Costa Rica Guide

travel information and maps

  • Vacation Planning
  • Best Trips Ever>>
  • More Fun Than Humanly Possible
  • Costa Rica
    • Top Ten
    • Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
    • Things To Do in Costa Rica
    • Maps
    • Transportation
      • Rental Cars
        • Advantages of Driving
        • Disadvantages Driving
        • Code of the Road
        • Navigation & Drive Time
        • Rental Insurance Explained
        • Can’t Get There
      • Airports
        • Flights Worth Taking
        • LIR or SJO
        • Airfare Deals
        • Domestic Airlines
        • Domestic Air Tips
      • Taxis
      • Bus Schedule
    • Food
      • Typical Menu
      • Batidos & Refrescos
      • Gallo Pinto
      • Tamales
      • Ceviche
      • Ensalada Palmito
      • Sopa Negra
      • Vinagre Chilera
    • Weather
      • Seasons in Costa Rica
      • Current Storms in Costa Rica
    • Regions
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • National Parks
    • Wildlife Refuges
    • Ecozones
    • Best Places to See Wildlife in Costa Rica
  • Practical Info
    • Health & Safety
      • Health Tips
        • Altitude Sickness
        • Chikungunya
        • Natural Disasters
      • Crime
        • Cons & Rip-offs
        • Corruption
        • Violent Crime
    • Will My Phone Work?
    • Packing List
    • Passports & Docs
    • Money – How To?
    • How Much Does it Cost?
    • Travel Tips
  • Stories
    • Photos
    • Trek Across Costa Rica
    • Sendero de Oro
    • Quebrada Gata
    • Bicycle Touring
    • About Us
  • Move to Costa Rica
  • Free Travel Pack
no obligation custom trip plan & price quote

1-866-816-0197

· Copyright © 2025 ·

Top Ten

Costa Rica Top Ten Must See Destinations

Top Ten Must See Arenal Volcano Caribbean Beaches Guanacaste Beaches Manuel Antonio Monteverde Cloud Forest Nicoya Peninsula Osa Corcovado Rincon de la Vieja San Gerrados Tenorio Celeste Tortuguero Everyone Has a Different "Must See" List Ours takes the opinions, recommendations … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Best Kept Secrets

Hammock at Sand dollar cove

There's a bit of guilt associated with releasing this information to the public because much of what's special about the places on this list will be lost if "The Public" arrives en masse. However, I have faith that Costa Rica will always have something new and amazing to explore so get to these … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Beaches of Guanacaste

Playa Hachal Murcialago Santa Rosa

Brasilito, Conchal & Tamarindo are just a few of the jewels of the Pacific Luxury Resorts All Inclusive Resorts Golf Beach Houses Deep Sea Fishing Surfing Guanacaste's beaches are in the top ten best in Costa Rica for all this and more! The … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Arenal Volcano

Arenal volcano puffs smoke

Arenal Volcano forms a perfect cone between the lake and the tourist village of La Fortuna Spas & Hotsprings Luxury Resorts Wildlife Spectacular Views Waterfall Rappels Canopy Ziplines Hanging Bridges White Water Rafting Budget Travel Arenal is in … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Monteverde

Cerro Amigos Cloud Forest Hike

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve protects an ecological zone that is rapidly disappearing Mountain Lodges Cloud Forest Birdwatching Spectacular Views Restaurants Adventure Activities Wildlife These attractions earn the remarkable high altitude cloud … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Osa & Corcovado

Fly in Camping - Grass Landing Strip at Sirena Station

Jaguars, tapirs, macaws and other wildlife are the top reasons this wild peninsula is one of the best Trekking & Hiking Surfing Wildlife Remote Eco-Lodges Birdwatching SCUBA & Snorkeling   The wilds of the Osa include one of the top ten … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Manuel Antonio

A beach at Manuel Antonio

The beaches and wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park make it one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica Boutique Hotels Small Luxury Resorts Wildlife Spectacular Views Deep Sea Fishing Adventure Activities The jewel of the Pacific, … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Tortuguero

Playa Tortuguero

Canoeing & Kayaking Beachcombing Wildlife Watching Remote Eco-Lodges Birdwatching Turtle Nesting   Tortuguero means turtle hunter but now the region is a national park committed to conservation & ecology. Not only is it one of the very best … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Tenorio, Celeste & Miravalles

Catarata Río Celeste

Hikes Luxury Ecolodges Wildlife Easy Walks Rustic Lodges Birdwatching Difficult Hikes Rafting Authentic CR Hiking, bird watching, and natural volcanic springs are only the beginning.  There are almost too many reasons to include this area not the least of … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

The San Gerardos

It's not nearly as close as it looks...First night is spent in San Gerardo so you can start hiking at/before dawn to arrive at the refugio in the park early afternoon. Night two is spent in the refugio before the morning climb to the peak and the rest of the day hiking out.

Mountain Lodges Cloud Forest Birdwatching Spectacular Views Wildlife Hiking & Trekking The Talamanca mountains and Tinamaste massif are a top spot to enjoy all San Gerardo de Dota & San Gerardo de Rivas offer. San Gerardo de Dota and San … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Nicoya Peninsula

Catch a wave

Santa Teresa, Mal País, & Tambor beaches are just a few of the uncrowded options Boutique Resorts Beach Communities Adventure Beach Houses Deep Sea Fishing Surfing The remote beaches and unique tropical dry forests of Nicoya make it one of the … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Southern Caribbean

Playa Manzanillo southern Caribbean

A whole different world on the lesser known half of Costa Rica Secret Dry Season Budget Travel Wildlife Watching Beach Houses Cuisine Surfing Beach Cruisers Reefs & Snorkeling Uniqueness All of these and more are waiting for intrepid travelers … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Rincon de la Vieja

Double rainbow (low and bright over the trees and high and faint in the clouds) Rincon de la Vieja

Moderate Hikes Easy Access Geothermal Features Easy Walks Rustic Lodges Birdwatching Difficult Hikes Adventure Tours Authentic Costa Rica Rincon is not only an amazing spot but one of the few places you can access dry, rain and cloud forests all in one spot … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Turrialba & Orosi Honorable Mention

The elfin cloud forest climbs the slope above the rainforest a few thousand feet down in the background to the top and right. To the left is the treeless crater of Volcán Turrialba

Moderate Hikes Easy Access Authentic Costa Rica Whitewater Rafting Boutique Lodges Birdwatching The region around volcán Turrialba and Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Parks and the Orosi River valley was the hardest one to leave off of the list of the top ten best … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

San José Honorable Mention

Sue looking out the window over San Jose

Museums & Culture Convenience Adventure Tours Necessity Visitors rarely travel all the way to Costa Rica for shopping, traffic jams or international restaurants but San José have other things to offer as well. Necessity Sometimes San José or one of the suburbs … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Jacó & Hermosa Honorable Mentions

Playa Jaco

Condos Convenience Deep Sea Fishing Surfing Adventure Tours Restaurants & Bars Resort Manuel Antonio and Tamarindo are racing to catch up but Jacó is still the undisputed king of the condo beach towers in Costa Rica. Modern & Cosmopolitan Okay so … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Dominical, Uvita Honorable Mention

Humpback whale waving a flipper

Hikes & Walks Easy Access Deserted Beaches Surfing Adventure Tours Birdwatching Wildlife Refuges Two of the best private wildlife refuges with on site eco-lodges in Costa Rica are adjacent to Dominical (Hacienda Barú) and Uvita (La Cusinga).  Both specialize in … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Not at the San Gerardos

Batido, refresco, naturale, or just a fruit smoothie

When trying to give an accurate picture of what to expect when traveling it can be as helpful to describe what isn't in an area as it is to describe the highlights of a region.  Below are a few things not to expect around San Gerardo de Dota and San Gerardo de Rivas/Chirripó National … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Not in Tortuguero

Tortuguero Airport (yes that's all there is to it)

Roads, Buses & Cars There are no roads to Tortuguero village.  Visitors arrive by plane at the airstrip north of town or by small boat (see details on all four boat routes to Tortuguero). Swimming, Snorkeling & Surfing Beaches Beautiful tropical beaches stretch for miles both north … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Not at Tenorio & Miravalles

Sue on a zipline over the Savegre Valley San Gerardo de Dota

Canopy Ziplines Sometimes you can learn as much about a region by what's not there as you can by what is.  One of the most telling observations about the Bijagua region is that there is not a single zipline tour.  It's the only little corner of Costa Rica without one (or typically many … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Next Page »

toll free Costa Rica travel desk!
1-866-816-0197

CONTACT US

Top 10

Top 10
  • Top Ten
  • Best Kept Secrets
  • Beaches of Guanacaste
  • Arenal Volcano
  • Monteverde
  • Osa & Corcovado
  • Manuel Antonio
  • Tortuguero
  • Tenorio, Celeste & Miravalles
  • The San Gerardos
  • Nicoya Peninsula
  • Southern Caribbean
  • Rincon de la Vieja
  • Turrialba & Orosi Honorable Mention
  • San José Honorable Mention
  • Jacó & Hermosa Honorable Mentions
  • Dominical, Uvita Honorable Mention
  • Not at the San Gerardos
  • Not in Tortuguero
  • Not at Tenorio & Miravalles



Costa Rica Guide on facebook
Costa Rica Guide on Facebook