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- More than Full Day. TIME TO SPEND. The Nicoya Peninsula's sparkling 80-mile shoreline boasts beach-centric towns with cream-colored shores and dense forests.
- Natural Wonders, Sightseeing. TYPE. Half Day to Full Day. Arenal, one of the world's most active volcanoes, stands more than 5,000 feet high.
- Beaches, Free, Neighborhood/Area. TYPE. More than Full Day.
- Parks and Gardens, Sightseeing. TYPE. Half Day to Full Day.
Costa Rica. Costa Rica is where to go when you want to disconnect and go all in on nature—and with its sun-drenched beaches and lush rainforests, it’s pretty easy to do it. Yes, it’s known for its laid-back pura vida lifestyle, but adventure’s everywhere, too: Hike through lava fields at Arenal Volcano National Park, raft down the Rio ...
- Ride The Waves
- Fly Through The Clouds in Santa Elena
- Raft Into The Pacuare Lodge
- Commune with The Creatures
- Hike, Swim and Climb to La Leona Waterfall
- Spy on Nesting Sea Turtles
- Splurge on A Multicourse Meal in The Sky
- Explore An Active Volcano
- Kayak Through Sea Caves
- See Some Magnificent Birds
Surfers in the know plan their entire vacation around the wild and wonderful waves on the Costa Rica coastlines. If you're new to Costa Rica's surf scene, this is a fantastic place to find out what it’s all about thanks to inviting warm waters, long and luscious waves and non-stop good vibes. The most popular surf destinations include Tamarindo, No...
There are zip-line courses all around the country – some higher or faster or longer than others – but the Santa Elenacanopy tours are special. The Costa Rica canopy craze started here, but more importantly, there’s something fantastic about soaring over the treetops with the clouds swirling all around you. Take in the misty magic of the cloud fores...
The Pacuare Lodgeis a gorgeous, luxurious facility surrounded by dense rainforest and little else. The only road in is not a road at all, but rather a river: the namesake Río Pacuare. Here is a case where the journey rivals the destination, as you travel to the lodge by white-water rafting over Class III-IV rapids on this world-famous river. The ro...
For wildlife watchers, there’s no better place to meet Costa Rica's fauna than the trails around Sirena station in Parque Nacional Corcovado, the area National Geographiccalled “the most biologically intense place on the planet.” Here, visitors have a good chance of seeing animals (some endangered) that are rare in other parts of the country, inclu...
This outing is more than a hike or a waterfall swim – it’s a canyoneering adventure. That’s the only way to describe this excursion down the Río Blanco in Curubandé de Liberia, which involves swimming, scrambling, spelunking, climbing and cliff jumping. You’ll ogle three different waterfalls on the way, including a final celestial-blue beauty hidde...
Every few years, female sea turtles perform an ancient ritual, returning to their natal beach to lay their eggs beneath the moonlight before returning to the welcoming waters of the sea. Elsewhere on the same beach, tortuguita(little turtle) hatchlings dig out of their nests and scurry to the sea. It’s an incredible and intimate episode to witness....
San Lucas is not just a restaurant; it's a dining experience – that is, a surprise nine-course menu that's also a lesson in Costa Rican history and culture. The food presentations are innovative, interesting and excellent overall, but the highlight is the fantastic setting in the sky. Each table occupies a private glass cube high atop a mountainsid...
The mountains of northern and central Costa Rica are lined up in a row of hissing, steaming, sputtering volcanoes, some of which are open for exploration. Wander among boiling mud pots and steaming fumaroles of Volcán Rincón de la Vieja; hike the lava flows and soak in volcanic-heated pools at Volcán Arenal; peer into the steaming crater at Poás an...
Along the Costa Ballena on the southern Pacific coast, Playa Ventanasis a small but spectacular palm-backed beach that has a special feature: intriguing caves in the cliffs at its north end. At low tide, you can investigate the two caves that open onto the beach (taking care to retreat if the water starts to rise). But if you’re up for a challenge,...
Even if you’re not a bird nerd, it’s easy to geek out about the avian life in Costa Rica. Of course, there are myriad multicolored beauties that you’ll see flitting about pretty much everywhere; then there are a few showstoppers – rare in other parts of the world but relatively easy to see in Costa Rica (if you know where to look). Most famously, t...
- La Fortuna. Best place for outdoor adventures. Volcán Arenal’s picture-perfect cone looms over the town of La Fortuna. Up until 2010, it thrilled visitors with plumes of smoke and lava pyrotechnics, but today climbing to the summit is illegal.
- Osa Peninsula. Best place for getting off-the-beaten path. The wild and remote Osa Peninsula is all rainforests, rivers and mangroves, ringed by pristine beaches.
- Monteverde. Best place for birds, butterflies and cloud forest canopy tours. Away from Costa Rica’s sun-soaked beaches and steamy rainforests, Monteverde’s mist-wreathed cloud forest reserves sit high on the country’s mountainous spine.
- The Nicoya Peninsula. Best place for sand and surf. Famed for its postcard-perfect beaches and sweet Pacific swells, Nicoya has something for wave riders of all levels.
- Lindsay Cohn
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve. Nestled along the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve covers more than 35,000 acres of lush trees.
- Rincón de la Vieja National Park. Rincón de la Vieja National Park spans 34,000 acres of rugged terrain. It’s also a hotbed for adrenaline-pumping activities.
- Ecotermales Fortuna. The ideal place to soothe overworked muscles and relax after countless rugged adventures? The warm, magnesium-rich waters heated by the nearby Arenal Volcano are said to help combat inflammation and relieve pain, and the cool pools provide the perfect opportunity for hot and cold therapy.
- Corcovado National Park. “Corcovado National Park, located on the Osa Peninsula, protects one of the most biologically diverse and complex ecosystems in the world,” says Jemma Wright.
Jan 24, 2024 · Best Overall: The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa. Best Adults-Only: Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica. Best for Families: Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula...
May 4, 2024 · Days 1 to 3: La Fortuna & the Arenal Volcano. Days 3 to 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest. Days 5 to 7: Manuel Antonio & Nauyaca Waterfalls. Days 7 to 14: Choose a couple of destinations along the Pacific. From Pavones to Santa Teresa and Playa Negra to Nosara, I’ll walk you through all of the best options so you can decide what’s right for you!
