Costa Rica holidays
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For such a small country, there are plenty of things to do in Costa Rica. This travel guide to the country picks out some of the best.
The capital of San José is located in the wide, fertile Central Valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. It combines modern with traditional Spanish architecture and offers some interesting museums, art galleries, restaurants and shops. The surrounding volcanic Central Valley is a verdant agricultural region with small towns and national parks.
Explore coffee plantations, the rainforest of the Braulio Carrillo National Park and the orchids and other flora at the Lankaster Gardens. The Poas volcano, just outside the city, has a spectacular turquoise crater lake and many bird species in its dwarf cloud forest. La Paz Waterfall Gardens, on the slopes of the volcano, offer a number of trails as well as a hummingbird garden and a huge butterfly garden.
The mist-shrouded Monteverde cloud forest and the adjacent, but smaller, Santa Elena Reserve are home to a profusion of plant life and many species of butterflies, insects and birds, including resplendent quetzals. Reached along unpaved roads, hike here along trails surrounded by hanging vines or flowering orchids, or stroll through the treetops on canopy walkways, suspended bridges that bring you closer to the flora and fauna.
The impressive cone-shaped Arenal volcano, until recently one of the regions’ most active, is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Attractions nearby include hot springs, canopy walkways in the treetops, boat trips on Lake Arenal, as well as along the Rio Frio and the Caño Negro wetlands for superb birding. Further north-west and off the beaten track is the Tenorio Volcano National Park, where hikes in the rainforest lead to a beautiful waterfall and the turquoise Rio Celeste. Herds of cattle still roam the grasslands of the Guanacaste province, and here the less explored Rincon de la Vieja National Park is home to another active volcano, tropical dry forest, varied wildlife, more geothermal springs and boiling mud pools.
The Osa peninsula is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Golfo Dulce in the remote south-west corner of Costa Rica. Home to the Corcovado National Park and covered in dense primary rainforest, this magnificent and remote peninsula offers excellent hiking trails and an incredible concentration of flora, such as 70-metre high ceiba trees, and fauna, including howler and spider monkeys, sloths, ocelots, anteaters, scarlet macaws and more than 350 other bird species.
The central Pacific coastline is perfect for combining exploration and relaxation. The small and superb Manuel Antonio National Park features lush rainforest fringed by beautiful beaches and rocky headlands. Its wildlife includes white-faced capuchins, howler and squirrel monkeys, toucans, sloths and agoutis. The Carara National Park to the north is home to crocodiles, monkeys and scarlet macaws. Further south the less-visited coastline gets wilder. The Ballena National Marine Park protects coral and rocky reefs and is great for spotting turtles, dolphins and whales, which migrate here to mate between December and April.
Costa Rica’s various habitats are home to more than 850 bird species, many of which are endemic, and offer rewarding birdwatching experiences. Besides the numerous cloud forest reserves and the pristine rainforests of the Osa peninsula, other important areas include the Frio river and the wetlands of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge with an impressive number of migratory birds, including Nicaraguan grackles. Waterfowl also abound in the fresh and saltwater lagoons of the Palo Verde wetlands, particularly from January to March. The lowland forests around La Selva Biological Station and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí contain more than 400 bird species.
Tortuguero National Park is located on the remote northern Caribbean coast and is accessible only by boat or plane. Travel through banana plantations and take a boat through the network of waterways that penetrate the dense tropical forests, linking rivers and lagoons. Spot monkeys, sloths, caimans and toucans. Green turtles lay their eggs on the beaches here between July and September, while leatherbacks can be seen from March to June. The untamed coast further south has pristine beaches and an easy-going ambiance.
Costa Rica is home to six species of turtles including leatherbacks, the largest sea turtles. During the nesting season, watch adults laying eggs and baby turtles making their way to the sea. There are sites both on the Caribbean side (Tortuguero) and the Pacific coast (Tamarindo & Ostional) offering good possibilities of a sighting.
The Nicoya peninsula stretches down along the northern Pacific coastline offering some of Costa Rica’s finest beaches. In the beach town of Tamarindo, relax on the sandy beaches, explore the mangroves by boat or take an excursion to see nesting leatherback turtles. Meanwhile, palm-fringed Caño island (near the Osa Peninsula) is home to beautiful sandy beaches and excellent snorkelling opportunities.
See the top shrouded with clouds of ash and fumes during the day, watch the lava glow at night or soak in one of the numerous hot springs in the area.
See Costa Rica come alive in this image and video gallery, showing off some of the best areas that you can visit and explore.
Discover the temperatures and rainfall you can expect when visiting the main areas of Costa Rica, along with the best time to travel.
Find out more about what you can expect from travelling in Central America – from internal flights to accommodation standards and local transport.
Learn more about the airlines we use to fly to Central America, chosen for reliability and good service; as well as any available upgrade facilities.
Before travelling to Central America, please read more about the entry requirements for each country, as well as any general health advice.
Get to know our expert Central America tour consultants, their personal recommendations and favourite hotels around the world.