Essential places to visit in Costa Rica

Few places in the world offer such a great variety as in Costa Rica, a country where you can bathe in the waters of two oceans, experience a trip through the jungle, or tour volcanoes that will offer you unforgettable postcards.

Costa Rica is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world, with humid tropical forests that are practically virgin, and beaches that offer peace and the best natural settings.

Join us in the following travel guide, where we will show you the best places to visit in Costa Rica, so you can live an unforgettable trip full of wonderful experiences.

The best places to visit in Costa Rica

1. National Parks of Costa Rica

One of the main characteristics of Costa Rica are its great natural reserves or national parks, which are one of the main tourist attractions, where in addition to beautiful natural landscapes, you can see many animal species.

There are about twenty-six national parks in total, and then we will talk about the most important ones.

Manuel Antonio Park

The proximity to the capital San José and the great beauty that this place offers, make Manuel Antonio National Park the most visited by tourists traveling to Costa Rica.

The park has two incredible environments. The jungle area where you can hike, observe the vegetation and admire the different species of animals, such as monkeys, birds, snakes; and the beach area where you will enjoy some of the best coastline in the entire country.

The beaches of this national park offer a breathtaking view of the sea, with the emerald sea, blue skies, beautiful bays and white sands.

To enjoy a complete experience in this park, it is best to have the services of an expert guide.

Corcovado Park

Corcovado National Park can be proud to have among its boundaries the most biodiverse space on the planet.

It has been recognized by biological institutes worldwide and by National Geographic, which has also dedicated numerous works to this park.

The great biodiversity that it possesses and the particularity of being a forest with a high level of rainfall, make it one of the favorite places for tourism in Costa Rica.

Here you can see tapirs, jaguars, monkeys, crocodiles and even humpback whales in its beach area.

To visit this park it is important not to go off the beaten track or on defined trails, not to leave garbage in its surroundings and to avoid touching both plants and animals.

In addition to these two main parks, others can be mentioned, among them:

• Marino Ballena: It has four incredible beaches on the Pacific coast.

• Tortugero National Park: You can access it by boat or by air; where you can see the green sea turtles at dusk, being a spectacle worthy of a documentary.

• Monteverde National Park: With its lush green landscapes, and its hanging bridges over the jungle, you can practice zip-lining from one tree to another.

2. The volcanoes of Costa Rica

Another of the great attractions of tourism in Costa Rica is visiting the volcanoes that this beautiful country has, where you can find numerous dream images that produce unforgettable memories.

Irazu volcano

Located very close to the capital San José and the city of Cartago, being one of the most important destinations in Costa Rica.

The Irazú volcano is the largest in this country, being able to be observed from its summit, a large part of the Costa Rican territory, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in addition to having the possibility of being able to look at Lake Nicaragua if you have a telescope.

The crater of the volcano is an attraction in itself, since inside the crater, you can see water of greenish color that can be variable, sometimes emerald color, others with a more opaque color.

Poas Volcano

If the Irazú volcano is the largest in Costa Rica, the Poás volcano has one of the largest craters in the world.

The Poás is an active volcano that since the last three decades has increased its emission of gases, which gives it an atmosphere of steam and smoke, where rainfall is constant.

But despite everything, the landscape, the cultural manifestations of the native peoples and the energy felt in the place, make it an essential visit.

Arenal Volcano

The Arenal volcano is located in the Arenal National Park, where you can also appreciate the natural habitat of a large part of the country's birds, so on each side you turn, you will surely see birds of various types.

This national park has the peculiarity of offering its visitors the relaxing benefits of hot springs, as well as countless waterfalls and streams.

Tenorio Volcano

The humid forest found in this volcano makes hiking its paths an unforgettable experience.

However, the main attraction of this walk will be the Rio Celeste.

The Rio Celeste is an amazing vision of nature, where the waterfall and the river take on shades ranging from turquoise, emerald, aquamarine or deep blue; that will make you remember the idyllic images of the earthly paradise.

Near this river, you can also visit the hot springs or the views from the volcano, where you can see both oceans.

3. The Beaches of Costa Rica

Being a country where the Pacific and Atlantic coasts bathe its coasts, Costa Rica is a country where there will be no shortage of beaches to enjoy a day of sun, sea and sand.

Some of the best beaches are found in the Province of Guanacaste, which is the province that concentrates some of the best tourism sites in Costa Rica, such as: Playa Flamingo, Playa Conchal, Playa Hermosa, among others.

Conchal Beach

The crystal clear water, the surrounding mountains and the white sand make this beach a special place.

It is made up of millions of white shells, making this beach one of the essential places to visit in Costa Rica.

Many visitors like to snorkel on these beaches, thanks to its coral reef, where you can glimpse the great marine biodiversity that the Costa Rican coasts hide.

Flamingo Beach

The image that we all have of a tropical beach paradise can come from the famous Flamingo beach, where its crystal clear waters, lagoons and white sand make this beach a memorable place that you will always want to return to.

Something remarkable about Flamingo Beach are its sunsets, where the sky and the sun acquire a golden color accompanied by orange tones, where God seems to be the painter of those images.

Beautiful beach

The Beautiful Beach of the Province of Guanacaste, is one of the quietest and most beautiful beaches that you can get on your trip along the coasts of this country.

It is one of the best beaches to rest and disconnect from everything, with about two kilometers of beach and the tropical rainforest around it. One of the visits that you cannot miss if you travel through Costa Rica.

Puntarenas Beach

Some Caribbean beaches have white sands and green areas, where the jungle seems to mix with the beach.

You can enjoy the same in Puntarenas with the difference that it is in the Pacific Ocean, and the great biodiversity is one of its characteristic hallmarks.

Many flock to these beaches, not only for the beauty of the landscapes, but it is also one of the most outstanding surfing destinations in the world.

Pavones Beach

This beach is not as crowded as the others that we have presented in this guide, on the contrary, the low influx of tourists allows its visitors to know the true face of Costa Rica.

A side away from its tourist places, where Costa Rican hospitality, the country's gastronomy and the customs of its people can be authentically known.

Pavones Beach is an ideal place for surfers, since on its shores, the waves can reach four meters in height, something very appreciable for surfers.

What are the requirements to travel to Costa Rica?

Any tourist in the world can visit Costa Rica if they comply with the visa regulations and biosafety rules, imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the fact that the Costa Rican government does not ask for Covid-19 screenings, or the order to confine oneself when entering the country, they do ask for the request to fill out the “Health Pass”, which will include minors.

This health pass must be completed via the website of the Costa Rican State, consulting the minimum time for the application.

Another requirement to enter the country will be a travel policy, which will last as long as the country is visited and only tourists who have received the Covid-19 vaccine will be exempt from this requirement by showing their vaccination certificate.

We hope this Costa Rica travel guide has been useful, so that you can organize your trip through this beautiful country in the best way.