Current Time
Currency
see + do
Costa Rica see + do
Costa Rica's two big draws are its wildlife and outdoor adventures. More than a quarter of the tropical country is protected within reserves, wildlife refuges, and national parks, and its 800 miles of Pacific and Caribbean coastline offer excellent surfing, diving, and swimming—plus the chance to see rare marine turtles crawl ashore by the hundreds to lay their eggs. There are several active volcanoes, including the perfectly conical Volcán Arenal and the Poás, where you can drive to the summit and peer into the crater. Exploring the rainforest canopy via a zip-line is a virtual rite of passage for visitors to Costa Rica, and there's an array of other adventures—from horseback rides to white-water rafting—to boost your adrenalin. Although the country is not very large, it can't be seen in its entirety during a single visit: Costa Rica is amazingly diverse and very mountainous, so most people wisely concentrate on one or two regions at a time. To figure out which regions to stay in, see our Fact Sheet.
Costa Rica's Caribbean coast extends almost ruler-straight between the Nicaraguan and Panamanian borders. Lined with mostly gray-sand beaches and coconut palms,...more
Coffee is Costa Rica's third largest export—and not just any old java, but some of the best bean in the world. Many of the most popular coffee plantations...more
The world-renowned Corcovado National Park draws adventurous types to the Osa Peninsula in the Pacific southwest. This remote and rugged area, home to the...more
Costa Rica isn't known for coral reefs—it has very few, and small ones at that—but it contends with the world's best diving sites for its abundance...more
Costa Rica's northwest quarter is distinctive for its lingering dry season and deciduous forests that flare in spectacular blooms in spring before shedding...more
Costa Rica is still very much an agrarian society, and the horse remains a regular form of transport throughout much of the nation. That means lots of organized...more
Situated on a windswept saddle of the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain chain, Lake Arenal is the country's largest body of water. Its scenic beauty is reason...more
The highlight of Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast, and the main reason most travelers visit the region, is Manuel Antonio National Park. Despite its small...more
A wide variety of flora and fauna thrive in the eerily mist-shrouded mountains of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. High on many bird spotters' lists is the...more
Beach bums are spoiled for choice along the Pacific shores of the Nicoya Peninsula, a huge horse-head–shaped landmass separated from the savanna lowlands...more
RSS Feeds