The Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica
Planning your next adventure to Costa Rica? We’ve got you covered with all the best places to visit in Costa Rica! This tropical paradise is packed with everything from national parks, gorgeous beaches, stunning volcanoes and jaw-dropping waterfalls. Whether it’s your first time in Costa Rica or you’re a seasoned pro here are some of the best places in Costa Rica you can’t forget to visit! Let’s explore the coolest spots and handy tips to make your trip unforgettable!
Table of Contents
What are the Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is filled with natural wonders such as Beaches, Volcanos, National Parks, and more. These are the top places you don’t want to miss out on while in Costa Rica.
National Parks
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park, nestled on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, is a stunning blend of lush rainforests and beautiful beaches. It’s celebrated for its incredible biodiversity and easy access to nature, making it a perfect destination for both relaxation and adventure.
Key Highlights:
- Diverse Wildlife
- Gorgeous Beaches
- Scenic Trails
- Eco-Friendly Activities
What makes Manuel Antonio special is its unique combination of accessible nature and vibrant ecosystems, offering something for every type of traveler!
Tickets for this National Park can be booked through the National Park website.
They are open Wednesday-Monday from 7am-3pm.
Location
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Rincón de la Vieja National Park is a fascinating destination in Costa Rica, known for its volcanic landscapes and diverse ecosystems. The park features the Las Pailas trail, a popular hike that showcases the area’s geothermal activity, including bubbling mud pots and fumaroles, making it a unique adventure for nature lovers.
Key Highlights
- Volcanic Activity
- Volcanic Bubbling Mud
- 3 Waterfalls
- Scenic Views
What makes Rincón de la Vieja special is its volcanic activity you can see up close offering an unforgettable experience.
You can purchase tickets for both guided and self-guided tours to visit this National Park.
They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 8am-3pm.
Location
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve is a breathtaking destination in Costa Rica, renowned for its unique cloud forest ecosystem. With its cool, misty environment, this preserve is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, making it a paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
Key Highlights
- Unique Ecosystem
- Rich Biodiversity
- Hiking Trails
- Suspension Bridges
What makes Monteverde special is its enchanting cloud forest environment, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of nature while experiencing one of the world’s most unique ecosystems!
Tickets can be booked through their website.
They are open 7 says a week from 7am-4pm.
Location
Beaches
Costa Rica is filled with some of the best beaches in the word. It is usually the top destination people want to visit while in Costa Rica.
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a popular town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. Located on the pacific coast this town is renowned for its amazing surfing beaches, one of which is the beautiful Playa Tamarindo.
Part of the Las Baulas National Park, this beach town is a perfect blend of a lively atmosphere and lush greens. From surfers to animal lovers and adventure enthusiasts to lazy lads, everyone can find some type of solace on this beach. With its natural flora and fauna, and several interesting bars and restaurants, Playa Tamarindo cannot be interesting. It has also been awarded Costa Rica’s Blue Flag for its eco-friendliness.
Check out our blog Things to do in Playa Tamarindo
- Sunset Boat Cruise
- La Leona Waterfall
- Kayaking
- Scuba Diving
- Zip Lining
- Tamarindo Night Market
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Playa Conchal
Another exotic name among the Costa Rican beaches is that of Playa Conchal. Situated on the pacific coast, the beach enjoys around 10 hours of sunlight per day from December to April and is considered a dream location for sunbathing and enjoying the real summer vibe. The beach’s shores are scattered with the remains of uncountable conch shells which give the beach its present name. If you want to enjoy the real essence of Costa Rican culture, then this beach is a must-visit! Though there is no scope for surfing, you can enjoy a nice swim or go snorkeling here.
Playa Conchal is known for being a great place for sunbathing, finding shells, and relaxing on the beach. If you are looking for a day of relaxation, this is the perfect beach for you.
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Samara Beach
Around two hours from the Liberia airport, the Samara Beach is located in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province and is a treat to the eyes. With the classic beach town vibes, enchanting blue waters, and luxurious air surrounding the beach, it has rightfully been known as one of the most beautiful beaches adorning Costa Rica. One of the safest beaches too, you can enjoy a lovely time with your family here, either laying around, basking in the sun or having fun with various water sports activities.
When you feel that you have had enough of Samara’s beachy goodness, you can head over to the main samara town and enjoy a shopping spree going through the numerous boutiques, restaurants, and shopping spots in your free time.
- Swimming
- Water sports
- Basking in the sun
- Shopping
- Visiting Samara Town
Waterfalls
You can’t go to Costa Rica without visiting a waterfall. Waterfalls are one of the many natural wonders in Costa Rica and all of them are very different.
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
La Leona Waterfall
This tour is located in Curubandé, Guanacaste near Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. You will walk in the forest next to the Blanco River that comes from the volcano, go around incredible rock formations, cross streams of water, go up small ladders until at the very end we will pull ourselves with a rope inside the water to get into a big cave to see La Leona Waterfall.
- Distance: 2km each way (1.5 miles each way)
- Duration: 3hrs total from start to finish
- Difficulty: Treacherous Hike Moderate Level
A guide is required in order to visit this waterfall.
Location
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Diamante Waterfall
Diamante Waterfall, located near La Fortuna in Costa Rica, is a stunning natural attraction that captivates visitors with its breathtaking beauty.
This waterfall is about 600 feet tall and is surrounded by lush rainforest. The surrounding area is also rich in wildlife, making it a perfect spot for all.
A guide is required in order to visit this waterfall.
Location
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Oropendola Waterfall
Get ready for a refreshing dip in the La Oropendola Waterfall. This is a small walk of half a mile each way (1km) that you do on your own along a path of varied terrain that leads to the river. You also walk a small distance inside the river until you reach the waterfall. La Oropendola waterfall, with its impressive 25 meters, falls into a bubbling turquoise pool in the exuberant canyon of the Blanco River, creating an incredible tropical oasis.
A guide is not required in order to visit this waterfall.
Location
Activities and Tours
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Mega Combo Tour
This Extreme Mega Combo Tour Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is a truly one of the best ways to spend a day full of pure adrenaline! Extreme Canopy Tour – Hanging Bridges – Water Slide – Horseback Riding – Thermal Hot Springs – Waterfall – Lunch
- The longest jungle water slide in Costa Rica (420 meters)
- Jungle Zipline
- Cultural Tour
- Hanging Bridges
- Horseback riding
- Tractor safari
- Volcanic mud bath
- Natural hot springs
- Relaxing Volcanic steam sauna
- Costa Rican typical Lunch
Location
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Rio Negro Hot Springs and Mud Bath
Enjoy the soothing hot springs and mud baths at Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, where the thermal waters have been valued for centuries. Located by the Rio Negro and warmed by Costa Rica’s largest and most active volcano, these hot springs are a beautiful and peaceful retreat.
Surrounded by a lush forest, you’ll find ten mineral-rich pools along the riverbank, with access via hanging bridges. Try a volcanic mud treatment and rinse off in the cold river before relaxing in the hot springs.
There are dressing rooms, bathrooms, and lockers at the entrance. From there, a short 10-minute walk through the woods takes you to the springs.
There are also 4 optional waterfalls you can visit on this tour.
Location
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica:
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano Zip Lining
Location
On this tour you will go ziplining through the Rincon de la Vieja area. I
- 8 different lines
- Duration: 1hr total
Tips for Visiting Costa Rica
Rainy Vs Dry Season
Rainy Season
When most people think of the Costa Rica rainy season, they think of rain all day long. That is not the case 99% of the time in Costa Rica. When there is rain it is usually in the afternoon so you can book any tours in the morning and most of the time avoid the rain. Also usually there usually is a lot of rain for 1-2 hours and then it is over. It is easy to still have a great vacation in Costa Rica even during the rainy season. This time of year, is also usually when there is the least number of tourists making it easier to book tours and sometimes less expensive.
Dry Season
During the dry season in Costa Rica, typically from December to April, the weather is sunny, making it the perfect time to explore the country. Expect warm temperatures and minimal rainfall, ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, beach lounging, and wildlife watching. However, this is also the busiest time for tourists. To ensure you don’t miss out on popular tours and activities, it’s wise to book in advance. By planning ahead, you can secure your spot and make the most of your Costa Rican adventure!
Private Transportation vs Car Rental
Private Transportation
If you do not want to drive while in Costa Rica, you can always book a tour with transportation included. This means that you will be drive from one location to the next. When booking a tour with transportation included, make sure that you are using a reputable tour company. A great company you can use for transportation in the Guanacaste Province in El Rincon Tours and Transportation.
Car Rental
Renting a car is a great way to have freedom while you are traveling. Just be aware of any possible hidden fees when you are booking a rental car because many people do not know about the mandatory insurance you have to purchase when renting a car. We have an entire blog about common scams you may see in Costa Rica.
Who Are We . . .
At La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike, we pride ourselves on being the highest rated tour company in the Rincon de la Vieja area, and quite possibly all of Costa Rica. We specialize in providing unforgettable hiking tours to La Leona Waterfall, but we offer more than just hikes – we also provide exhilarating river tubing and zip-lining experiences. Our expertly trained tour guides are passionate about sharing their knowledge of Costa Rica and will ensure you have a fun, educational, and safe trip in Costa Rica.
With our top-rated tours, you can trust that your adventure with us will be the highlight of you trip to Costa Rica.
Our Tour Options
La Leona Waterfall Group and Private Tour
La Leona Waterfall provides the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. This hike will keep you on your toes as you climb in and out of the crystal-clear blue waters of the Rio Blanco. We have both group tours and private tours available to fit the specific needs of you and your group.
White Water River Tubing
Embark on an exciting tubing expedition down the refreshing blue river the Colorado River right next door to the La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike. You will be guided through numerous rapids by expert tour guides the entire way.
Zip Lining Tour
If you want to add onto you action packed day, zip lining is a must do tour. You will go flying over the cannons in Costa Rica. Crossing over rivers and above trees. This gives you a one-of-a-kind view of Costa Rica.
