Stunning Places in Costa Rica You Won’t Believe Are Real

Rio Celeste lies within the Tenorio Volcano National Park. You can access this dreamy river on foot, and although the hike can be a bit challenging, it’s most definitely worth it. The opaque turquoise color of the water is quite special. It is said that Rio Celeste’s truly unique color comes from the reflection of sunlight off a combination of minerals within the river. The rainforest surrounding Rio Celeste is dense, vibrant and full of life. This is a place that should not be missed.

Rio Tarcoles is quite the opposite of the dreamy Rio Celeste; it has been suggested that the Rio Tarcoles has the largest population of American crocodiles in the world. There are roughly 10 crocodiles per square mile or 25 crocodiles per square kilometer here, and many of them are mammoth in size. There is a viewing bridge where you can stop to see some of these humongous reptiles up close.

Playa Uvita is a whale-tail-shaped beach coincidentally located within the Marino Ballena National Park. This white-sand beach is surrounded by crystal-clear waters and juts out into the sea, taking the shape of a whale’s tail at the end. Between the months of December and April, humpback whales spend time in this area to mate before migrating north.

The Islas Murciélagos (Bat Islands) are home to an impressive population of massive bull sharks. At the tip of the Santa Rosa National Park, the islands have remained free of human life and development, which has kept the area a pristine and perfect habitat for the sharks as well as manta rays, eagle rays, devil rays and a visiting whale shark every once and a while. Between the months of May and November, visibility is best, and bull shark encounters are the most frequent. Don’t worry though, there have been no reported shark attacks here in the past 30 years. For an experienced diver, this dive will top the charts as one of the best.

A great natural phenomenon called an arribada takes place on the shores of Playa Ostional one to two times during each month of the rainy season (August-December). Typically occurring for three to seven nights a week before the new moon, thousands upon thousands of olive ridley sea turtles emerge onto the sand at the darkest hours of the night to lay their eggs. Over the course of one arribada, up to 10m turtle eggs can be laid. Around 50 days later, baby turtles will surface and make their way to the sea. Both the nesting and the hatchings are two of the most beautiful sights to see in Costa Rica.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the most mystical places in Costa Rica. This dense rainforest is home to an immense diversity of birds, butterflies, insects, monkeys, reptiles, amphibians, flowers, plants and trees. On a cloudless day, you can actually see both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts from an elevated viewpoint. The endangered but spectacular quetzal lives in these magical forests, too.

Just a short trip inland from Playa Dominical, there is a relatively secret valley that’s home to a dozen spectacular waterfalls and beautiful primary rainforest. There are various hiking trails leading to the waterfalls, and adventurers are free to climb up, jump off, swim beneath and gaze up in wonderment. The Nauyaca Waterfall is part of this collection, as well as the Diamante Waterfall.

The Cahuita National Park is famous for its stunning coral reefs close to the shore. During the drier months (February–April), the water visibility is great and ideal for snorkeling. There are more than 125 species of fish that make their home on the reefs of Cahuita. There are also 35 species of coral, including huge sea fans, brain coral and blue staghorn coral. What’s so special about this park is that the land portion is equally as impressive as the underwater portion, with both accessible to nature-loving visitors.