Best vacation places costa rica
Costa Rica is a country located in Central America with a touch of South America. Costa Rica is known for its rainforest, wildlife, volcanoes and beaches. Costa Rica is home to the most visited natural wonder on the planet, the Arenal Volcano. The word costa meaning coast or shore and Rica meaning rich in Spanish. Costa Rica has an area of 51, 100 square kilometers and 5 million inhabitants. Here are the most popular vacation places Costa Ricans love to visit. Advertisement:
When you’re looking for the perfect place to visit, your criteria differ from that of other. You’re not looking for just a great place for relaxation (everyone wants that); you are searching for something more. Is it secluded, warm and sunny? Is there water sports on offer? Are the sights beautiful and memorable? Or is it all these things added together that make your heart race? If so, Costa Rica could be the perfect destination for you.
We’ve all heard about that place, Costa Rica. It seems to dominate the destination wedding conversation in recent years. It’s the place where co-workers and friends talk about having their destination weddings. But many of these people have never actually been to this magical country on the Central American isthmus.
Costa Rica is a tropical country that offers an incredible range of attractions, from rainforests to pristine beaches and volcanoes. To help you decide where to go, we’ve put together a list of the best vacation spots in Costa Rica.
- Manuel Antonio National Park
This national park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Costa Rica. It’s known for its beautiful beaches, but also for its abundance of wildlife (including sloths!). There are plenty of hotels near the park if you want to stay close by.
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
This reserve is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in all of Costa Rica. It’s also home to several endangered species like monkeys, reptiles and birds – so it’s important not to disturb them while exploring this amazing place!
- Drake Bay Beach
If you love sunbathing on white sand beaches with crystal clear waters then Drake Bay Beach is going to be your dream come true! This beach isn’t as crowded as Manuel Antonio National Park so it might be better suited for those who want more privacy while on their trip!
Costa Rica is a great vacation destination for people who want to enjoy nature at its finest. The country offers many different types of environments, from beaches to rainforests, so you can choose your ideal setting.
Costa Rica is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including monkeys and sloths. If you’re interested in bird watching, Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world for it: more than 800 species have been spotted there!
You’ll find plenty of things to do while you’re in Costa Rica: go hiking through rainforests or swimming in the ocean; go zip-lining through the forest canopy; or take a guided tour around town. There are also many museums and historical sites that will help you learn more about Costa Rican culture.
1. Manuel Antonio National Park
Set on the edge of the town of Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica’s top destinations for wildlife viewing. It also has the added bonus of being home to beautiful soft-sand beaches.
Some of the usual wildlife sightings in the park are howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sloths, white-nosed coatimundis, and the hard-to-miss capuchins. You can also expect to see iridescent butterflies and a myriad of colorful birds flitting about. You can walk the trails on your own, but for a more in-depth experience consider joining a Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour. Guides often know exactly where the animals are and carry tripods and telescopes, ideal for wildlife viewing and photography.
Part of the attraction of Manuel Antonio National Park is its proximity to the town of Manuel Antonio. In town, you can find hotels within easy walking distance of the park, as well as restaurants and other retail.
Most of the action in town is centered around the beautiful oceanfront beach, where umbrellas and beach chairs line the sand and surfers enjoy the usually gentle waves. This is a popular place for beginners to take surf lessons. Across the road from the beach and higher up on the hillside are restaurants and stores, some of which can get loud in the evenings.
If you want to linger here for a few days and treat yourself to a luxury stay, Manuel Antonio is home to one of the top beach resorts in Costa Rica.
2. Arenal Volcano (Volcan Arenal)
The Arenal Volcano National Park, found in the rugged Cordillera de Tilarán, is one of the top volcano viewing areas in the country. The main attraction here is the Arenal Volcano, a cone-shaped mountain with huge ash columns frequently streaming from the crater.
Arenal was dormant from AD 1500 until a massive eruption on July 29, 1968, which killed 82 people and destroyed two villages. Since then, it has seen regular activity and, depending on the day or week, visitors can expect to see anything from a cloud of ash to glowing red lava flowing down the mountain.
The park is also known for its wide range of biodiversity, with approximately half of all Costa Rican birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals represented somewhere within its boundaries.
The Arenal Observatory Lodge, originally a private observatory established in 1987, is the only lodge within the Arenal Volcano National Park boundaries. It is located on a macadamia nut farm on the south side of the volcano. From the lodge, check out the excellent views of the volcano and Arenal Lake in the opposite direction. Numerous hiking trails are in the area; many lead to waterfalls and old and recent lava flows.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Arenal Volcano National Park
3. Monteverde and the Cloud Forests
The Cloud Forests near Monteverde and Santa Elena are some of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for ecotourism. If you are itching to immerse yourself in nature and see unique plants and wildlife without venturing too far off the beaten path, this is definitely the place to come.
The clouds covering these forests provide the moisture necessary to sustain the area’s unique habitats. While many people come simply for the bird-watching, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve sustain various mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Keep an eye out for colorful frogs and howler monkeys. Jaguars and pumas are more elusive. Organized hikes are one of the best ways to see the forest. Another option are canopy tours that may involve ziplines or bridges and even cable cars.
Monteverde and Santa Elena are the two main tourist centers in the region, with accommodation, restaurants, and even shops and artists’ galleries. This area, located northwest of San Juan, is a little more than four hours by bus. It can be cold up here, so be sure to bring warm clothes.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Monteverde
4. Tamarindo
If you’re looking for an action-packed beach town to settle in to for a while, Tamarindo is just the place. Located on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, Tamarindo is a top destination for surfing, beaching, and fun. Once a quiet fishing village, the town has grown into a tourist haven, where you can find a good assortment of restaurants and hotels.
The town is spread along Tamarindo Beach, a beautiful wide crescent that runs for approximately 1.5 kilometers. The area is known for surfing, with a range of breaks ideal for both experienced surfers and learners. The biggest waves are generally found here in November and December.
The area around Tamarindo offers eco-friendly adventures and activities that include snorkeling, diving, horseback riding, ziplining, and turtle watching in season. Nearby Playa Grande is one of Costa Rica’s most important nesting grounds for leatherback turtles. Throughout October and March, more than 100 turtles can be seen nesting and laying their eggs overnight.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Tamarindo
5. Dominical
Dominical is a tropical backpacker’s haven and one of the best places in Costa Rica for surfing. Lovely beaches, cheap accommodation, casual open-air restaurants, and a great bohemian vibe are what this town has long been known for. But, in the surrounding mountains, resorts, small inns, and luxury rentals attract an upper-end crowd.
A long stretch of beach fronts the town and in behind, under the shady trees, vendors set up tables and sell crafts and other items. In recent years, the once dirt streets have been paved, sidewalks have been bricked, and what was formerly a dusty beach town has become a much more refined tourist destination. Outside of town are quieter beaches, where it’s possible to find your own special place.
Dominical is a fantastic place to spot wildlife without venturing too far from civilization. Toucans, monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws are common sights even right in the town of Dominical.
The annual Envision Festival draws a crowd to Dominical in late February or early March. This event focuses on music, arts, wellness, sustainability, and includes things like yoga and other workshops.