Places to Go in Costa Rica - Places of Interest

Costa Rica

Adventure activities
Whilst Costa Rica is famed for its natural beauty, there are also plenty of ways to explore the country for those seeking a bit more of an adrenalin rush. Canopy zip-line tours, white water rafting, quad biking along deserted Pacific beaches, horseriding, hiking to pristine lakes and forests, mountain biking and kayaking are just a few of the options available.
Adventure activities
Ecotourism
Costa Rica has long been heralded as a pioneer in ecotourism, with over a quarter of the country being protected as a national park or reserve. Whilst many hotels elsewhere in the world will wave the ecotourism flag with little or no real credentials, things are different in Costa Rica, where hotels can gain accreditation from a national board for implementing green practices.
Ecotourism
Turtles
July to October is the nesting season for the endangered Green Turtle, when the turtles come up on to Tortuguero beach at night to lay their eggs. It is possible to arrange trips at night to witness this fantastic natural phenomenon, and it really is a wonderful sight to see these peaceful giants so close up.
Turtles
Volcanoes
There are over 200 volcanoes in Costa Rica, many remaining active and fascinating to explore. Their landscapes range from dramatic jagged moonscapes to verdant tropical rainforest, conical in shape to rugged and barren with ancient magma flows and crater lakes. At Arenal, in particular, you may even be able to glimpse live lava flows and hear gas eruptions.
Volcanoes
White water rafting
Rafting in Costa Rica is simply spectacular and there are numerous places to try it, suitable for all levels. The Pacuare River, in particular, is the most challenging. It is a thrilling experience in a stunning setting as the surrounding tropical rainforest provides your backdrop for this adventure, complete with narrow gulleys and beautiful waterfalls along the way.
White water rafting
Wildlife
The wildlife is simply spectacular in Costa Rica and you have real chances of seeing tapirs, sloth, ocelots, coatis, caiman, numerous species of monkey, margay, turtles, iguanas, frogs, butterflies, not to mention more than 850 species of birds.
Wildlife

Central America

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Popular Places in Costa Rica

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History & Culture8
Safari & Wildlife11
Landscape & Scenery12
Journeys & Cruises1
Beach & Relaxation6
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Places A-Z

Arenal Volcano & the Cloudforest Reserves
Central Pacific Coast
Corcovado & Osa Peninsula
Dominical
El Silencio Lodge
Esterillos
Manuel Antonio
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Northern Pacific Coast
Playa Potrero
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Punta Islita
Rincon de la Vieja
San Gerardo de Dota
San José & Central Valley
San Ramon
Tamarindo
Tenorio Volcano
Tortuguero & the Caribbean Coast
Turrialba

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- arenal volcano and the cloudforest reserves
- Arenal Volcano & the Cloudforest Reserves
- The cloudforest reserves in the highlands of Costa Rica are one of the best places for birders. Lush with thick foliage, they are a haven for hundreds of species of birds, insects and butterflies. However, it is the Arenal volcano that generally surpasses all expectations, delivering daily eruptions of molten lava that are not only visually stunning but also strikingly loud.
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- Arenal Volcano & the Cloudforest Reserves
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- central pacific coast
- Central Pacific Coast
- Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast is scattered with a diverse range of stunning beaches and protected areas of natural beauty - in all a fantastic opportunity to experience nature, adventure and relaxation within easy reach of San José.
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- Central Pacific Coast
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- esterillos
- Esterillos
- Located just a two hour drive from San Jose and 45 minutes from Manuel Antonio, on the pacific coast Esterillos is a shell-strewn, long, expansive and scenic beach.
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- Esterillos
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- manuel antonio
- Manuel Antonio
- Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast is scattered with a diverse range of stunning beaches and protected areas of natural beauty: a fantastic opportunity to experience nature, adventure, and relaxation within easy reach of San Jose.
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- Manuel Antonio
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- corcovado and osa peninsula
- Corcovado & Osa Peninsula
- The Osa Peninsula is one of Costa Rica’s most unique and remote areas - tucked away in the south-west it is much less accessible than other parts of the country, which only adds to its appeal. The biological diversity in the area is huge, much of it protected since 1975 as the Corcovado National Park.
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- Corcovado & Osa Peninsula
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- Activities & Adventure
- Journeys & Cruises
- Beach & Relaxation
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- dominical
- Dominical
- Dominical is a wild and beautiful region situated on the remote south-western Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The area receives far fewer visitors than Manuel Antonio, which is just 40 kilometres north.
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- Dominical
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- el silencio lodge
- El Silencio Lodge
- Located in the Bajos del Toro region of the volcanic highlands, amongst lush foliage, tumbling waterfalls and abundant with hundreds of species of birds, insects, butterflies and plants, El Silencio is a wonderful new eco-lodge.
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- El Silencio Lodge
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- monteverde cloud forest
- Monteverde Cloud Forest
- The Monteverde locale is world famous for its cloud forest and, although generally associated solely with the reserve that carries its name, it actually covers a much larger area stretching from Volcan Arenal to the east down to the low hills of Guanacaste in the west.
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- Monteverde Cloud Forest
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- northern pacific coast
- Northern Pacific Coast
- Slightly further afield than the central pacific coast, the Nicoya Peninsula and Guanacaste coastlines are fringed by some of the country’s most idyllic beaches.
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- Northern Pacific Coast
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- History & Culture
- Safari & Wildlife
- Landscape & Scenery
- Activities & Adventure
- Beach & Relaxation
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- playa potrero
- Playa Potrero
- A favourite with locals and visitors alike, Playa Potrero is a long, pristine beach bordering a beautiful, quiet bay that is perfect for swimming.
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- Playa Potrero
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- puerto viejo de sarapiqui
- Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- The town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui lies two hours northeast of San José, but it's the surrounding area that is of most interest to the traveller. Not only is it a superb place for the wildlife and nature enthusiast, but it's also less-visited than Tortuguero or Monteverde.
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- Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
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- puerto viejo de talamanca
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a laid-back village on the Caribbean coast, located between the forested hills of the Talamanca mountains and the sea.
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- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
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- punta islita
- Punta Islita
- Hotel Punta Islita opened in 1994 in an area where cattle ranching and wood extraction was the basis of the local economy. Prior to this, the area's tropical dry forest had been stripped due to the unsustainable practices that were being undertaken. Since the opening of Punta Islita, the environmental degradation has been reversed.
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- Punta Islita
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- rincon de la vieja
- Rincon de la Vieja
- Rincon de la Vieja National Park protects a beautiful dry forest landscape in the northwest of Costa Rica. Named after the active Rincon de la Vieja volcano, the park is still relatively visitor-free and is home to some 200 bird species.
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- Rincon de la Vieja
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- Beach & Relaxation
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- san gerardo de dota
- San Gerardo de Dota
- The sleepy hamlet of San Gerado de Dota is about three hours south of San José and famous amongst the world’s birdwatching community.
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- San Gerardo de Dota
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- san jose and central valley
- San José & Central Valley
- The capital of Costa Rica, the large, sprawling city of San José is the focal point of the Central Valley with a spectacular setting, ringed by jagged mountains and volcanoes on all sides.
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- San José & Central Valley
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- Landscape & Scenery
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- san ramon
- San Ramon
- The quaint city of San Ramon is only an hour's drive from San Jose and is a good place to stop on the way to Arenal or heading down to the Pacific.
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- San Ramon
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- tamarindo
- Tamarindo
- Nature in Tamarindo is abundant - howler monkeys can often be seen and heard swinging on branches throughout the area. It's ideal if you are looking to be based in an upbeat, busy area and there are some fine hotel options here.
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- Tamarindo
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- tenorio volcano
- Tenorio Volcano
- Covered in primary rainforest and cool cloud forest, Tenorio National Park is rich in flora and fauna and abundant in beautiful rivers, hot springs, lakes and waterfalls.
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- Tenorio Volcano
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- tortuguero and the caribbean coast
- Tortuguero & the Caribbean Coast
- One of Costa Rica’s most culturally diverse regions, the Caribbean coast has influences that range from Hispanic and Miskito Indian to Afro-Caribbean. There are some beautiful beaches and coral reefs to be found around Cahuita but the main attraction is the Tortuguero National Park.
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- Tortuguero & the Caribbean Coast
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- History & Culture
- Safari & Wildlife
- Landscape & Scenery
- Activities & Adventure
- Beach & Relaxation
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- turrialba
- Turrialba
- The verdant Turrialba Valley is nestled against the Caribbean slopes of the Cordillera Central, just 40 miles east of San Jose. The lush landscape here is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna, and the wild waters of the Reventazon River offer some of Costa Rica's best white water rafting.
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- Turrialba
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- Activities & Adventure

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