Costa Rica Sights

With its mist-shrouded waterfalls, dewy cloud forests, fuming volcanoes, and multi-hued sands, Costa Rica feels like the living product of an overactive (and indecisive) imagination. Its magma craters seem volatile, its shores seductive, its towering trees full of mystery and their massive root mazes born of design and intent. Connecting all the elements of this living system is ecotourism, the lifeblood of Costa Rica’s economy, which has managed to simultaneously preserve and profit from the country’s many diverse ecosystems. Costa Rica established its national park system in 1970, and by now just over one quarter of its land has been protected by an extensive system of reserves, parks, and refuges throughout the country. These parks (and the many tourism agencies that have sprung up alongside them) cater to every whim and preference—whether you want to calmly stroll along well-maintained trails or muscle and push your way through the underbrush with a machete and a healthy supply of optimism.

Conveniently, none of the country’s natural wonders lie too far from the capital city of San José. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is full of thousands of animal, plant, and insect species, which visitors encounter at varying speeds along an extensive network of trails, tree-top bridges, and ziplines. Just a short and scenic bus, boat, and taxi ride away (in that order), enjoy famous hot springs and marvel at active lava flows at Volcán Arenal , or venture underground to explore 10 stalactite “galleries” at the Cavernas de Venado nearby. The slopes of nearby Volcán Tenorio are studded with hot springs, rugged craters, sparkling lakes, and surging waterfalls. Farther north, Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja offers an even more elaborate geothermic variety show, complete with sulfuric lagoons and boiling mud pits. Site of one of the Costa Rican army’s first, best, and only victories, Parque Nacional Santa Rosa now hosts an enchanting cast of spider and howler monkeys in forests that border miles of secluded beach. The Nicoya Peninsula is a mecca for surfers and sun-worshippers, while the Osa Peninsula and Parque Nacional Corcovado persist in relative obscurity further south, preserving a region that National Geographic has called “the most biologically intense place on earth.” Located on the Pacific coast between the two peninsulas, surf and sand meet the rainforest at Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio , where visitors encounter monkeys and migrating butterflies along jungle trails that lead directly to the beach. On the Caribbean coast, mangrove swamps and fossil-filled coral caves await to the south at the Refugio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo , while the remote Parque Nacional Tortuguero to the north draws thousands of nesting turtles each year, along with the devoted leagues of conservationists that come to study and protect them.

Sun-Kissed By The Seashore

No matter how you define beachside bliss, Costa Rica’s shores can probably provide it. Postcard-perfect dreams come to life on this isthmus, where it’s possible (with a short drive) to witness a Caribbean sunrise in the morning and a Pacific sunset in the evening. It seems as though every activity imaginable is available along Costa Rica’s vista-blessed beaches—from surfing to sunbathing, camping to scuba diving. Depending on your mood, you can snorkel with the fish or catch one for dinner; most restaurants are happy to cook up your catch for discounted prices. Playa Tamarindo offers the perfect combination of gorgeous surfing days and wild tropical nights, while Jacó promises to be a beach bum’s paradise. For a change of pace, visit the isolated beaches of Parque Nacional Santa Rosa , famous for surfing and turtle-watching, or the algae-carpeted tide pools of Playa Avellana . Surfing is at its best on the endless waves of Pavones , while at Brasilito and Conchal , vast broken-shell beaches make for quieter sunset strolls. Avid surfers and sunbathers flock to Playa Hermosa —not to be confused with the upscale beach of the same name on Península Nicoya—for its relaxed atmosphere, hot black sand, and exhilarating waves. Serious and casual divers alike head to Bahía Drake for the chance to frolic with marlins, rainbow fish, and dolphins in some of the country’s clearest waters, while the bravest surfers tackle the famous Salsa Brava swell in Puerto Viejo . Zancudo is a weekend vacation destination for many tico families, offering unparalleled sportfishing and five kilometers of black-sand shorelines. White-faced monkeys scamper through the coconut palms and smooth sands of Cahuita , where horseback-riding tours are popular. On the nearby shores of Manzanillo , the pristine waters of the Caribbean are hemmed in by rainforest and coral reefs. No trip to Costa Rica is complete without following the beaches of Montezuma to magnificent waterfalls, wildlife, and waves.

In Defense Of Culture

Though popular opinion might suggest that Costa Rica has neither the storied past nor the contemporary culture of other Central American countries, those visitors in search of national personality and artistic vitality will find much to enchant them here. While many travelers skip out on the less-than-charming capital, San José , as quickly as possible, museums like the Museo de Jade and the Museo Nacional , whose exhibits are housed in an old fortress studded with bullet holes from the 1948 revolution, make a few extra days in the big city worth it. Don’t miss splendid murals, elaborate ceiling frescoes, and world-class shows at the Teatro Nacional . The nearby suburb Escazú offers fine dining and classy B&Bs, while San Pedro features a buzzing student neighborhood packed with restaurants, bars, and clubs. Venture south during early August to witness the impressive religious pilgrimage that thousands of ticos make to Cartago and its Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, or visit nearby Turrialba to raft its wild rivers and explore Costa Rica’s most important archaeological site at Monumento Nacional Guayabo, where intricate petroglyphs testify to the people who lived on the land that Columbus “discovered.” Travelers interested in contemporary indigenous culture can stay with a family of artisans at the Reserva Indígena Boruca , while those intrigued by expat cultural incongruity should check out nearby San Vito , whose delicious restaurants and quaint shady streets were constructed by Italian immigrants after WWII. The Atlantic coast offers reggae vibes and Caribbean flair—explore Puerto Viejo de Talamanca’s sprawling arts and crafts market while you sample Costa Rican staples like gallo pinto (rice and beans) doused in coconut milk and creole spices. For a taste of how the sabaneros (cowboys) party, check out the massive rodeo that fills the streets of Liberia with dancing and signature Costa Rican style bullfighting every July during the “Expo-Feria Ganadera-Liberia.”

Going Incognito

Be warned: people have been known to disappear here—they come for a week but end up staying for years. This slice of paradise has a knack for attracting travelers and holding onto them, and idyllic outposts like Dominical and Golfito are full of expats who decided to settle here for good. If you’d like to spend more than a few weeks in Costa Rica, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for study, work, and play—everything from protecting hatching turtles at Tortuguero , Parismina , to taking surfing and nature photography lessons in Jacó . Enroll in a summer-long Spanish classes or teach English to schoolchildren in a remote, rural village for a year. Check out Beyond Tourism for more options.