21 Best Places To Visit In Costa Rica - Updated 2024

best places to visit in costa rica
Saptami
Saptami 
Updated
| 9 min read

The small country of Latin America has gorgeous Caribbean and Pacific coastline, justifying its name which signifies ‘Rich Coast’. Yet, the charm of this country is not only limited to its gorgeous beaches. It is known to be one of the happiest countries in the world. Costa Ricans are known as 'Ticos’, a group of friendly warm people who are to welcome each guest with a huge smile. In the year 1948, the army of this country was demolished by President José Figueres Ferrer. To date, this country has no official army and the cost of maintaining an army are spent for the betterment of the normal people. Costa Rica is famous for its rainforests, containing some of the iconic species like spider monkeys, quetzal birds, Strawberry poison-dart frog. Technically a very small country, it has altogether seven provinces, San Jose, Alajuela, Cartago, Puntarenas, Heredia, Guanacaste, and Limon. Each of these provinces has its unique beauty. Check out some of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.

1. Dominical

Dominical, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by user travelmag.com used under CC BY 2.0

A trip to the rich coast must start with visiting some of its best beaches. Start your trip with the sea-town Dominical of Puntarenas. The town is most famous for the waves of the sea, which are perfect for surfing. Just off the coast of Dominical, the waves can be really high, around 10 ft (3.04 m), which can be really enjoyable for the professional surfers. The nearby Caño Island is famous for scuba-diving. Its colorful underwater world includes gorgeous coral reefs, starfish, sea turtles, dolphins, snapper, barracudas, sharks, whales, stingrays. Instead of scuba diving, you can also opt for snorkeling to have a glimpse of this marine world.

Dominical

Address: Puntarenas Province

Website: Dominical

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2. Jaco (from USD 85.0)

Another charming beach-town of Puntarenas region, Jaco is just two hours away from the capital city San Jose. This town offers a wide range of adventure activities, like deep-sea fishing, surfing, kayaking, boat rides, rafting, horseback riding, ATV tours through its charming countryside. The guided ATV tours take you through the famous woods, fields in and around Jaco. In between, you can catch a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean from various corners. This area is also full of tropical birds, enjoy their chirping all through the ride.

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ATV Tour in Jaco

Duration: 1 to 8 hours

282 reviews

3. Quepos

Manuel Antonio National Park Beach
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Michelle Tran used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The small town of Quepos is another jewel in the crown of Puntarenas. The town is the entry point of Manuel Antonio National Park, the most-visited national park of the country. A walk through the dense rainforest of this national park is to take you to the gorgeous beach of the Pacific Ocean. The national park consists of several hiking trails, through the rainforest. These trails even pass through small hills which offer an excellent view of the sea. There are four beaches linked with national park, Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Playita, Teloro. The park has diversified wildlife, around 109 species of animals and birds of around 184 species.

Quepos

Address: North Puntarenas

Website: Quepos

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4. Tamarindo

Costa Rica Playa Tamarindo and Grande 2007 aerial photograph tamarindowiki
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Tamarindowiki used under CC BY-SA 3.0

In the North-Western region of Guanacaste, Tamarindo is a beach town which is famous for its surfing facilities. It used to be a quiet fishing village in the past, which has gained popularity for its excellent beach. The beach of Tamarindo is long and its waves are very high, perfect for the experienced surfers. Along with surfing, visitors can also try swimming or fishing. The town also has a buzzing nightlife, with a number of bars and discotheques. For its centralized location, this village is also a good base to explore the entire Guanacaste region.

Tamarindo

Address: Guanacaste Province

Website: Tamarindo

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5. La Fortuna

Costa rica arenal fortuna 2001 12
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mprinke used under CC BY-SA 2.5

In the northern highlands of Costa Roca, this small town has two very important volcanos. The Arenal Volcano is assumed to be the most beautiful volcano in this country. It is a part of the Arenal Volcano National Park, which also has another important volcano. There are several hiking trails, the most famous one is the Arenal 1968 Trail. The entire trail offers an excellent view of the volcano. There are several hot springs in the town of La Fortuna. Lastly, you cannot miss the beautiful La Fortuna Waterfall, 10 minutes away from downtown.

La Fortuna

Address: Alajuela

Website: La Fortuna

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6. Malpais

Malpais
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mataparda used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The small fishing town of Puntarenas province houses the amazing beaches which are rated best beaches by Fobes magazine. The most important beaches in this village are Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa, excellent for surfing. The entire area has rocky beaches along with sandy stretch, and colorful shells on the beach. Apart from surfing, you can also enjoy activities like snorkeling, fishing, kite surfing, diving, horseback riding, hiking, quad biking, and canopy tours.

Malpais

Address: North Puntarenas

Website: Malpais

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7. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jsfouche used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The small town of Limon province used to be known as ‘Old Bridge’. Later, to maintain the parity with the national language of this country, the town as renamed as Puerto Viejo, which technically signifies the same. Apart from being the paradise for the surfers, this town features a mix-cultural vibe. The indigenous Bribri tradition mixes with Latino and Afro-Caribbean culture. In various corners of this city, you are to find the beats of Reggaetón, dancehall. The famous Salsa Brava beach is excellent for surfing, but only for experienced surfers as it has a very strong current. The town has a number of bar, restaurants to party hard.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Address: Limón Province

Website: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

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8. Monteverde

Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by user travelmag.com used under CC BY 2.0

The name Monteverde is closely linked with the amazing cloud forest reserve which has given this name. The famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is always surrounded by mists, which seems like clouds. Based on the northern part of the Puntarenas region, Monteverde claims to be different for its unique mists. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a paradise for bird lovers, as it is the home of around 500 species of birds including the native quetzal. There are various kinds of animals also, like the Costa Rican icon red-eyed tree frog or the golden toad which can only found here.

Monteverde

Address: Puntarenas Province

Website: Monteverde

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9. San Jose (from USD 46.0)

The capital and largest city of Costa Rica is an enchanting mix of metropolitan culture, history and surrounded by nature’s beauty. This cosmopolitan city overlooks the mountains with the clouds on the top. The colonial architecture is still visible in various parts. The best way to discover more about this city is to take a walking tour. A visit to the famous Borbón Market is a must, along with tasting a cup of Costa Rican coffee.

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Explore San Jose on Foot: Food Delights and Sights Tour

Duration: 3 hours

222 reviews

10. Liberia

Liberia Costa Rica Iglesia la Ermita de Nuestro Señor de la Agonía
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kognos used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located in Guanacaste region, the city of Liberia is known as ‘La Ciudad Blanca’ or the white city. The name is derived from the whitewash colonial houses which are still standing in the major parts of the city. To know more about the colonial past of the city, you must visit Calle Real. It is the oldest part of the city, which still has houses made with mud and palm. If you are eager to get the typical flavor of Costa Rica, visit the nearest Rincon de la Vieja National Park, just a few kilometers away from the main town.

Liberia

Address: Guanacaste Province

Website: Liberia

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11. Santa Teresa

Fishermen at Sunset, Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Christopher Crouzet used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The tiny beach village of Puntarenas region promotes eco-tourism. Its white-sandy beaches and laid-back attitude attracts lots of visitors all year round. For its offshore winds, Santa Teresa is perfect for surfing. As the water here is not localized, any levels of surfers can practice surfing here. The Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is located very close to this village, which is the first protected area of this country.

Santa Teresa

Address: Puntarenas Province

Website: Santa Teresa

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12. Montezuma

Montezuma, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Javier Bacchetta used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The bohemian small beach town combines adventures with serenity. The Montezuma waterfall is located close, which is one of the iconic one of this country. Around these falls, you can try cliff-diving and rope-swing. The small town sits within the jungle and cliffs, from where come the rivers and waterfalls. Its out-of-the-world scenic beauty is sure to attract lots of artists, making this town an important center for art.

Montezuma

Address: Puntarenas Province

Website: Montezuma

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13. Alajuela

Alajuela, Costa Rica - Juan Park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jaime Gutiérrez A... used under CC BY 2.0

The former capital is the second largest city of Costa Rica, located just 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away from San Jose. The town has huge historic importance, as it had taken a very important part in the Independence movement from Spain. It is also the birthplace of national hero Juan Santamaria. The International airport of Costa Rica is named after him. One of the main attractions of the city is the red domed cathedral, located near Parque Central. To know more about the history of this town and the entire country, a visit to the Juan Santamaria Cultural Historical Museum is a must.

Alajuela

Address: Alajuela Province

Website: Alajuela

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14. Cahuita

Golden sunrise in Cahuita, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by user Armando Maynez used under CC BY 2.0

Located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, the small village of Cahuita features black sandy beaches. The city is the gateway of Cahuita National Park, which is famous for its coral reefs and Playa Blanca, the white-sand beach. Here, you are expected to find the sea turtles, toucans, monkeys. The coral reef is best to be explored by snorkeling or scuba-diving, which is also a place to see various kinds of colorful fishes.

Cahuita

Address: Limón Province

Website: Cahuita

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15. Sarchí

Carreta tipica Sarchi (1)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Axxis10 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The artistic town of Sarchí is preserving another aspect of Costa Rican culture. Here, you are to get a glimpse of the traditional oxcarts which are one of the icons of Costa Rica. Located in the Alajuela province, you can see the traditional oxcarts are being made for selling all through the country. In the past, these oxcarts were used for the transportation of coffee beans and other products to the market. The traditional oxcarts are hand-painted with bright colors, which are sold as souvenirs all through the country.

Sarchí

Address: Alajuela Province

Website: Sarchí

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16. Tortuguero

Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user John Menard used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The name of this place somewhat describes the main USP of this place. The place is famous for turtles, where you can see many unique kinds of sea turtles like Green Sea Turtles, Hawksbill, leatherback. Here, you can see turtles on their nesting grounds. Summertime is the season for nesting when the turtles can be seen nesting in the wild. The small town is a part of Tortuguero National Park, which is the main conservation place of Sea Green turtle in the western Caribbean.

Tortuguero

Address: Limón Province

Website: Tortuguero

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17. Palmar Sur

Pista Aeropuerto de Palmar Sur
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Unknown author used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located in the heart of South Puntarenas, this river port is an excellent base to explore the entire region. It also has an Airport, which is well connected to the rest of the country. The city is located on the Sierpe River delta, which is the home of a huge mangrove swamp. To explore the huge mangrove forest in details, you can take a boat trip of Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands. The famous Corcovado National Park is also located nearby.

Palmar Sur

Address: Puntarenas Province

Website: Palmar Sur

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18. Turrialba

Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Luis Manuel Madri... used under CC BY 3.0

In the central valley of Cartago province, the town Turrialba offers an excellent view of the countryside. It is mainly known for the proximity of Turrialba Volcano. The volcano lies on Turrialba Volcano National Park, which was last erupted in the year 1866. It is a safe volcano to climb up, which can also offer a glimpse of the other volcanos like Poas, Irazu, Barva volcanoes. If you are keen on adventure, you can try river rafting in Rio (River) Pacuare.

Turrialba

Address: Cartago Province

Website: Turrialba

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19. Nuevo Arenal

Lac Arenal Costa Rica
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Gregory Zeier used under CC BY 3.0

In the region of Guanacaste, this small town is located on the edge of the most active volcano in the country, Arenal. Another beautiful point of this region is Lake Arenal. The small town offers a beautiful view of the lake and Volcano. Previously, there used to be another town named Arenal, which disappeared after the water level of the lake had risen over the limit. Thus, the new town Nuevo Arenal is built on slightly higher ground, with all safety standards. You can try activities like fishing or windsurfing. This town is famous for its windsurfing facilities, mostly from November to April.

Nuevo Arenal

Address: Guanacaste Province

Website: Nuevo Arenal

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20. Zacero

Parque Francisco Alvarado, Zarcero, Costa Rica
Source: Photo by user Mike Baird used under CC BY 2.0

Located in the San Jose Highlands, this picturesque town is the capital of the canton of Alfaro Ruiz. The main attraction of this town is the surrounding coffee plantations of the city. Another most beautiful part of the city is the Topiary Garden, located in front of the cathedral. The pink and blue church, Iglesia de San Rafael, is just beside this garden, the interior of this church is beautifully decorated with paintings.

Zacero

Address: Alajuela Province

Website: Zacero

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21. San Isidro de El General

San José Province, San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mark Cowell used under CC BY 3.0

The small town is located in the southern part of Puntarenas, in the district of Pérez Zeledón. The roads leading to this town is to pass through the beautiful Talamanca Mountains. You also have to cross the famous Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death). The name is derived by the death of the travelers who died of trying to conquer this mountain. The town is famous for its cattle show and fair, which takes place in the month of February.

San Isidro de El General

Address: San José Province

Website: San Isidro de El General

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Pura Vida

Pura Vida
Source: Pixabay

A term is closely linked with Costa Rican life, ‘Pura Vida’. The term technically means pure life, which in this country is more than a phase, it’s a way of life. It is used vastly to say hello, bye or everything alright. Life in Costa Rica is pure as this saying. Therefore, you have to visit this country to feel the true meaning of ‘Pura Vida’.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Saptami's primary life mission revolves around the exploration of the uncharted. Following the completion of her MBA, she steered clear of the conventional 9-to-5 career path, prioritizing the...Read more

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