Things to do in Costa Rica
National parks, wildlife, beaches, surf, diving and the tour operators worth knowing, with what to book ahead.
Places we've checked
Arenal Volcano National Park
Best for A half-day walk from La Fortuna or El Castillo
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve
Best for A morning hike from Montezuma, Cabuya or Santa Teresa
Corcovado National Park
Best for Serious wildlife watchers; tapirs, scarlet macaws, all four monkey species
Curú Wildlife Refuge
Best for A first wildlife stop after the ferry, or a half day from Montezuma or Tambor
Finca Tierra Permaculture Education Center
Best for Permaculture students, sustainability learners, small farm and food retreats
Hotel Jinetes de Osa
Best for Divers, snorkelers and wildlife lovers who want tours run from the hotel
Lazy Lizard Sailing
Best for Families, couples and groups who want an easy half day on the water
Manuel Antonio National Park
Best for Easy wildlife watching and swimming beaches in one morning
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve
Best for Nature lovers and birders spending a night or two in Monteverde
Ostional Mixed Wildlife Refuge
Best for Travelers staying around Nosara who can shift plans by a few days
Playa Montezuma
Best for Beach days, waterfall swims and a walkable village base
Rancho Tropical
Best for Hikers, families and active travelers based in Puerto Jiménez or Matapalo
Rocket Frog Divers
Best for Certified divers chasing mantas and bull sharks, and beginners doing a first PADI course
Playa Santa Teresa
Best for Surfers of all levels, sunsets, a lively small-town base
Surf Inn Hermosa
Best for Surfers of all levels, solo travelers, couples and digital nomads
The Butterfly Conservatory
Best for Families with children, photographers, rainy-day plans
Tortuguero National Park
Best for Canal wildlife trips and turtle nesting tours
Uvita 360
Best for Beginner and improving surfers, families, active travelers based in Uvita
Guides
Orchids of Costa Rica: where and when to see them
Costa Rica has more than 1,000 orchid species, most of them growing on trees in its wet mountain forests. The easiest place to see a lot of them is…
Animals of Costa Rica: what to see and where to go
Costa Rica packs about 5% of the world's species into a small country, and you can see a lot of them on an ordinary trip. For sloths and monkeys go…
Birdwatching in Costa Rica: where to go and how to plan it
Costa Rica has about 950 recorded bird species in an area smaller than West Virginia, so a well-planned two weeks can produce a huge list. Combine…
Costa Rica national parks: which to visit and how to book
For a first trip, plan around four parks: Manuel Antonio for easy wildlife, Arenal for the volcano, Monteverde for cloud forest and either Tortuguero…
Scuba diving in Costa Rica: from Guanacaste to Cocos Island
Costa Rica's best diving is on the Pacific side. Guanacaste is the easiest base, with manta rays at the Catalina Islands and bull sharks at the Bat…
Surfing in Costa Rica: the best surf towns and how to plan a trip
For beginners, the easiest bases are Tamarindo, Nosara (Playa Guiones) and Santa Teresa, all with plenty of surf schools. Intermediate and advanced…
