Find places in Costa Rica

Must-Haves

• Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (Downtown)
  The country's grandest building, with painted ceilings, guided tours and a lovely café inside.
• Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (Downtown)
  The nation's story told in an old fortress still scarred from 1948, with a butterfly garden at the door.
• Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica (Plaza de la Cultura)
  A dazzling underground collection of pre-Columbian gold, plus coins and Costa Rican art.

Fun for Everyone

• Museo del Jade (Downtown)
  The world's largest collection of American jade in a striking modern building.

Off the Beaten Path

• Museo de Arte Costarricense (La Sabana)
  Costa Rican art in the old airport terminal, with a gilded hall upstairs.

Must-Haves

• Mercado Central (Downtown)
  A maze of sodas, spice stalls and coffee sellers trading since 1880.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Borbón (Downtown)
  The working wholesale market where locals buy fruit, vegetables and fish.

Off the Beaten Path

• Feria Verde de Aranjuez (Barrio Aranjuez)
  A Saturday organic market with local growers, crafts and breakfast stalls.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Soda Tapia (La Sabana)
  A classic diner near La Sabana for casados, gallo pinto and big fruit shakes.

Great for Date Night

• Restaurante Silvestre (Barrio Amón)
  Modern Costa Rican cooking with local ingredients in a restored old mansion.
• Café de los Deseos (Barrio Otoya)
  A bohemian, colourful café restaurant with art on every wall and cosy corners.

Must-Haves

• Barrio Escalante bars (Barrio Escalante)
  The city's food and drinks street, lined with craft beer bars and small restaurants.

Great for Date Night

• Stiefel Pub (Barrio Amón)
  A busy craft beer bar with a long list of Costa Rican brews on tap.

Must-Haves

• Café del Teatro Nacional (Downtown)
  Coffee and cake beneath marble and frescoes inside the National Theatre.

Fun for Everyone

• Parque La Sabana (La Sabana)
  The city's big green park, with a lake, sports fields and Sunday family life.

Must-Haves

• Poás Volcano National Park (Alajuela)
  A huge active crater with a milky turquoise lake, reached by road from the capital.
• Irazú Volcano National Park (Cartago)
  The country's highest volcano, with lunar craters and views of both oceans on clear days.

Off the Beaten Path

• Orosi Valley (Cartago)
  Coffee country with a colonial church, hot springs and quiet viewpoints.

Must-Haves

• Doka Estate Coffee Tour (Alajuela)
  A family coffee farm showing every step from cherry to cup.

Fun for Everyone

• La Paz Waterfall Gardens (Vara Blanca)
  Waterfalls, hummingbirds, butterflies and rescued animals in one easy park.
• Pacuare River rafting (Turrialba)
  One of the world's most scenic whitewater runs through jungle gorges.

Must-Haves

• Romería to Cartago (Cartago)
  Hundreds of thousands walk to the basilica each August in a moving pilgrimage.

Fun for Everyone

• Festival de la Luz (Paseo Colón)
  The capital's December night parade of floats, lights and marching bands.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Grano de Oro (Paseo Colón)
  A boutique hotel in an old mansion, known for its restaurant and quiet patio.

Must-Haves

• Catarata Río Fortuna (La Fortuna)
  The classic Arenal waterfall, with a swimming pool at the bottom of a long stairway.
• Arenal Volcano National Park (Arenal)
  Trails across old lava flows with views of the perfect cone.
• Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park (El Castillo)
  A rainforest walk across suspension bridges at canopy height.
• Arenal 1968 (Arenal)
  Private trails over the 1968 lava flow with lake and volcano views.

Off the Beaten Path

• Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park (Bijagua)
  A river that turns sky blue, with a waterfall at the end of a muddy trail.

Must-Haves

• Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa (Arenal)
  Steaming volcanic river pools set in lush gardens, open for day passes.

Fun for Everyone

• Baldi Hot Springs (Arenal)
  A large hot spring complex with many pools and water slides for families.
• Ecocentro Danaus (La Fortuna)
  A small reserve with sloths, frogs and an evening night walk.
• Arenal Ecozoo (El Castillo)
  Snakes, frogs and butterflies explained by passionate local guides.

Off the Beaten Path

• Venado Caves (San Carlos)
  A muddy, wet crawl through limestone caves with bats and formations.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Soda La Hormiga (La Fortuna)
  A simple soda near the bus stop serving generous casados.

Great for Date Night

• Don Rufino (La Fortuna)
  A long standing town centre restaurant for steaks and Costa Rican plates.

Must-Haves

• Café Rainforest (La Fortuna)
  A popular café for breakfast, smoothies and local coffee.

Must-Haves

• Arenal Kioro (Arenal)
  Volcano view rooms and hot spring pools on the slopes of Arenal.

Off the Beaten Path

• Arenal Observatory Lodge (Arenal)
  A former research station with trails, birds and the closest volcano views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Arenal Backpackers Resort (La Fortuna)
  A lively hostel with a pool and volcano views in town.

Must-Haves

• Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve (Monteverde)
  The original cloud forest reserve, with mossy trails and a hanging bridge.
• Curi Cancha Reserve (Monteverde)
  A small reserve known for quetzals and excellent birding.

Off the Beaten Path

• Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve (Santa Elena)
  A higher, wilder and quieter forest run by the local community.
• Children's Eternal Rainforest (Monteverde)
  The country's largest private reserve, saved by children's donations worldwide.

Must-Haves

• Selvatura Park (Santa Elena)
  Hanging bridges, ziplines and a hummingbird garden in the cloud forest.
• Children's Eternal Rainforest night walk (Bajo del Tigre)
  A guided night walk to spot tarantulas, frogs and sleeping birds.

Fun for Everyone

• Sky Adventures Monteverde (Santa Elena)
  Ziplines and a sky walk through the treetops.
• 100% Aventura (Santa Elena)
  Long ziplines including a face down superman cable and a Tarzan swing.

Off the Beaten Path

• Don Juan Coffee Tour (Santa Elena)
  A family farm tour covering coffee, chocolate and sugar cane.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Monteverde Cheese Factory (Monteverde)
  Cheese and ice cream from the dairy founded by Quaker settlers.

Great for Date Night

• Tree House Restaurant (Santa Elena)
  Dinner around a huge fig tree in the middle of town.

Fun for Everyone

• Morpho's Restaurant (Santa Elena)
  Hearty plates and vegetarian options in a cosy central spot.

Must-Haves

• Café Monteverde (Monteverde)
  Local coffee from the Monteverde cooperative, roasted nearby.

Off the Beaten Path

• CASEM Women's Craft Cooperative (Monteverde)
  Handmade crafts by local women, running since the 1980s.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel Belmar (Monteverde)
  A mountain lodge with sunset views towards the Gulf of Nicoya.

Must-Haves

• Manuel Antonio National Park (Manuel Antonio)
  Rainforest trails, sloths and monkeys leading to calm white sand coves.
• Nauyaca Waterfalls (Dominical)
  A dramatic two tier waterfall with a big swimming pool.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa Espadilla (Manuel Antonio)
  The long public beach outside the park, with surf lessons and sunsets.

Off the Beaten Path

• Playa Biesanz (Manuel Antonio)
  A small, calm cove hidden down a short forest trail.
• Marino Ballena National Park (Uvita)
  Home of the whale tail sandbar and humpback whales in season.

Must-Haves

• El Avión (Manuel Antonio)
  A bar restaurant built around an old cargo plane, with sunset views.

Great for Date Night

• Emilio's Café (Manuel Antonio)
  Mediterranean dishes and desserts on a terrace overlooking the sea.
• Ronny's Place (Manuel Antonio)
  A family restaurant on a quiet ridge with views of two bays.

Fun for Everyone

• Falafel Bar (Manuel Antonio)
  Quick, tasty Middle Eastern plates loved by travellers.

Great for Date Night

• Kapi Kapi (Manuel Antonio)
  Elegant dinner and cocktails in a jungle setting on the hill.

Fun for Everyone

• Marina Pez Vela (Quepos)
  The marina boardwalk with restaurants, ice cream and boats at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Damas Island mangrove kayaking (Quepos)
  Paddle through mangroves to spot white faced monkeys and herons.

Must-Haves

• Rainmaker Conservation Project (Quepos)
  Hanging bridges and waterfall pools in a quieter inland forest.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Quepos Farmers Market (Quepos)
  A weekend market with tropical fruit and local snacks by the waterfront.

Great for Date Night

• Arenas del Mar (Manuel Antonio)
  An eco resort with beach access and wildlife in the gardens.

Fun for Everyone

• Hotel Si Como No (Manuel Antonio)
  A family friendly hillside hotel with pools and ocean views.

Must-Haves

• Playa Tamarindo (Tamarindo)
  A long beach with gentle waves for beginner surfers and big sunsets.
• Las Baulas National Marine Park (Playa Grande)
  Protected beaches where leatherback turtles nest in season.
• Playa Conchal (Brasilito)
  Shell sand and clear turquoise water perfect for snorkelling.
• Rincón de la Vieja National Park (Liberia)
  Bubbling mud pots, fumaroles and waterfalls on a volcano slope.

Off the Beaten Path

• Llanos de Cortés Waterfall (Bagaces)
  A wide curtain waterfall with a sandy pool for swimming.

Fun for Everyone

• Witch's Rock Surf Camp (Tamarindo)
  A long running surf school on the beach in Tamarindo.
• Tamarindo estuary boat tour (Tamarindo)
  A quiet boat ride among mangroves, crocodiles and birds.
• Hacienda Guachipelín (Rincón de la Vieja)
  A working ranch with hot springs, ziplines and horseback rides.

Must-Haves

• Pangas Beach Club (Tamarindo)
  Seafood under trees by the estuary mouth.

Fun for Everyone

• Sunset at Nogui's (Tamarindo)
  A beachfront favourite for a drink as the sun goes down.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Tamarindo Night Market (Tamarindo)
  A weekly evening market with crafts, food stalls and music.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Capitán Suizo (Tamarindo)
  A calm beachfront hotel at the quiet end of Tamarindo.

Off the Beaten Path

• Guaitil pottery village (Santa Cruz)
  Potters keeping Chorotega ceramic traditions alive by hand.

Must-Haves

• Playa Punta Uva (Punta Uva)
  A calm, palm fringed bay with clear water and shade.
• Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge (Manzanillo)
  Coastal trails, reef snorkelling and dolphins at the end of the road.
• Cahuita National Park (Cahuita)
  A coastal forest trail with sloths and monkeys beside a coral reef.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa Cocles (Cocles)
  The main surf beach just south of town.

Must-Haves

• Jaguar Centro de Rescate (Playa Chiquita)
  A rescue centre caring for sloths, monkeys and other injured animals.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica (Cahuita)
  A long running rescue centre focused on sloths.
• Bribri chocolate tour (Talamanca)
  Indigenous families show how they grow and grind cacao.

Fun for Everyone

• Bike the coast road (Puerto Viejo)
  Rent a bicycle and ride from beach to beach to Manzanillo.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Miss Lidia's Place (Puerto Viejo)
  Caribbean rice and beans and home cooking from a local family.
• Bread and Chocolate (Puerto Viejo)
  A beloved breakfast spot with homemade bread and chocolate.
• Miss Edith's (Cahuita)
  A Cahuita classic for rondón and Caribbean chicken.

Great for Date Night

• Koki Beach (Puerto Viejo)
  Caribbean fusion and cocktails facing the sea.

Must-Haves

• Salsa Brava (Puerto Viejo)
  A beach bar by the famous reef break with reggae nights.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rocking J's (Puerto Viejo)
  A colourful hostel with hammocks and camping by the beach.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Puerto Viejo craft stalls (Puerto Viejo)
  Seafront stalls with jewellery, sarongs and local art.