The Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica 2020

Even though Costa Rica is a small country, it is hard to narrow down places to go when planning an itinerary. To make your travel planning easier, I’ve listed out the best places in Costa Rica for first time visitors. These destinations are easy to get to from San Jose and Liberia airport, are tourist friendly and have a variety of things to do.

In our post, the best places in Costa Rica to visit for first timers are La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Tortuguero, Tamarindo, Playas del Coco and Gulf of Papagayo, Samara, Dominical and Uvita, Puerto Viejo, Puerto Jimenez and San Jose. This post will help you in your Costa Rica trip planning greatly!

This post was updated March 11, 2020.

Best Places in Costa Rica for First Time Visitors

Click the destination to skip to it.

• Map
• Arenal/La Fortuna
• Monteverde
• Manuel Antonio/Quepos
• Jaco
• Tortuguero
• Tamarindo
• Samara
• Playas del Coco/Gulf of Papagayo
• Dominical and Uvita
• Puerto Viejo
• Puerto Jimenez
• San Jose

Map

Best places in Costa Rica map.

Getting Around

The easiest way to reach all the destinations is by renting a car but if not, each of these destinations have buses, shuttles and flying options. Read our “How to get around Costa Rica” guide to find out more. Renting a car? Get our Costa Rica car rental discount here!

Flying? Check out our Skyway Costa Rica promo code here to get 10% off and an extra 10 lbs of luggage!

Getting around can be difficult to figure out since it takes longer to get around Costa Rica than you’d think. Don’t make this mistake when traveling in Costa Rica – stuffing too many destinations in too little time!

Arenal & La Fortuna

This area is famous for Arenal Volcano National Park, Lake Arenal and the rain forest. La Fortuna is the town that sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano and Arenal refers to the area around the volcano. Most tourists know this area as Arenal.

Distance and transportation times from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: Arenal/La Fortuna is 3-3.5 hours from both San Jose Airport and Liberia International Airport with fairly straight forward routes and doesn’t require a 4X4. Read about driving from Liberia to Arenal and driving from San Jose to Arenal.
• By plane: You can take a local flight to La Fortuna which is about 20 minutes from San Jose and Liberia.
• By bus: There is one bus from San Jose to La Fortuna that leaves at 6:15, 8:40 and 11:30, about 4 hours. From Liberia, you will first need to take a bus to Canas (one every thirty minutes from 8:30 AM to 3PM), then to Tilaran (one every hour from 5 to 10, 11:30, 13:00,15:30 and 17:00) and then to La Fortuna (7 AM and 12:30).
• By shuttle: Take a shared shuttle for about $57 USD per adult with Interbus or book a private, ~$220 USD for 1-4 people total one way from SJO and LIR airport.
• By boat: Get in from Monteverde by boating across Lake Arenal. Costs ~$25 USD per person. Can book this with your hotel or the info center in Monteverde.

Tourist friendly

La Fortuna is one of the most touristic destinations in the country making it one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for all travelers. All the services and amenities such as banks, ATMs, souvenir shops and pharmacies are available in town.

However, if you are staying on the outskirts of Arenal, you’ll have to go to La Fortuna town for these services. Most of the restaurants in La Fortuna are sodas (local Costa Rican restaurants) and cafes.

Best things to do

Here is our list of the top activities in Arenal and La Fortuna. Our favorites are canyoning, hot springs, horseback riding, ziplining and hiking. Arenal is one of the best for adventure activities! Get our Arenal discount here and save up to 10-15%!

Recommended hotels in Arenal

• Luxury: If you like luxury, Arenal is the place to be. They have some of the most luxurious hotels such as Nayara, Springs, Tabacon and Kioro. All of them have a spa, an amazing view of Arenal Volcano and their own hot springs.
• Mid range: Hotel Magic Mountain, Montana de Fuego, Volcano Lodge & Springs
• Budget-ish: Arenal History Inn, Hotel El Secreto, Selina La Fortuna, Arenal Container Hostel
• Eco/nature lodges: Arenal Observatory Lodge, Princesa de la Luna Eco Lodge and Catarata EcoLodge

We stayed at an Airbnb in Arenal which we loved, perfect for big families and groups as it held up to 12 people.

Monteverde

Perfect destination for those who enjoy mountains, birding, adventure and hiking. Monteverde is home to one of the most unique forests in the world: the cloud forest. Additionally, Monteverde is where the first zipline in Costa Rica was set up!

Santa Elena is the main town close to the cloud forest, Cerro Plano is the small community and Monteverde is the name of the entire region.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: Monteverde/Santa Elena is roughly 3 hours from SJO airport and 3-3.5 hours from Liberia. High car/4wd/4×4 recommended. We do not recommend driving this route at night as it is very windy, not all paved and steep as it goes up a mountain.
  • See what the Monteverde roads are like and our recommendations.
    
• By bus: There is one bus from San Jose to Monteverde that leaves at 6:30 and 14:30, about 5 hours. From Liberia, take the bus to Puntarenas which leaves at 5, 7:45, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Then from Puntarenas take a bus to Monteverde which leaves at 8:30, 13:30 and 14:15. Both routes are 3 hours. You can also take the same bus to Canas, then Tilaran and then Monteverde.
• By shuttle: There are shared shuttles for $57 USD with Interbus or you can book a private shuttle, around $200-250 USD for 1-4 people total one way from San Jose and Liberia.
• By boat: Take the taxi-boat-taxi from Arenal across Lake Arenal. Costs ~$25 USD per person.

Tourist friendly

Santa Elena town is very tourist friendly. You can find all the services like banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, clothing stores and souvenir shops. However, there aren’t any car rental companies in Monteverde or Santa Elena. You need to pick up your rental car before or get your car delivered for a very hefty fee (~$200 USD from La Fortuna which is the closest office).

There are a handful of excellent restaurants. There is a sushi place, an excellent steak house, a craft beer place and a couple of other international restaurants. For local food, Soda Sabor Tico is our absolute favorite.

Best things to do

• Ziplining: The ziplines at Monteverde are some of the best in the country. Our favorite is Selvatura Park, 100% Aventura and Sky Adventures. If you only have 1 full day in Monteverde, Selvatura Park is highly recommended as they have a plethora of activities.
• Hanging bridges: This is the best way to experience the cloud forest as some of these bridges are up to 5000 feet (1500 meters) high! You can walk the hanging bridges in the parks like Selvatura and Sky.
• Birdwatching: Monteverde is one of the best places to see the Resplendant Quetzal, a prized bird for bird watchers. Head to Curi Cancha Reserve for the best birdwatching March – July.
• Night Tour: On a night tour, you can see snakes, frogs, nocturnal mammals and insects you don’t normally see in the day.
• Hiking: Choose from any of the 3 cloud forest reserves to go hiking and see wildlife: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena or Children’s Eternal Rain Forest. Not sure which one to visit? Read our guide comparing the Monteverde cloud forests to help you decide. Our personal favorite is Santa Elena.

Recommended hotels

Most hotels lay on the outskirts of Santa Elena and the hostels are in town. You will find some beautiful lodges here.

• El Establo Hotel: A beautiful hotel that has lovely views of the cloud forest. They have loft style rooms, their own zipline, a lake and a spa. About a 15-20 minute walk to town.
• Senda Monteverde: New luxury hotel in Monteverde, close to downtown with gorgeous rooms and views.
• Hotel Belmar: Another upscale lodge with views of the forest and peninsula.
• Monteverde Country Lodge: A cozy lodge with balconies, about a 15 minute walk to town. Excellent for mid-range budget.
• Camino Verde: Cheap hostel/hotel in town. Clean but basic rooms.
• Hotel Poco a Poco: This hotel is located near Santa Elena downtown and is a city style hotel with a pool and air conditioning in some rooms.

Airbnb has some awesome listings for Monteverde. Read about 2 Airbnbs in Monteverde we stayed at.

Not sure if you should visit Monteverde or Arenal? Check our post comparing Arenal and Monteverde or check out our 5 day Arenal and Monteverde itinerary.

Manuel Antonio/Quepos

Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica because of Manuel Antonio National Park, famous for its cute sloths and pristine beaches. It’s very touristic but for a good reason – it is downright beautiful. Quepos is the town near Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio is what is generally referred to as the hill from Quepos to Manuel Antonio National Park.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: About a 2.5 hour drive from San Jose and 4 hour drive from Liberia. This is a very easy route from both airports, no 4×4 required.
• By bus: There is a direct bus from San Jose to Quepos that leaves every day at 6, 9, 12, 14:30, 18:00 and 19:30, takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes. There is a colectivo bus (stops a ton of places) from San Jose to Quepos every day at 7, 10, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00, takes about 4 and a half hours. From Liberia, take the bus to Puntarenas and then to Manuel Antonio, every day at 5, 7, 9, 11, 13:00, 14:30, 16:30 and 17:30 which takes 3 hours.
• By flying: There is a local airport at Quepos. Flights from San Jose are about 10 minutes. From Liberia, flights normally have 1-2 stops.
• By shuttle: A shared shuttle from San Jose is $57 USD with Interbus and a private is around ~$200 USD one way for 1-4 people.

Tourist friendly

Manuel Antonio is probably the most tourist friendly destination in the country, making it one of the best places in Costa Rica for first time visitors. You can find all the services like ATMs, car rentals, banks, tour desks and souvenir shops.

There are many buses that go to the national park and to town. The only thing I would say is a bit of a pain to tourists is the hill as it’s steep and narrow with no sidewalks and limited parking.

Best things to do

• Manuel Antonio National Park: Manuel Antonio National Park is the highlight of this area. There are four different beaches and various hiking trails with beautiful viewpoints. Read our guide to hiking Manuel Antonio National Park.
• Night Walk: Manuel Antonio is full of wildlife and is an excellent place to take a night tour to see frogs, snakes, insects and other creatures of the night. Si Como No Hotel has their own private reserve offering night walks.
  
• Beach: With beaches as beautiful as the ones in Manuel Antonio, you can’t pass up jet-skiing, snorkeling, sailing or parasailing over the ocean. The best beach for water sports is Playa Espadilla Norte.

For more ideas, check our post of fun things to do in Manuel Antonio. We also have small discounts for tours in Manuel Antonio, get it here!

Recommended hotels

Most of the hotels/hostels are scattered on the hill and there are a few near the national park. Want to splurge on your vacation? Manuel Antonio has some absolutely beautiful luxury hotels to do so!

• Hotel La Mariposa: This gorgeous hotel has one of the best views of the national park. It has 2 infinity pools, spectacular views of the ocean and gardens and an on-site restaurant. Excellent for romantic getaways and luxury splurges
• El Faro Hotel: If you want to be as close to the national park as possible, El Faro Hotel sits right outside the entrance and is only a 5 minute walk to the beach. It’s on a small hill so it has beautiful views of the ocean.
• Tulemar: This vacation rental and resort has beautiful luxury homes and bungalows. Has a ton of wildlife on their property, offers a 24/7 personal concierge and has their own beach entrance.
• Pura vida mini hostel: This hostel has a fully stocked communal kitchen, the bus stop is right outside and they have dorms and private rooms. No AC or hot water, but has free Internet access. Selina hostel is another good one.

Tortuguero

Although Tortuguero is in a remote area of the North Caribbean that is only accessible by boat or plane, it’s actually one of the best places in Costa Rica for first timers. And it’s actually not that hard to get to as people think! This area, nicknamed the “Little Amazon” of Costa Rica is one of the best for wildlife, nature and rainforest!

Distance from San Jose and Liberia Airport

To get to Tortuguero, visitors must take a plane or drive to the La Pavona dock and take the boat. From San Jose, Tortuguero is around a 4-5 hour journey. The plane ride is only about 45 minutes.

You can travel independently or book a Tortuguero package that includes roundtrip transportation. (Get our Tortuguero discount here!) Find out how to get to Tortuguero in our post. We usually recommend to visit Tortuguero as your first destination after landing in San Jose because of the logistics.

From Liberia, you have to stay a night in San Jose as it is too far to travel. It’s all the way from one coast to another.

Tourist Friendly

Tortuguero receives a good chunk of visitors (mostly Europeans) and is getting more tourist friendly. The small village just put in the first ATM and there are more hotel options.

We always say that Tortuguero is an excellent first destination in Costa Rica because it’s such a lush rainforest with abundant wildlife. It gives the best first impression and what people expect of Costa Rica: nature, jungle and wildlife.

This area is quite small though with not a ton to do, so most people stay 1-3 nights in Tortuguero.

Best Things to Do

• Turtle tour: Tortuguero is the best site in Costa Rica to see Green Turtles and Leatherbacks. May – November are the best times to see nesting turtles and babies.
• Boat ride through the national park: Tortuguero National Park is made up of canals and sandbars, so taking a boat ride or kayaking is a must.
• Hiking: The national park also has several trails for good hiking.

Recommended Hotels

• Evergreen Lodge, Aninga and Pachira: Lodges owned by Pachira that are next to the national park. All have a pool, restaurants, Wi-fi, bars and variety of rooms and bungalows. (Get our Pachira Tortuguero packages discount here!)
• Manatus: Another lodge near the national park. Only hotel with AC.
• Mawamba: Lodge with its own entrance to Tortuguero beach and village.

Jaco

Jaco (pronounced ha-koh with emphasis on the koh) is must for surf lovers! It’s also very popular with locals since it’s only an hour and half drive from San Jose. Although it’s known for surfing, there are also plenty of other activities for the non-surfer. It’s not the prettiest beach but it’s ideal for those who like developed areas, convenience and a good night life.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: Jaco is only 1.5 hours driving from San Jose and about 3 hours from Liberia. Both routes have nicely paved roads that goes through the main highway.
• By bus: Read how to take the bus from San Jose to Jaco in this article. From Liberia, first take a bus to Puntarenas and then a bus to Jaco which departs daily at 4:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:30. This route takes 1.5 hours.
• By shuttle: A shared shuttle from San Jose to Jaco is $47 USD per adult with Interbus, a private is around $120 USD for 1-4 people one way.

Tourist friendly

Jaco has everything for tourists: banks, car rental companies, cell phone stores and frequent buses. If you love food, restaurants in Jaco are some of the best in Costa Rica with Argentinean grill, Italian and more. Costa Rica is not famous for their cuisine, but you can eat very well in Jaco. Check out what our favorite restaurants in Jaco are.

Jaco is not quite as family-friendly as other beach towns due to the fact it has a strong sex tourism industry and is well known for a crazy night life. You’ll see many guy groups or bachelor parties going on and there are prostitutes at some hotels and bars. Avoid Hotel Cocal for these reasons.

Best things to do

• Surfing: When it comes to the top activity in Jaco, it’s surfing. This beach is excellent to learn due to its constant waves. Since it’s a very long beach, there are spots for beginners and pros. Take a surf lesson or join a surf camp. For surf lessons, check with Room2Board, Selina, Surf Factory, Tortuga Surf School.
• Crocodile Bridge: This river is only 20 minutes from Jaco and houses one of the biggest populations of American crocodiles in the country. Take a boat ride down the river to see birds and crocodiles up close. You can also stop by this bridge on your way to Jaco to see the crocodiles.
• Waterfall exploring: Outside of Jaco are lots of hills and mountains and within those hills are hidden waterfalls. You can take a tour to explore these waterfalls or go yourself with a 4X4.

There are plenty more activities to do in and around Jaco. Read our post on things to do in Jaco for more ideas.

Recommended hotels

Jaco has everything from hostels on the beach to all-inclusive hotels on the beach.

• Croc’s Casino Resort: This resort has a Las Vegas style casino and is on the north end of Jaco. It’s right on the beach with beautiful views. All-inclusive.
• Selina Jaco: Selina on the beach in Jaco with surf lessons, private and shared rooms.
• Hotel Doce Lunas: If you’re looking for a romantic quiet place in Jaco, this is the best for couples. It’s located right outside town in the jungle so it’s very peaceful and surrounded by nature. Only a 2 minute drive to town.

You can also join a surf camp which includes lodging and meals depending on the package. Most of these surf camps are in town such as School of the World, Room2Board and Surfer Factory.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is a popular beach town in Guanacaste with excellent surfing waves, perfect for beginners. Although very touristic, the beach is beautiful with stunning sunsets. It’s a favorite for families looking for a fun beach and convenience.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: Tamarindo is 1 hour from LIR airport and 4-5 hours from SJO.
• By bus: There are 2 buses from San Jose to Tamarindo. The one that leaves from Calle 14 departs daily at 11:30 by way of Liberia and 15:30 by way of Tempisque. The one that leaves from Calle 20 departs daily at 7:15 and 16:00. Both routes take 5.5 hours. From Liberia, the bus leaves at 3:50, 4:30, 5:15, 6:10, 7:30, 9, 10. 11, 13:00, 14:00, 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00 which takes 1.5 hours.
• By flying: Tamarindo has a local airport. From San Jose it is a 35 minute flight, from Liberia it is 10 minutes.
• By shuttle: A shared shuttle from LIR airport is $20 USD a person with Tamarindo Transfers and Tours, minimum 2 people. A private is around $65-80 USD for 1-4 people one way.

Tourist friendly

Tamarindo has everything: an airport, car rental companies, hostels, banks, souvenir stores, pharmacies, tour companies and supermarkets. It’s a small enough that you can walk everywhere. They have a good selection of international restaurants.

One of the things we’re not big fans of at Tamarindo is parking. Parking is tight and the guachiman (parking guards) always try to overcharge. If you park your car and one of the guys with orange vests comes up to you, you can give them like 500-1000 Costa Rican colones. During holidays or high season, they may charge more though (we have seen up to 5000 Costa Rican colones) so just try to negotiate with them. Unfortunately parking is limited and there are no secure parking lots in Tamarindo so there’s little choices. Additionally, we don’t like the pirate taxi drivers but there aren’t really any official taxis or Uber in Tamarindo.

Best things to do

• Surfing: Tamarindo’s excellent for learning and there are tons of surf shops.
• Sunset sailing: Sail into the ocean on a catamaran, snorkel with some fishies and then come back under a beautiful sunset.
• Estuary boat ride: Take a leisurely boat ride through the Tamarindo estuary for wildlife watching.

There are a bunch of activities outside of Tamarindo such as ziplining, sport fishing and hiking. Read our post for more info on things to do in Tamarindo.

Tamarindo is a party town with several bars and sports bars so if you’re looking for nightlife for young adults in Guanacaste, Tamarindo’s it. But at the same time, it’s also family friendly with tons of kids friendly places and mini golf course in town.

Recommended hotels

• Hotel Mar Rey: This budget to mid range hotel is smack dab in the middle of town. It’s just steps from the beach and restaurants.
• Coral Reef Surf Hostel: One of the best hostels in Tamarindo right in town. It’s next to some restaurants and only a 5 minute walk to the beach. Selina also has one in Tamarindo.
• Jardin del Eden: This luxury adult only hotel is perfect for romantic getaways or group trips. Some rooms have balconies with ocean views and the hotel has their own beachfront area.
• Diria: Luxury hotel on the beach with pools and restaurants.

There are a couple surf camps/vacations in Tamarindo such as Witch’s Rock and Iguana Surf.

Samara

Samara is a very family friendly beach town in the South Guanacaste zone. It is an excellent town to see beautiful beaches, surf and experience a less developed area of Guanacaste. If you are flying into Guanacaste and Tamarindo sounds too touristy or too much of a party town for you, definitely check out Samara.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: Samara is a 2 hour drive from Liberia airport and 4 hours from San Jose. From San Jose, you can take the Puntarenas ferry to Naranjo.
• By bus: From Liberia, you need to first take the bus to Nicoya and then to Samara. From San Jose, there is one bus at 12 PM and 5 PM every day with company Alfaro. This route takes 5 hours.
• By shuttle: From Liberia airport, Interbus has shared shuttles for $57 USD per person.

Tourist friendly

Samara is very tourist friendly with plenty of hotels, restaurants, info centers, banks and tour operators. It’s a small town and is a very family friendly with a low key, mellow atmosphere. Ideal for yogis and surfers too.

Some businesses don’t accept credit card so make sure to have colones or USD with you.

Best things to do

• Surfing: Samara has waves for beginners. You can take a lesson or rent a board.
• Kayak and snorkel at Isla Chorro: Nice thirty minute kayak to the nearby island. Has decent snorkeling at the island
• Playa Barrigona: Gorgeous beach close by. It’s quiet so nice place to get away from crowds at Samara. Sometimes has surfing competitions. Must need 4×4/4wd in rainy season.
• Samara Waterfall: there is a small waterfall just outside Samara like 10 minute drive.

Recommended hotels

• Hideaway Hotel Samara: Cute boutique hotel at the south end of the beach. Very quiet. Check Hideaway Hotel rates here.
• Villas Kalimba: 6 independent villas. Has a garden and large pool with a waterfall and Jacuzzi. Check Kalimba rates here.
• Hotel Sol: Standard hotel rooms and a family suite. In a quieter area of Samara. Check Hotel Sol rates here.
• Hotel Villas Playa Samara: All-inclusive resort on the beach with a spa, restaurant, pool and bungalows and villas. Check Villas Playa Samara rates here.

Playas del Coco and Gulf of Papagayo

Ocean lovers can’t miss the Gulf of Papagayo with its plethora of hidden beaches, excellent fishing and scuba diving. Playas del Coco is the main beach town in the Papagayo area and is also a popular town for American and Canadian retirees. It used to be a small, sleepy fishing village and now it’s one of the most popular places in Costa Rica. The Papagayo peninsula is famous for its beautiful boat access only beaches and luxury resorts.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: Playas del Coco is 20 minutes from LIR airport and 4-5 hours from SJO airport. Both routes are fairly straightforward. From San Jose, take the InterAmericana highway through Liberia.
• By bus: From Liberia, there is a bus every hour from 5 to 19:00 which takes one hour. From San Jose, there is one bus that departs 3 times a day at 8, 14:00 and 16:00. It takes about 5 hours.
• By shuttle: From LIR airport, a private shuttle costs $50 USD one way for 1-4 people. From San Jose, costs around $200 USD for 1-4 people one way.

To get to the Gulf of Papagayo resorts, it is best to rent a car or book a shuttle.

Tourist friendly

Coco is extremely tourist friendly as one of the best places in Costa Rica for beaches. It’s only 20 minutes from Liberia airport with banks, supermarkets, bars and car rental companies. The only things not so tourist friendly about Coco are restaurants and lodging options. Choices are slim pickings compared other tourist destinations.

This area also lacks water so if you decide to stay in a vacation rental, water outages are common in February, March and April.

If you’re older or retired, you will love Coco as it’s full of retired expats and snowbirds. If you’re a young backpacker looking for other backpackers and a fun party atmosphere, go to Tamarindo. You won’t find a ton of that in Coco.

The Papagayo peninsula is perfect for honeymooners, couples or anyone looking to splurge on a luxury beach vacation. There isn’t a town on the peninsula, just resorts and a marina strewn throughout. Coco is the main town in the area.

Best things to do

• Fishing: Coco used to be a small fishing village so if you love fishing, you’ve picked the right destination. You can go kayak fishing, in shore fishing and deep sea fishing.
• Boating/beach hopping: The Gulf of Papagayo has some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica but many are only accessible by boat. Go boating in Playas del Coco to discover these gems.
• Scuba diving: There are several islands out in the Gulf with excellent scuba diving. One of them is only a 20 minute boat ride from Coco!

Recommended hotels

Coco’s lodging options are disappointingly few. There aren’t really any hostels in town and there isn’t a large variety of lodging. Most visitors rent a condo on Airbnb or VRBO.

• Toro Blanco: This is a nice hotel that’s a one minute walk to the beach and town. Mid range, comes with an equipped kitchenette, swim up bar and pool with pretty lights.
• Hotel Chantel. Located up in the hills, has ocean views all around. Boutique hotel, mid to high range
• Villa Buena Onda: Adult only luxury boutique hotel with amazing ocean views.
• Laura’s House Bed and breakfast. Small B&B, two minute walk to the beach and five to town. One of the best budget options.
• Hotel M&M. On the beach and has a hostel-like atmosphere, rooms don’t have AC.

In the Papagayo Peninsula, there are luxury resorts such as Four Seasons, Planet Hollywood, Andaz Papagayo, Occidental Papagayo, Secrets and Riu.

Dominical and Uvita

Dominical and Uvita are two small beach towns are in the south central Pacific and close enough that you can stay in either place and enjoy both destinations. This area is famous for surfing, humpback whales, Marino Ballena National Park, nature and wildlife.

They’re less touristic than Guanacaste so perfect for those who don’t like touristy places or crowds. There aren’t any white sand beaches down in the South Pacific and the snorkeling is not as good, except for Caño Island. It’s incredible peaceful and filled with nature, so excellent for those looking for a quiet vacation with beach, jungle and nature.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: From San Jose, Dominical and Uvita are about 3.5 hours depending which route you take. From Liberia, it takes about 5.5 hours.
• By bus: From San Jose, there is a bus to Dominical and Uvita at 6 and 15:00 everyday that takes 7 hours. From Liberia, it’s easiest to take the bus to San Jose and then to Dominical. You’ll need to plan times accordingly.
• By flying: The closest airport is in San Isidro de General with Sansa Air and then you’ll have to drive 1 hour to Dominical. You can also fly into Quepos and drive about 30-40 minutes to Dominical/Uvita.

Tourist friendly

Dominical and Uvita has, albeit not much, everything for tourists: supermarkets, banks, tour companies, hostels and international restaurants. They are tourist friendly in the sense that the main road is very nice and there is plenty to do, however it is hard to get around if you don’t have a car.

Dominical and Uvita are only 12 miles (19 km) apart but public transportation in this area is not the best. There is a bus that goes up and down the highway everyday but it doesn’t go to any attractions. If you want to explore the area and don’t have a car, you’ll have to hire a 4X4 taxi as many roads in this area require one.

There are actually several very good international restaurants but some like Jolly Roger require a 4X4. Most the banks and big supermarkets are outside Dominical and Uvita town. If you rent a vacation rental or book a hotel up in the mountains, those absolutely do require a 4×4.

If you don’t have a car, I highly recommend finding a hotel that is in town. They can help you book tours, get a taxi and meet other travelers. You’ll also be close to the beach.

Best things to do

• Marino Ballena National Park: This huge national park is famous for its beautiful beaches enveloped by a lush jungle and a unique rock formation in the shape of a whale’s tail.
• Nauyaca waterfalls: The most popular waterfall in the area. It’s a 4 kilometer hike to the fall on a private property. You can swim in the pool and jump off the rocks!
• Cano Island: Go snorkeling or scuba diving at Cano Island, a refuge that is full of marine wildlife. Snorkel or dive with turtles, dolphins, huge schools of fish and rays.
• Whale watching: This area is one of the best in Costa Rica for humpback whale watching which occurs nearly all year round.
• Surf at Playa Dominical: Dominical is a popular surfing beach with waves suitable for beginners.

Here are some more ideas of things to do in Dominical and Uvita.

Recommended hotels

Hotels are few in this area but what lacks in quantity makes up for in quality. You can find hotels with stunning ocean and jungle views, glamping tents, beautiful hostels and cabinas.

• Manoas: They have glamping tents and villas/apartment rentals and their own river access. 4X4 required, only 2kilometers from Uvita town. Click here to read our review and get 10% off your booking. Go glamping for a unique experience.
• Cool Vibes Hostel in Dominical: Right in front of the beach and next to restaurants and bars. Gets a bit noisy during full moon parties and Envision.
• Oxygen Jungle Villas: Adult only hotel with individual glass bungalows, a stunning infinity pool and on-site waterfall trail. Get 15% off your booking.
• Rancho Pacifico: Adult only luxury boutique hotel with the best ocean and mountain view with only 7 rooms, gourmet meals, spa and on-site waterfall. Luxury boutique at its best! Get 10% off with our code MyTanFeet on their booking site.
• Flutterby House in Uvita: Right behind the Marino Ballena National Park, more like a hostel and has a bar and restaurant, hammocks and surfboard rentals. Super relaxed and chill atmosphere.

Puerto Viejo

Known for its laid back, chill Caribbean vibes, Puerto Viejo is a destination unlike any other in Costa Rica. With pristine white sand beaches with crystal clear water, it’s a favorite for snorkeling and a relaxing beach vacation. Combine that with common sloth sightings, unique dishes and friendly locals, Puerto Viejo finds its way into every visitor’s heart.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: It’s about 5 hours from San Jose and 8 hours from Liberia. This road goes through a national park and is fairly straightforward.
• By bus: There is one bus from San Jose that leaves daily at 6, 10, 14:00 and 16:00 which takes around 4.5 hours. From Liberia, it is best to bus to San Jose and then take the bus to Puerto Viejo.
• By flying: The closest airport is Limon. You can fly from San Jose to Liberia and then take the bus from Limon to PV, every day from 5 AM – 18:00 or take a shuttle.
• By shuttle: A shared shuttle is $57 USD per adult with Interbus, a private is around $220 USD one way for 1-4 people.

Tourist friendly

Puerto Viejo town is small, but has everything for tourists. It’s the only and best place in Costa Rica to experience the Caribbean. If you venture outside of town or stay in a hotel at the neighboring beaches, you’ll have to go to town for those services.

The entire Puerto Viejo area and the small barrios can be easily explored by foot or bicycle. One thing tourists should note is that this area doesn’t adhere to a strict rainy-dry season. It can rain all year long with October as the driest month.

Best things to do

• Explore the beaches: Some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches are near Puerto Viejo. Check out Cocles, Punta Uva, Negra or Chiquita.
• Eat: Costa Rican Caribbean cuisine is completely different than the rest of the country. Indulge in rice and beans, pati and other unique dishes.
• Cahuita National Park: Visit this national park to see wildlife  and hike.
• Jaguar Rescue Center: If you want to get up close with animals such as jaguars, sloths and toucans, head to the Jaguar Rescue Center. They take in injured animals and rehabilitate them.

Read about other things to do in Puerto Viejo here.

Recommended hotels

• Hotel Banana Azul: Located in Playa Negra, Hotel Banana Azul has a beautiful property with a beach club, gardens and ponds and a delicious on-site restaurant.
• TreeHouses lodge: 5 luxury treehouses on Punta Uva.
• Hostel Kinkaju: This hostel is only 100 meters away from Puerto Viejo town so it’s close to restaurants, shops and the beach. It has a common kitchen area and terrace along with a 4 bed room for families. Playa 506 and Selina are two other good hostels.
• Villas del Caribe: This hotel is on Playa Chiquita. They have a pool and rooms are big enough for families with AC. About a 5 minute drive to town.

Puerto Jimenez

This town in the Osa Peninsula is perfect for those who want to explore one of the most bio-diverse places in the world, Corcovado National Park. It’s close to a beach and is an excellent home base for the South Pacific.

To visit Puerto Jimenez, it does take a bit of planning on getting there because it is far. Below you will find more information.

Distance from SJO and LIR airport

• By driving: From SJO airport, Puerto Jimenez is about 7 hours. From Liberia, it is about 8-10 hours depending which route you take.
• By bus: From San Jose, there is a bus from Calle 14 that departs at 8 and 12. This takes 8 hours. From Liberia, it’s best to bus first to San Jose and then take the bus to Puerto Jimenez. You have to split it into two days though.
• By flying: Puerto Jimenez has a local airport. A direct flight from San Jose airport is about 40 minutes.
• By shuttle: A shared shuttle from San Jose is around $99 USD one way and a private can be around $500 USD one way for 1-4 people.

Tourist friendly

Many tourists use Puerto Jimenez as the home base in Osa Peninsula or as stopover for those who plan to hike Corcovado National Park. You can find all the services in town that you won’t in other places in the Osa Peninsula.This is also where you can find naturalist guides to hire for Corcovado, hardware stores for equipment, pharmacies and car rental companies.

If you stay at one of the nicer lodges or hotels in Puerto Jimenez, you can use that as your homebase and do day trips from there.

Best things to do

• Corcovado National Park: There are a few ranger stations near Puerto Jimenez so you can take a tour or go on your own.
• Matapalo: Matapalo is the southern most tip of the Peninsula and you can take a day trip there to hike, go wildlife watching or surf.
• See dolphins: Take a boat ride around the Golfito Bay to see huge groups of dolphins.
• Surf: Surfing is excellent down in the Matapalo beaches.

Turtles also come to this area during certain times of the year to lay their eggs. You can take a turtle watching tour with Osa Conservation and they also take volunteers.

Recommended hotels

There aren’t a ton of hotels in Puerto Jimenez and there isn’t much in between high end and budget. This is one downside to Puerto Jimenez and isn’t the most tourist friendly. But this is because it’s a rural area so on the flip side, you get to experience the intense nature of the Osa Peninsula and rural Costa Rica. You can find some cheap local cabinas for rent though.

• Iguana Lodge: This hotel is ideal for those who don’t want to plan very much. They can put together a package for you which includes transportation, tours, dinners and lodging. They also offer yoga, SUP/boogie boards for guests. More on the high-end range.
• Crocodile Bay Resort: Another high end resort that is great for fishing and can put together packages.

San Jose

San Jose is not the nicest city but it is good to stay a night and explore for a day. It’s small so you really don’t need to stay longer to get a good feel for it. There are some excellent restaurants in Costa Rica and is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica to learn about culture and history.

We don’t highly recommend staying in San Jose for your entire trip but you can do day tours from the city.

Distance from LIR airport

• By driving: From Liberia airport, it’s about a 4-5 hour drive.
• By bus: There is a bus from Liberia to San Jose everyday at 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00. This takes about 4.5 hours.
• By flying: You can take a local flight to San Jose from all the other local airports.
• By shuttle: A shared shuttle from Guanacaste to San Jose is $57 USD per adult with Interbus and a private is around $250 USD one way for 1-4 people.

Tourist friendly

Being the capital city, San Jose has absolutely everything for tourists. The only thing I’d say is not nice is the driving and traffic. It’s a bit crazy!

Best things to do

• National theater: The national theater is the most beautiful building in Costa Rica. They hold plays and orchestras and you can tour it during the day.
• Museums: The Gold Museum and Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture are two excellent museums.
• San Jose city tour: Learn more about the capital city on this informative guided city tour.
• Coffee tour: Coffee is readily grown in the outskirts of the Central Valley and you can take a tour to learn how Costa Rica processes their coffee.

Read our San Jose travel guide and post about day trips from San Jose. (We have a partnership with Expediciones Tropicales to give small discounts on San Jose day tours. Please click here to get it!)

Recommended hotels

Most hotels in San Jose are perfect for a home base and the airport.

• Adventure Inn: A cozy boutique inn with a gym, office area and restaurant. It’s kind of halfway in between the San Jose airport and downtown so nice location. The furnishings and decorations are some of the most Costa Rican inspired I’ve seen. Get 10% off your booking in the link!
• Gran Hotel: This hotel is excellent for a home base in downtown San Jose. You’re close to all the attractions and walking distance to pretty much everything.
• Hotel Presidente: Another hotel in downtown San Jose, has a cafe/bar with a great view of the Avenue, perfect for people watching.

More Costa Rica Tips!

We highly recommend downloading some useful Costa Rica travel apps for your first time, it will help your trip greatly! Don’t forget to read our Costa Rica survival guide or check our sample Costa Rica itineraries for more ideas. And if you’re traveling with your family, plan your trip with our Costa Rica itineraries for families.

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