Destinations

Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose is much like any city in the world. It can be chaotic and filled with traffic. But just past the sprawling suburbs, giant malls, …

Perched in the hills above Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast is the charming town of San Mateo. This traditional locals’ town has a nice mix of countryside and tropical forest, …

Set on a hill overlooking Costa Rica’s largest lake is the village of Nuevo Arenal. This quiet lakeside town has an interesting history. And while not a major tourist destination, …

Set in the mountains west of San Jose is the charming town of San Ramon. Many tourists drive right through this small city on their way to and from the …

Just a short drive from Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose is the smaller city of Heredia. This historic town has middle- and upper-class neighborhoods, universities, parks, and a downtown …

Tucked into the southern-most corner of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula is an area known as Cabo Matapalo. There isn’t much here, and that’s what makes it special. Remote beaches, bumpy …

Last Updated: September 3, 2024 Dominical is a small, laid-back beach town on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast. Here, you will find thick jungle, uncluttered beaches, and just enough amenities …

Remote jungle wilderness is not for everyone. Many people come to Costa Rica looking for a warm, sunny location that has conveniences nearby. In a nutshell, that describes Playas del …

Hidden on the backside of Poas Volcano in a lush green valley lies Bajos del Toro. This small town is not well known but boasts many amazing waterfalls. A couple …

Nestled in the rugged jungle of the southern Nicoya Peninsula, Tambor (also called Playa Tambor) is a quiet town with nature as its backdrop. Tambor isn’t a well-known destination, but …

If you are traveling to Costa Rica to just lounge on the beach or escape for some much-needed surfboard therapy, Playa Grande is calling you. This small, relaxed beach community …

Manuel Antonio is known for its amazing ocean views and plentiful wildlife. Depending on where you stay, you can wake up to monkeys calling outside your room or see sunset …

As you turn the corner into the Orosi Valley, you will immediately see its appeal. From the hilltop, steep green mountains surround a village of small rooftops. A swift river …

A drive along Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast will bring you to some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. And while the bigger towns get much of the hype, …

Last Updated: November 13, 2024 Far on the tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, away from airports and city lights, is Santa Teresa. And while this jungle-backed beach town is …

While Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province is known mostly for its famed beaches, inland areas of this region offer their own unique experiences. Just an hour or two from the coast …

Costa Rica is no doubt on the map as an ecotourism destination, with millions of visitors each year. While many people head straight to the country’s most famous sites and …

The Guanacaste region, on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, is a tourism hotspot known for its miles of beautiful beach. But those seeking a more remote feel won’t have to …

Imagine laying on a fluffy white-sand beach, backed by quiet mangroves. Your condo or vacation rental sits perched on a rocky point nearby. A beach umbrella flutters with the sea …

Last Updated: January 31, 2024 Located in Guanacaste Province, right next to some of the region’s most popular destinations, is the unassuming town of Potrero. Driving through, you may not …

Last Updated: November 8, 2024 If you’re looking for peaceful seclusion and abundant nature, Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast is the perfect place to find it. With lush rainforest, spectacular …

Far down Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, near the border with Panama, you will find the rural beach town of Pavones. Pavones isn’t well known, mostly because it is so hard …

Home to almost three-quarters of the country’s population, the Central Valley is Costa Rica’s cultural and economic center. Long ago, farmers used oxcarts and horses to traverse the surrounding green …

While often overlooked, Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast has a lot to offer visitors. It has some of the country’s most scenic beaches, with turquoise water and a wild jungle backing. …

With miles of beach, lush rainforest, and abundant wildlife, Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast is a favorite among visitors. Some come for surfing, which is plentiful up and down the …

Last Updated: October 10, 2024 Guanacaste is a region in northwestern Costa Rica famous for its beaches and plentiful amenities. Often called the “Gold Coast,” this area has some of …

Last Updated: November 6, 2024 Costa Rica is famous for its miles of coastline along both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. While most visitors want to experience the country’s …

Last Updated: June 8, 2024 Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast is filled with busy beach towns, but there are still some quiet stretches of sand to be discovered. One such …

Last Updated: February 9, 2024 Though humble in size, Costa Rica has distinct differences in its culture from one destination to the next. On the country’s east coast, for example, …

Last Updated: February 22, 2024 La Fortuna is a destination for almost every type of traveler. It offers a huge selection of lodging that ranges from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range …

Last Updated: June 8, 2023 If you’ve done some research on Costa Rica, then you have probably read about the country’s famous volcanoes and soothing hot springs. Flocks of visitors …

Last Updated: December 15, 2023 Nestled in a lush valley between two dormant volcanoes is the town of Bijagua. This rural village is probably best known as a stop-over destination …

Last Updated: July 18, 2022 Not far from the bustling city of San Jose you will find the charming town of Atenas. This medium-sized town in the Central Valley offers …

Last Updated: October 7, 2022 One of the best places in Costa Rica’s popular Guanacaste Province to relax and unwind is Playa Hermosa. This small community draws repeat visitors year …

Last Updated: November 17, 2020 Nestled between the popular resort destinations of Playa Flamingo and Playa Conchal is the unassuming Playa Brasilito. This town and beach of the same name …

Last Updated: September 14, 2022 On this website, we give tons of detailed information on Costa Rica’s destinations and attractions. Reading everything takes a lot of time, however. That’s the …

Last Updated: April 8, 2022 Many of the beach towns in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province have become extremely popular over the years due to their gorgeous sands and turquoise waters. …

Last Updated: March 8, 2024 Monteverde may be a remote destination, but once you arrive, you’ll find a long list of things to do and places to stay. In this …

Last Updated: February 9, 2023 Not long ago, Costa Rica was known for its bumpy dirt roads that led only the most determined explorers to pristine beaches and virgin jungle. …

Last Updated: January 31, 2024 Situated near the tip of Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula, the town of Puerto Jimenez may not seem like a tourist destination if you were …

We always say that Costa Rica is best explored with your own rental car. That’s because a car gives you the flexibility to explore and move around at your own …

Last Updated: December 6, 2022 Filling a wide valley in the peaceful mountains of Costa Rica’s Southern Zone is San Isidro de El General. This small city is bursting with …

Last Updated: March 22, 2024 With crazy flight schedules and lengthy drives between most destinations and the airport, sometimes an overnight near Costa Rica’s SJO (Juan Santamaria International) Airport is …

Last Updated: February 14, 2024 In the swampy northeastern corner of Costa Rica is the village of Tortuguero. Named by locals long ago as the place where turtles go, this …

Last Updated: March 15, 2021 San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, is filled with rich history and culture. Not only that, but it has a hip urban vibe …

Last Updated: November 17, 2020 Set among the largest, most biologically diverse section of lowland rainforest in Central America is the magical destination of Drake Bay, Costa Rica. Here, you’ll …

Last Updated: June 14, 2023 Many people come to Costa Rica to turn everything off and just relax. Others are looking to do a lot of activities, get out on …

At first glance, the town of Nosara might seem like little more than a tangle of dirt roads, some winding their way through lush jungle, others dead-ending or bringing you …

Last Updated: October 5, 2021 The distinct sound of a million tiny seashells gently shuffling with each lapping wave will forever be what we imagine when thinking of Playa Conchal. …

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 La Fortuna, also known as La Fortuna de San Carlos, is undoubtedly one of Costa Rica’s most talked about destinations. Travel writers love to cover it, …

Last Updated: August 26, 2019 San Gerardo de Dota is a little known destination in the remote mountains south of Costa Rica’s capital city, San Jose. The village is set …

Last Updated: March 1, 2024 Located in the country’s northwestern mountains and straddling the Continental Divide is one of Costa Rica’s top ecotourism destinations, Monteverde. Translating to Green Mountain, this …

Last Updated: April 22, 2024 When we first started visiting the Costa Ballena region along the southern Pacific coast, it was relatively undeveloped, harder to access, and overall not a …

Last Updated: February 13, 2024 Set along the turquoise Caribbean Sea in southeastern Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a laid back beach town with a distinctly Caribbean feel. …

Last Updated: May 20, 2021 Just 2.5 hours from Costa Rica’s San Jose international airport lies the popular beach town of Manuel Antonio. Thousands flock to Playa Espadilla and its …

Last Updated: November 19, 2024 Located in Costa Rica’s northwestern province of Guanacaste, Tamarindo is a bustling tourist town that lures surfers and sunbathers alike. The main draw here as …

Originally Featured in Travel Culture Magazine, November 5, 2012 Something seems wrong. It’s dark and the bed is swaying from side to side. I think I may be dreaming, but as …