You can now book an exclusive adventure with TRIPS by Culture Trip to take in all the sights and more on a nine-day tour of Costa Rica.

Central America

Costa Rica

Reasons Why You Should Visit the Happiest Country in the World at Least Once

Costa Rica has some of beautiful-yet-overlooked towns and villages; book an exclusive adventure with TRIPS by Culture Trip to explore off the beaten track.

The Most Underrated Towns and Cities to Visit in Costa Rica

Explore Costa Rica's pristine Pacific Coast with this adventurous and nature-filled itinerary – book an exclusive adventure here with TRIPS by Culture Trip

A Two-Week Itinerary to Costa Rica's Pacific Coast

Costa Rica’s Pacific v Caribbean: Which Coast Is Better?

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The Best Snorkeling and Diving Spots in Costa Rica

Featured Articles

Costa Rica, conjuring images of misty rainforests, picture-perfect beaches, sleepy volcanoes and wildlife aplenty, is a tropical haven for nature-lovers, adventure seekers and ecowarriors alike – but there’s more to this Central American nation than meets the eye.

The Insider Guide to Costa Rica

One of those places people spend their whole lives dreaming about, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise. While the natural beauty, historic towns, wildlife and adventure-filled activities are the main attractions here, it’ll be the warm and friendly people and their love for their country that will leave the biggest impression.

In fact, it’s this love of the country that makes the natural beauty here so pristine – protecting and caring for the environment is almost a national pastime. And, with Costa Rica frequently topping the world rankings for environmentally friendly policies and happiness levels, one has to wonder if the two are connected – pura vida, indeed. 

Sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica may be small, but it sure is mighty. Split down the middle by two mountain ranges and bordering the Caribbean and the Pacific oceans, the landscape here will take your breath away (quite literally sometimes), especially when it comes to hiking and traversing some of the winding mountainous roads, which aren’t the best. Still, it’s a small price to pay to visit attractions such as the Cloud Forests of Monteverde, the sea turtles in Tortuguero National Park or the gorgeous beaches of Manuel Antonio, the most famous Costa Rican national park.

Other not-to-be-missed spots include La Fortuna, the outdoor adventure capital of Costa Rica, where you can swim in the La Fortuna Waterfall, go white water rafting through the rainforest, explore the Venado Caves or trek through the lava fields of Volcán Arenal. For beautiful beaches, Tamarindo on the Pacific coast is a popular getaway, as is Montezuma, home of the towering Montezuma Falls. Or, for a more remote nature experience, head south to Corcovado National Park via Wilson Botanical Garden in Las Cruces Reserve.

While many skip San Jose, the Costa Rican capital, it’s a cool place to visit. With the focus on ecotourism and sustainability reaching the restaurants, cafes and hotels of the city, you’ll find the rainforested roots of the country are never too far away, even in the cosmopolitan heart. There’s also a growing nightlife scene and a mosaic of cultural influences to soak up, from the indigenous heritage of Costa Rica and the Spanish architecture – visible in crumbling ruins and beautiful buildings such as the late 19th-century Teatro Nacional – to modern street art. Plus, it’s one of the best places to try the most famous Costa Rican export: coffee. Ready to make those daydreams come true? Read on to find out more.

The Main Attractions

Oran

Setif

Algeria

Luanda

Angola

Cotonou

Porto-novo

Benin

Botswana

Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Tonga

Yaounde

Bamenda

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Kinshasa

Lubumbashi

Congo

Abidjan

Cote Divoire

Florentin

Dijibouti

Djibouti

Cairo

Alexandria

Sharm El-sheikh

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Asmara

Eritrea

Addis Ababa

Lalibela

Ethiopia

Gambia

Accra

Kumasi

Cape Coast

Ghana

Guinea-bissau

Nairobi

Mombasa

Malindi

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Antananarivo

Antsirabe

Madagascar

Blantyre

Malawi

Bamako

Timbuktu

Mali

Mauritania

Port Louis

Mauritius

Casablanca

Marrakech

Sale

Morocco

Maputo

Mozambique

Swakopmund

Windhoek

Namibia

Lagos

Abuja

Ibadan

Nigeria

Pointe-noire

Republic Of The Congo

Kigali

Musanze

Butare

Rwanda

Dakar

Touba

Senegal

Seychelles

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Cape Town

Durban

Johannesburg

South Africa

South Sudan

Khartoum

Sudan

Mbabane

Manzini

Swaziland

Zanzibar

Arusha

Dar Es Salaam

Tanzania

Tunis

Hammamet

Tozeur

Tunisia

Kampala

Gombe

Uganda

Western Sahara

Lusaka

Zambia

Harare

Bulawayo

Zimbabwe

Africa

Antarctica

Kabul

Afghanistan

Dhaka

Bangladesh

Thimphu

Bhutan

Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei Darussalam

Siem Reap

Phnom Penh

Sihanoukville

Cambodia

Shanghai

Beijing

Guangzhou

China

East Timor

Wan Chai

Hong Kong

Mumbai

Delhi

India

Bali

Penang

Jakarta

Indonesia

Israel

Tokyo

Kyoto

Osaka

Japan

Almaty

Astana

Kazakhstan

Pyongyang

Korea

Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan

Luang Prabang

Vientiane

Pakse

Laos

Macau

Kuala Lumpur

Ipoh

Malaysia

Maldives

Mongolia

Yangon

Mandalay

Nay Pyi Taw

Myanmar

Kathmandu

Darchula

Nepal

Hyderabad

Islamabad

Lahore

Pakistan

Manila

Boracay

Baguio

Philippines

Riyadh

Jeddah

Mecca

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Marina Bay

Asia

Events and Activities in Costa Rica, Central America | Culture Trip

Off the Beaten Path

Find the hidden gems and experience the city like a local

See & Do

Non-Touristy Things to Do in Costa Rica

See & Do

The Top Things to Do in Costa Rica

Guides & Tips

Best Time of the Year to Visit Costa Rica

See & Do

The Best Zip Lines in Costa Rica

See & Do

The Best Animal Rescue Centers and Sanctuaries in Costa Rica

See & Do

The 10 Best Things To Do In San José

Guides & Tips

Costa Rica’s Rarest Creatures and Where to Find Them

Guides & Tips

You're Only a Costa Rica Expert If You've Done These 12 Things

Guides & Tips

What to Do on a Rainy Day in Costa Rica

Outdoor Activities

Escape the city - the best outdoor places to visit

See & Do

Surreal Places in Costa Rica That Locals Wish Were Kept Secret

See & Do

Must-Visit Attractions in Costa Rica

See & Do

The Most Beautiful Spots in Costa Rica

Guides & Tips

The Best Surf Beaches in Costa Rica

See & Do

Best Spots for Wildlife Watching in Costa Rica

See & Do

The Top Things to Do and See in Monteverde, Costa Rica

See & Do

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

Guides & Tips

Stunning National Parks in Costa Rica

See & Do

Active Volcanoes in Costa Rica and Where to Find Them

Cheap Things To Do

Guides & Tips

A Solo Traveler’s Guide to Costa Rica

Places to Stay

A Budget Traveler’s Guide to San José, Costa Rica

See & Do

Free Activities to Do in Costa Rica

Shopping

Guides & Tips

Great Gifts to Bring Back From Costa Rica

Fashion

Top 10 Swimwear Brands That Costa Ricans Love

Fashion

The Top Fashion Boutiques in San José, Costa Rica

Fashion

Costa Rican Fashion Brands You Need to Check Out

Wellness

Health & Wellness

Unique Retreats in Costa Rica That Aren't Yoga Retreats

Places to Stay

Costa Rica's Best Wellness Retreats

Guides & Tips

An Insider’s Guide to Nosara: Costa Rica’s Wellness Capital

Health & Wellness

The Best Places to Practice Yoga in Costa Rica

Guides & Tips

The Best Surf Camps in Costa Rica

Guides & Tips

The Best Surf Schools in Costa Rica

Health & Wellness

11 Ways People Are Staying Fit in Costa Rica

Guides & Tips

Envision Music Festival: The Costa Rican Music Festival That is Out of This World!

See & Do

Best Places to Learn Spanish in Costa Rica

Nightlife

Bars & cafes

The Top 10 Bars In San José, Costa Rica

Bars & cafes

A Nightlife and Happy-Hour Guide to Puerto Viejo