Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica on Vacation

Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries located in Central America. Through their stunning beaches, interesting landmarks, and amazing volcanoes, this is easily one of the best places to vacation. With so much to do, just a couple of days won't even scratch the surface of what really consists of this great country. Oh, and we couldn't forget about their mouthwatering, delectable foods.

However, if you actually are planning on taking a vacation trip there, but don't exactly know where to visit, we've got you covered. Like I said before, there are tons of places you can check out, but we've listed only the best places to visit in Costa Rica, the real Costa Rica. So, take out a notebook and jot these exciting places down.

Starting off this list of the best places to visit in Costa Rica is the Arenal Volcano. Among the most popular volcanos in the country, Arenal is located in the northern lowlands. If you happen to travel around the area, you can’t miss the volcano, since it’s about 5,437 feet high. That’s how massive Arenal is.

But other than its size, it’s almost every sightseer’s dream to visit this one of a kind volcano. You can even book tours for a proper sight of the volcano. Or, there are activities by the volcano to partake in, such as river rafting, hiking, or even dipping into their hot springs.

San José

Known to be the capital of Costa Rica, San José is a gorgeous place to visit if you happen to vacation in Costa Rica. It is located in the Central Valley region among the Talamanca Mountains from the south, and the volcanoes from the north, San José is a city coated in stunning architecture, famous landmarks, and lots of amazing restaurants.

Home to the National Theatre of Costa Rica, Plaza de la Cultura, and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, San José has tons of activities and opportunities to get into. Also, there are hundreds of beautiful artifacts to visit, as well, making this one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Have you ever heard of the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica? Well, you’re about to be amazed. Monteverde is basically seen as a place of clouds, forests, and even a coffee plantation for making one of the best South American coffee blends ever. The place even consists of monkeys, mist, and friendly local individuals.

The small town right near this famous forest, Santa Elena, is filled with delectable restaurants to grab a bite at, as well as unique artisan shops. But the forest itself is what draws tourists to visit. Vibrant and foggy with towering trees, the forest is home to thousands of species, from insects to birds and mammals.

This waterfall gardens if definitely one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica. La Paz Waterfall Gardens is made up of five beautiful waterfalls, a cloud forest, and a rainforest that’s ideal for hiking. For animal sighting, there are hundreds of animal species everywhere. There are even fun activities to get into here, such as checking out the insect exhibit, toucan feeding, seeing the butterfly observatory, visiting the hummingbird garden, and much more.

As for the waterfalls, the views from the top are breathtaking. The view from any of the five waterfalls will never get old. And after hiking up their trails, it is definitely a reward.

Jacó

Jacó is a town right on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. As one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica, the location is known for its stunning surf beaches and exciting nightlife. If you’re looking for a place with more people and action, then Jacó should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Costa Rica.

Southwest from the capital, Jacó is also a gateway to many national parks. The city consists of water areas such as Hermosa Beach, Jacó Beach, and even Tárcoles River. So, bring your beach essentials and relax at one of the beaches during the day, and enjoy music and food at night!

Manuel Antonio National Park

Here’s one of the more popular national parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park. Located on the country’s central Pacific coast, the park surrounds a rugged rainforest, gorgeous white-sand beaches, and even colorful coral reefs!

There’s a wide variety of activities to do in Manuel Antonio National Park, both land and water activities. From scuba diving to hiking, waterfall rappelling, and even snorkeling, you’ll get to see it all. But I would personally scrub dive and check out the beautiful coral reefs and ocean life.

Among the best places to visit in Costa Rica, Tamarindo is a town in the Guanacaste Province, on the country’s Pacific coast. This city, too, is well known for their tropical beaches. However, their most popular would be the Playa Grande beach. It features a large nesting site for leatherback turtles.

There’s also an animal sanctuary called Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge for animals like crocodiles and even howler monkeys. Other than that, the town itself is made up of gorgeous restaurants and shops to dine and peek at. You certainly don’t want to miss out on one of the best cities in Costa Rica.

Uvita Beach

Uvita Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. It’s the perfect area to relax at. With calm waters and soft sand, this beach is the ideal beach for a good beach day. As for one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica, Uvita is also part of the Marino Ballena National Park.

However, what people really gain from this beach is the dolphin and whale watching tours. Also, you and your family can snorkel in the stunning waters of this beach, and capture sights of the ocean life and coral reefs.

Poás Volcano

Among the best places to visit in Costa Rica and one of the well-known volcanos in the country, Poás Volcano is located in central Costa Rica, as well as within Poás Volcano National Park. Ever since 1828, it’s erupted about 40 times, and it has actually erupted this past April of 2017. However, it’s still a destination to take a look at, especially from the top.

There’s a small museum that you can visit that shows and explains all about the volcano. Also, there’s a cute cafe that serves delicious coffee, hot beverages, sandwiches, and snacks. Trust me, the sight of this volcano will be unforgettable.

Lastly on the list of the best places to visit in Costa Rica is Santa Teresa. A small town located in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, it is a huge hit among tourists—especially the younger crowds. Beautiful beaches, stunning architecture, and an endless amount of activities, there’s so much to do for a small town.

Aside from surfing and enjoying the beaches, you can partake in many activities like zip lining, fishing, snorkeling, horseback riding, paddle boarding, and even kayaking. Also, there’s an amazing nightlife in this town filled with restaurants and lounges.