Costa Rica’s highlights start in the capital where most international flights land. In the city find museums, parks and markets or choose excursions to local coffee farms, botanical gardens, and some of the best rafting in the country.
A couple of hours north the continuous activity of Arenal volcano promises a great show as a backdrop to the area’s many activities.
If you’ve only planned a couple days of surfing you’ll want to make the most of it and Playas Tamarindo and Grande boast the most reliable break in the country. If Tamarindo bustles too much for your taste try a boat or 4WD excursion north to Santa Rosa Park where you’ll find the remote Portrero Grande and famed Witch’s rock break (Endless Summer II) off Playa Naranjo, or rip the challenging but uncrowded beaches to the south: Langosta, Negra and Avellanas.
Finish up with a few days in the cloud forests of Monteverde or Santa Elena and you’ll have a great introduction to Costa Rica that will likely prime you to return time and again.
San José
San José is the capital of Costa Rica and home to the National Theater, Planetarium, a number of beautiful parks, as well as world class hotels, casinos and restaurants.
The mercado central, and museums of Jade and Gold are all worth a visit. Popular day trips to local coffee farms, whitewater rafting rivers, and canopy tours through the rainforest treetops can be arranged through most hotel tour desks.
Several National Parks and Reserves are within easy reach of the capital including Poás and Irazú volcanoes, the Lankester Botanical Gardens, and Braulio Carrillo rainforest.
Because of it’s central location San José is a transportation hub and most roads and domestic flights pass through. Juan Santamaría is Costa Rica’s main international airport located approximately 18 km west from the city center.
In the Region
Arenal Volcano
Although the lava isn’t flowing Arenal is still impressive and one of the premire destinations for canopy tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, hotsprings, waterfall hikes and ATV trails surrounding the National Park in the shadow of the volcano. The huge warm water lake offers excellent sport fishing and world class windsurfing.
Popular day trips to Caño Negro wetlands for bird and wildlife cruises and to Venado Caverns for a little spelunking round out the region’s offerings.
In the Region
Tamarindo Beach Guanacaste
One of the driest areas in Costa Rica year round. Playa Tamarindo is supplanting Jacó as the most popular surf and party town in Costa Rica with resorts, hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs strung along the beach to keep the nights as lively as the days.
In the Region
Monteverde Cloud Forest
The high mountains of the Cordillera de Tilarán literally scrape moisture out of the clouds at Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloudforest reserves.
The best known canopy tours and some of the most popular day hikes in Costa Rica are in this region. The cloud forest is also home to the most famous avian resident, the resplendent quetzal and a majority of the hummingbirds as well as the largest concentrations and varieties of epiphytes including orchids.
In the Region
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