.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers who want culture and food as much as beaches. Visitors who need polished resorts should stay on the Pacific side.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in Puerto Viejo

3. La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

Fancy a cocktail in a natural hot spring with a volcano in view? As you approach La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano rises above the town and the farmland around it.

Arenal’s last major eruptive phase ended in 2010, and the volcano is now resting rather than erupting. Its heat still feeds the thermal pools, waterfalls and forests that make La Fortuna the busiest base in the country.

Visit the Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park and allow time for Lake Arenal and the La Fortuna Waterfall, 530 steps below the road. Rappelling, horseback riding and white-water rafting are all on offer.

Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa sits on a natural hot river at the foot of the volcano. Day passes to the springs are sold, but staying overnight gives evening access when the day crowds leave.

Verdict: Worth it, and the easiest first stop in Costa Rica. Skip the most crowded hot springs at peak times and book a resort with its own pools instead.

This day tour combines the volcano trails, the hanging bridges and the waterfall with a guide, rated 4.8 from over 700 reviews. Independent travelers with a car can do all three for less.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in La Fortuna

4. Tamarindo

Tamarindo is about 67 kilometers, or 1 hour 15 minutes, from Liberia’s Guanacaste airport. It suits travelers who want nature without giving up modern comforts, familiar food and everyday conveniences.

Surfing is the main draw, and the area has waves for beginners and experts alike. Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta are friendlier to first-timers and have plenty of surf schools.

Across the estuary, Playa Grande lies inside Las Baulas National Park and draws experienced surfers to its stronger waves. From October to March, the same beach is a nesting site for leatherback turtles, seen only on ranger-led night tours.

Tamarindo is one of Costa Rica’s best-known beach towns, so hotels, restaurants and tour operators are plentiful. It is also the most developed beach on this list, which is either its appeal or its drawback.

Verdict: Worth it for beginner surfers and travelers who want restaurants and nightlife. Anyone looking for a quiet village should choose Sámara or Montezuma.

Read the full guide: Things to do in Tamarindo

5. San José

San José is the capital of Costa Rica, and many travelers skip it on the way to beaches and volcanoes. I’d say stay at least a day or two to see its historic buildings and eat well.

The climate is spring-like most of the year, and the compact center is easy to walk between the Plaza de la Cultura, the National Theatre and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum beneath the plaza. La Sabana Park, to the west, holds the Costa Rican Art Museum and the National Stadium.

The Central Market is the place for an inexpensive lunch at a soda, a traditional Costa Rican diner, and for souvenirs. It is open Monday to Saturday.

The Gran Hotel Costa Rica, opened in 1930 and now part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, faces the National Theatre. Hotel Grano de Oro, in a restored early 20th-century mansion, is the classic boutique choice.

Verdict: Worth one full day for the museums and the market. Travelers short on time lose little by staying near the airport instead.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in San José

6. Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio is about 3 hours by road from San José, and its national park is the most visited in Costa Rica for good reason. Sloths, capuchin and squirrel monkeys and iguanas live right behind the beaches.

From the park’s trails you can reach two beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio, which are good for swimming and snorkeling. Tickets are sold online only, and the park is closed on Tuesdays.

Hotels around Manuel Antonio are some of the best in the country. Gaia Hotel and Reserve combines luxury with its own forest reserve, and scarlet macaws visit the grounds.

Villas with rooftop terraces and ocean views give a front-row seat for the sunset. Expect the area to be busiest from December to April.

Verdict: Worth it, but only with a guide and an early ticket. Without a guide, most visitors miss the animals hidden in plain sight.

This guided tour with an optional park ticket solves the online-only booking and comes with a naturalist and scope, rated 4.8 from over 2,200 reviews.

Read the full guide: Things to do in Manuel Antonio

7. Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park covers much of the Osa Peninsula in Puntarenas province, one of the most remote and biodiverse regions in Costa Rica. National Geographic has called the Osa Peninsula the most biologically intense place on Earth.

The park has protected endangered species such as tapirs, jaguars and scarlet macaws since 1975. Its beaches are wild, but the riptides are powerful, so swimming is not advised.

Since 2014 every visitor must enter with a certified guide, and overnight stays are only possible at the Sirena ranger station, in dorm bunks or camping. Dry season, from about January to April, is the best time, and the ICT lists Sirena as closed in October, so check before you plan.

Offshore, Caño Island Biological Reserve is the area’s dive site, with white-tip reef sharks, rays, moray eels and sea turtles. Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, formerly Casa Corcovado, borders the park and arranges guided hikes, horseback riding and diving.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers who want true wilderness and accept the cost and effort. First-timers with a week should skip it for Manuel Antonio.

Read the full guide: Things to do in Corcovado

8. Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa has some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica and some of its most consistent surf. Mal País, another good surf spot, is just 3 kilometers south.

Canopy tours, horseback riding and hiking are all close by. The Curú Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica’s first private wildlife refuge, is about an hour and a half away near Paquera and makes a good day trip.

Yoga is everywhere, and there is no better place to try it for the first time after a day of surfing. Canaima Chill House, a small jungle hotel about 500 meters from the beach, is a relaxed place to stay.

Verdict: Worth it for surfers and anyone who wants a slower, barefoot pace. Expect rough dirt roads and dust in the dry season.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in Santa Teresa

9. Jacó

To outsiders, Jacó is known for three things: surfing, sport fishing and nightlife. To many Ticos, it is their weekend escape on the Central Pacific coast.

Just 1.5 to 2 hours from San José, Jacó is the closest real beach town to the capital. It is busy, but waterfalls, national parks and good local food are all nearby.

Carara National Park, about 15 minutes north, is one of the best places in the country to see scarlet macaws. Stop at the Tárcoles River bridge on the way to see its crocodiles.

On Jacó Beach, grab a surfboard and tick surfing off your list, then watch the sunset turn the skyline orange. The main street fills up after dark.

Verdict: Worth it as a quick beach break from San José or a stop on the way south. Travelers looking for charm should continue to Manuel Antonio.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in Jacó

10. Tortuguero

Tortuguero is often called the Amazon of Central America, and you will understand why once you arrive. There are no roads in, so you reach it by boat or small plane, which keeps the village small and every visit intentional.

Getting around by boat is the point. Monkeys, birds, sloths and caimans line the canals.

Tortuguero National Park was established in 1975 to protect nesting sea turtles and now covers about 31,000 hectares. It is one of the wildest and most important parks in the country.

Green turtles nest from July to October, peaking in September and October, and leatherbacks nest earlier in the year. Night turtle tours run only with certified guides.

Most lodges are also reached only by boat, including the Manatus Hotel, a full-board boutique hotel on the river.

Verdict: Worth it from July to October for the turtles. Outside nesting season it is still a rewarding wildlife trip, but plan two nights, as a day trip is mostly travel.

Tours and transfers to Tortuguero are listed on GetYourGuide.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in Tortuguero

11. Central Valley

Most Costa Ricans live in the Central Valley, or Meseta Central. Its fertile land and mild climate explain why.

It is home to the Irazú and Poás volcanoes, both active, whose ash enriches the soil for coffee farms. Strictly speaking it is a plateau, not a valley.

Poás erupted on August 27, 2026 and reopened with restrictions: a lower daily cap, helmets on crater trails and short time slots at the viewpoint. Tickets must be booked online in advance.

Braulio Carrillo National Park, just north, has hiking trails to waterfalls through dense forest. An aerial tram glides through the treetops nearby.

For a stay, Hotel Grano de Oro in San José and Hotel Bougainvillea, set in 10 acres of gardens in Santo Domingo de Heredia, are both well regarded.

Verdict: Worth a day at the start or end of a trip. Book Poás for the first slot, as clouds often cover the crater by late morning.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in the Central Valley

12. Tortuga Island

Tortuga Island, made up of the islands of Alcatraz and Tolinga, lies off the southeastern Nicoya Peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya. It is small, but its clear water makes it one of the best snorkeling trips in the country.

The name means turtle. The island is reached only by boat and is visited as a day trip from Jacó, Puntarenas or Montezuma.

Divers can explore the wreck of the Franklin Chang Díaz, a former Coast Guard ship sunk as an artificial reef at about 90 feet. Nervous about diving?

Snorkel the shallows for parrotfish and angelfish instead.

Verdict: Worth it on a calm, clear day. In the rainy season, visibility drops and the long boat ride is harder to justify.

This day trip from San José includes the boat, snorkeling and lunch, rated 4.5 from over 1,100 reviews. Travelers staying in Montezuma can book a shorter local boat for less.

13. Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Rincón de la Vieja National Park in Guanacaste protects an active volcano and about 34,000 acres of forest. Its Las Pailas trail passes bubbling mud pots, steaming vents and waterfalls.

The area is about an hour from Liberia, and the hot springs at Borinquen Thermal Resort and Hacienda Guachipelín are close by. Borinquen is the most comfortable base for adventure tours.

Horseback riding, canopy tours, 4×4 trips, hiking, biking and river tubing are all popular here. February to April brings the most reliable weather.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers flying into Liberia who want a volcano without La Fortuna’s crowds.

Read the full guide: Top attractions in northwest Costa Rica

14. Puerto Limón

Puerto Limón is the capital of Limón province on the Caribbean coast and the country’s main port. It is a break from crowded beaches and party towns.

People come for its Afro-Caribbean history and culture, and for local specialties like cashew wine. Christopher Columbus landed on Isla Uvita, just offshore, in 1502.

Parque Vargas, with its royal palms and seafront promenade, holds pieces of the city’s history. The ethnohistory museum, in the old post office building, documents daily life on the coast, but check its opening hours before going.

Verdict: Worth half a day on the way to Puerto Viejo or Tortuguero. It is not a place to base a holiday.

Read the full guide: Best things to do in Puerto Limón

15. Cerro Chirripó

Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica, and reaching its summit is the country’s classic hiking challenge. The trail starts at San Gerardo de Rivas.

The route is about 20 kilometers each way: 14.5 kilometers to Crestones Base Camp, then 5.5 kilometers to the summit. On clear mornings you can see both the Pacific and the Caribbean.

Permits must be booked in advance through the SINAC portal, up to six months ahead, and weekends sell out. Crestones Base Camp, a dormitory lodge for 52 guests, is the only accommodation inside the park.

Most hikers sleep at base camp and climb for sunrise. Before or after, explore San Gerardo de Rivas, where locals run coffee tours and there are natural hot springs.

Verdict: Worth it for fit hikers who plan months ahead. Everyone else will get more from Rincón de la Vieja or Monteverde.

16. Playa Sámara

Playa Sámara in Guanacaste has a reputation as a small, safe town, which makes it a popular choice for families. The beach is a calm, sheltered bay about 5 kilometers long.

Beyond the beach, Sámara offers yoga classes, horseback riding and stand-up paddleboarding. Fishing and farming still support many local families.

Sámara has an airstrip for small planes, and Liberia airport and Nosara’s domestic airstrip are within driving distance.

Hotel Punta Islita, a short drive south in Islita, offers adventure tours from its hillside property. In town, Villas Playa Sámara is a 116-room all-inclusive resort popular for weddings.

Verdict: Worth it for families and beginner surfers who want calm water. Surfers chasing big waves should choose Santa Teresa.

17. Montezuma

Here is another beach town, and luckily Costa Rica’s beaches are hard to tire of. Montezuma is known for white sand, waterfalls a short hike from town and good snorkeling.

The dry season, from December to April, is the best time to visit. Montezuma is also the gateway to Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve.

Established in 1963, Cabo Blanco was Costa Rica’s first protected area. It sits at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula and is reached by dirt road through Cabuya.

Inside the reserve, trails lead past armadillos, howler monkeys and raccoons to the beaches of Playa Cabo Blanco and Playa Balsitas.

Verdict: Worth it for travelers who want a quieter alternative to Santa Teresa. Check Cabo Blanco’s closed days before planning around it.

More Costa Rica tours and day trips are listed on GetYourGuide.

Getting to and Around Costa Rica

Most visitors fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) near San José, or Guanacaste Airport (LIR) in Liberia for the northwest beaches. The departure tax of $29 is usually included in the airfare.

Shared shuttles such as Interbus link the main destinations, from about $68 between San José and La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio (2026). Sansa runs domestic flights to Quepos, Tortuguero, Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez and Cóbano.

A rental car gives the most freedom, but third-party liability insurance is mandatory and adds about $10 to $20 a day. Use Waze, avoid driving after dark and expect one-lane bridges and potholes.

For routes between destinations, see how to get around Costa Rica.

Best Time to Visit Costa Rica

The best time to visit Costa Rica is December to April, the dry season on the Pacific side and in the Central Valley. May to November is the green season, with afternoon rain, lower prices and fewer visitors.

The Caribbean coast follows a different pattern and is often driest in September and October, which suits a combined trip to Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo. Guanacaste is the driest region overall.

Climate data: Juan Santamaría airport near San José, which runs warmer than the city center. Crowd levels are Universal Traveller’s assessment.

What a Trip to Costa Rica Costs

Costa Rica is one of the more expensive countries in Central America, closer to US prices than to its neighbors. The figures below are per person per day, sharing a double room, in October 2026.

Restaurant bills add 13% tax and a 10% service charge to menu prices. Treat these ranges as a guide, as prices rise in December, January and Easter week.

Suggested 12-Day Costa Rica Itinerary

• Day 1: arrive in San José, with an afternoon at the Gold Museum and dinner in town
• Day 2: Poás or Irazú in the morning, then drive to La Fortuna
• Days 3 and 4: La Fortuna, with Arenal’s trails, the hanging bridges, the waterfall and an evening in the hot springs
• Days 5 and 6: Monteverde, with a guided cloud forest walk and a night tour
• Day 7: drive to Manuel Antonio, about 4 hours
• Days 8 and 9: Manuel Antonio National Park with a guide, then a beach day
• Days 10 and 11: Santa Teresa or Sámara for surf and slow days, or Corcovado for wilderness
• Day 12: return to San José or fly home from Liberia

From July to October, swap Monteverde for two nights in Tortuguero to see the turtles nest.

More Universal Traveller Guides to Costa Rica

• The best luxury hotels in Costa Rica
• Arenal Volcano National Park guide
• Manuel Antonio National Park guide
• How to get around Costa Rica
• All Costa Rica guides

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Costa Rica

Disclosure: Universal Traveller earns a commission on bookings made through the GetYourGuide and Booking.com links and widgets in this article, at no extra cost to the reader. Partners have no say in which places are recommended or in the verdicts.

• About the Author
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Mareike Wielens( Tourism in Costa Rica Expert )

Mareike Wielens is a highly experienced and passionate Tourism in Costa Rica expert with over 10 years of experience in the travel industry.

She is the CEO of Emotional Travel, a Costa Rica travel agency specializing in well-being and mental health vacations, but also designs tailormade roundtrips in Costa Rica.

Expertises: Tourism in Costa Rica, Costa Rican Tourism Board, Ecotourism in Costa Rica, Costa Rica, Travel agency