If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica and don’t know where to go, I’ve listed out the best places to visit in Costa Rica this destinations guide.
We’ll help you decide where to travel in Costa Rica depending on what kind of trip you’re looking for, who you’re traveling with and what time of year you are coming.
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Costa Rica Quick Facts
- Costa Rica is 8-12 degrees from the equator.
- Sunrise and sunset is roughly the same all year round, with a difference of around 15 minutes. Sunrise is generally 6 AM with first light around 530 AM and sunset is 530 PM, dark by 6 PM.
- Costa Rica uses 110 V and drives on the right hand side of the road.
- Local currency is called the colón.
- Spanish is the main language.
- 2 main international airports: Guanacaste Airport (airport code LIR) and San Jose International Airport (airport code SJO)
Check out our article “Best Time to Visit Costa Rica” or read what Costa Rica by month is like.
Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica: Where to Go in Costa Rica in
Click here to go to our best places to visit in Costa Rica map.
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.
La Fortuna is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica as it has excellent infrastructure, a ton of hotels at different price points and a handful of fun activities for every traveler.
You can fly into either LIR or SJO Airport for La Fortuna as the distance is nearly the same. Read about driving from Liberia to Arenal and driving from San Jose to Arenal.
Why Visit La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a must for nature lovers as it’s surrounded by rainforest and close to an active volcano.
It has excellent bird watching, incredible wildlife watching, fun outdoor adventures such as whitewater rafting, zip lining, hot springs and mountain biking.
La Fortuna has all the services for tourists making it one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.
Furthermore, it has some of the most luxurious rainforest resorts in Costa Rica so it’s excellent for couples and honeymoons.
Here is our list of the top activities in Arenal and La Fortuna. Our personal favorites are canyoning, hot springs, horseback riding, zip lining and hiking.
Get our Arenal and La Fortuna tours discount here!
Arenal Volcano National Park
The main attraction of the Fortuna area is Arenal Volcano National Park. This national park features one of the most impressive volcanoes in Costa Rica.
Although it used to be one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica, you can still see steam and smoke from the top. Hike the many trails for up close views of this volcano.
Looking for itinerary ideas? Check out our sample Costa Rica itineraries from 4 days to 1 month!
Dominical
Dominical is a popular surf town for backpackers, surfers and solo travelers.
Likewise, this small hippie surfing beach town in the South Pacific Coast is perfect for those looking for a chill beach vacation.
Fly into San Jose International Airport for Dominical. From the airport, it is a 3.5 hour drive.
You can also fly into the Quepos airport, pick up your rental car and then drive to Dominical.
It is recommended to have a 4×4 or high clearance car for this area, depending on your lodging and itinerary.
Why Visit Dominical
This tiny town is surrounded by lush rainforest and is close to many amazing beaches of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast (Central and South) as well as popular national parks.
If you’ve never seen the Pacific Ocean, Dominical will cross it off your bucketlist for you.
Although the beach is quite rocky, sunsets are incredible and waves are fantastic for expert surfers.
Due to it’s location, Dominical is a great home base to explore the South Pacific coast.
The best things to do in Dominical is surfing, visiting Nauyaca Waterfalls, watching sunsets on the beach and yoga.
There are some absolutely fantastic great day trips from Dominical filled with adventure, wildlife, nature and culture.
Drake Bay
As part of the remote Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, tourists pick Drake Bay for its natural beauty, close proximity to Corcovado National Park and abundant wildlife.
It’s quite an adventure to get to Drake Bay but it’s worth it!
The most common ways to get to Drake Bay is by boat or plane. The best international airport to fly into is San Jose International Airport.
Then from the airport, make your way down to Sierpe to take the boat from Sierpe River to Drake Bay. You can also take a 40 minute local flight from San Jose.
You can drive to Drake Bay but if you don’t absolutely have to, the boat from Sierpe is more fun!
Find out how to get to Drake Bay here.
Important things to know about Drake Bay
Drake Bay does not have any banks, ATMs, large medical clinics, hospitals or full service supermarkets. It’s also not the most easily accessible destination.
For these reasons, we recommend it more for serious nature lovers, adventurous couples, adults and older families.
Not highly recommended for very young families or seniors with mobility issues or serious health conditions.
Best things to do
Drake Bay is known for amazing wildlife and nature thanks to the nearby Corcovado National Park and protected forest reserve in the Osa Peninsula.
In a few days, you can go snorkeling at Caño Island Reserve, hike Corcovado National Park, scuba dive, go horseback riding and go deep sea fishing.
Since it is in the Osa Peninsula which houses 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, you’ll see toucans, howler monkeys, Scarlet Macaws, white face monkeys, iguanas and a ton more wildlife!
If you’re visiting end of December to April or July through September, you can go whale watching to see humpback whales, dolphins and sea turtles.
Recommended hotels
We stayed at Tranquilo Lodge (adults only)which had super nice, modern and luxurious bungalows with ocean and rainforest views.
Another luxury all inclusive hotel is Copa del Arbol Beach and Rainforest and this one was boat access only with tons of nature around.
We have also stayed at Aguila de Osa, a boat access only modern rustic rainforest lodge.
Save 5% with our promo code mytanfeet on their website Copa de Arbol!
Flamingo
Playa Flamingo in northwest Costa Rica is excellent for anyone looking for a relaxing beach vacation.
Additionally, Flamingo’s upcoming new marina has made it an even more well known fishing and scuba diving destination.
Flamingo is a 4.5 hour drive from San Jose International Airport and 1 hour drive from Guanacaste Airport.
Why Visit Flamingo
Playa Flamingo is known as one of the most gorgeous beaches in Central America. It’s whiteish sand, amazing sunsets and gentle waves are perfect for families.
Flamingo is also very close to other great beaches such as Conchal and Penca.
The best things to do in Flamingo is enjoy the beach, watch the sunset, partake in Happy Hour and relax!
Right from Flamingo, you can go on a snorkeling trip or a fishing charter. The Catalinas Islands are a 30 minute boat ride away for scuba diving and snorkeling.
You can do many great day trips such as horseback riding on the beach, hiking in Rincon de la Vieja National Park, hiking to Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park, ziplining in Diamante Eco Adventure Park and seeing nesting sea turtles at Ostional Wildlife Refuge.
Get a discount off your Guanacaste day tour here!
Jaco
Jaco is the most developed beach town in Costa Rica since it’s only an hour and half drive from San José, the capital city.
It’s not the prettiest beach on the Pacific coast but it’s ideal for those who like a city lifestyle and a thriving night life.
Fly into San Jose International Airport for Jaco. From Guanacaste Airport, Jaco beach is a 3 hour drive.
Why Visit Jaco Beach
Jaco has everything for tourists: banks, car rental companies, cell phone stores and frequent buses. If you consider yourself a foodie, Jaco has some of the best restaurants in the country.
The town also has a lively night life with its many bars and night clubs with VIP service. Jaco is known for crazy bachelor parties but it also has a family friendly atmosphere.
Surfing is excellent in Jaco as it has year round consistent waves for surfers of all levels. Jaco is also just a 5 minute drive to Costa Rica’s national stadium for surfing: Playa Hermosa.
Jaco is close to many top attractions in Costa Rica such as Carara National Park, Crocodile Bridge, Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park, Manuel Antonio National Park and many great beaches like Esterillos Oeste and Playa Bejuco.
All of these reasons make Jaco one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica if you are looking for a party town, a surfing beach and if you are more of a city person.
Read our post on things to do in Jaco for more ideas.
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Manuel Antonio/Quepos
Costa Rica’s cute sloths can be easily found in this coastal village on the Central Pacific Coast: Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio’s popular national park, gorgeous white sandy beaches and tropical rainforest makes it the number one tourist area in Costa Rica.
Quepos is the local town near Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio is 4.5 hours from Guanacaste Airport and 3 hours from San Jose International Airport.
Find out how to get to Manuel Antonio here.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is the highlight of this area. There are four different beautiful beaches, various hiking trails to viewpoints and wildlife watching galore.
It’s one of the best places to see sloths in Costa Rica, as well as 3 different species of monkeys and iguanas.
You can read about other things to do in Manuel Antonio here.
We have small discounts for tours in Manuel Antonio including white water rafting, night walks and a guided walk of the park with park tickets, roundtrip transportation and bilingual guide included.
Manuel Antonio is also a top honeymoon destination in Costa Rica, as it has a ton of luxury beach and rainforest resorts.
Downsides are that this area is very expensive, there are more street hawkers here than other places in Costa Rica and parking is difficult.
Monteverde
This mountain village is the perfect destination for nature lovers, birders and hiking lovers.
The canton of Monteverde is home to the Costa Rica’s most well known tropical cloud forest.
Santa Elena is the main tourism hub of Monteverde.
You can fly into either Guanacaste or San Jose International Airport to get to Monteverde as they’re both about a 3 hour drive.
A high clearance car is highly recommended for Monteverde.
Costa Rica’s tropical cloud forests are home to three things the country is well known for: zip lining, hanging bridges and bird watching!
In the mystical cloud forest, you can spot precious birds like the Resplandant Quetzal. If you love adventure, Monteverde has many adrenaline zip line tours.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena offers excellent hiking trails and viewpoints.
Our favorite parks in Monteverde are Santa Elena Bosque Nuboso and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for hiking.
Then for ziplining and hanging bridges: Selvatura Park, 100% Aventura and Treetopia.
If you only have 1 full day in Monteverde, Selvatura Park is highly recommended as they have the most activities to do in one day.
A guided visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is highly recommended. Here are our ideas for 2 days in Monteverde in the link.
Need a hotel in Monteverde? Use our 5% promo code “mytanfeet” to save $$ at the following hotels: Hotel Poco a Poco, Monteverde Country Lodge and Sibu Lodge. All wonderful places to stay in Monteverde with a great location, excellent restaurant and very cozy and comfortable rooms.
Papagayo Peninsula
The Papagayo Peninsula in northern Costa Rica is home to the most all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica and some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches.
As it’s only 30 minutes from Guanacaste Airport, the Papagayo Peninsula is another top honeymoon and luxury destination.
Why Visit
The Papagayo Peninsula is home to the most all inclusive resorts and luxury resorts in Costa Rica.
There is a Four Seasons, Planet Hollywood all inclusive, Riu Guanacaste all inclusive, Riu Palace all inclusive, Secrets Papagayo all inclusive, Andaz, Occidental Papagayo all inclusive, Ritz Carlton Nekajui Peninsula Papagayo and Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique.
The best things to do in the Papagayo Peninsula are swimming, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing, fishing, surfing at Witch’s Rock, scuba diving and beach hopping.
You can also book many different day excursions such as Rincon de la Vieja National Park, La Leona waterfall, a ziplining/horseback riding/hot springs combo at Vandara or Guachipelin or visit the Llanos de Cortes waterfall.
The Papagayo Peninsula is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica as it’s only 30 minutes from the Guanacaste Airport.
Additional, it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the province, there are many luxury resorts and it has great weather nearly all year long.
Playas del Coco
Playas del Coco is the main beach town in the Gulf of Papagayo and is also a popular town for American and Canadian retirees.
It used to be a small, sleepy fishing village and has become very popular in the last several years.
Playas del Coco and the surrounding beaches (Ocotal/Hermosa/Panama) is a 30 minute drive from Guanacaste Airport and a 4 hour drive from San Jose International Airport.
Find out how to get to Playas del Coco here.
Why Visit
Coco has some of the best weather in Costa Rica as it tends to have a longer dry season. It’s rainy season (aka green season) tends to be a bit shorter and not quite as intense as other locations.
If you’re a senior or are retired, you will love Coco as it’s full of retired expats, retired immigrants and snowbirds. Families love Playas del Coco too for its more laid back and small beach town vibe.
The best things to do in Playas del Coco are watch sunsets on the beach, enjoy Happy Hour and people watch in the park.
Thanks to Coco’s excellent location, you can do a lot of fantastic day trips to national parks, waterfalls and private reserves.
Do not miss out on any ocean activities like sunset sailing, surfing, fishing, snorkeling and beach hopping.
Our absolute favorite tour is a private Coco boating tour to see different white sand beaches, snorkel in crystal clear waters and see wildlife like sea turtles and dolphins.
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Known for its laid back, chill Caribbean vibes, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca 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.
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a 5 hour drive from San Jose International Airport.
Why Visit
Costa Rica’s South Caribbean coast is completely unlike the rest of the country. Puerto Viejo has a huge mix of cultures, thanks to its Afro-Caribbean roots and nearby indigenous communities.
The town is very small and has one main paved road starting from Cahuita all the way down to Manzanillo.
Within those 30 something kilometers, there are a handful of beautiful white sand beaches of the Caribbean sea surrounded by lush rainforest.
Something important to note is that since the Caribbean Coast does not follow Costa Rica’s typical tropical climate.
October is the best month to visit Puerto Viejo as that is their summer month but it’s the rainiest month for the rest of the country.
Recommended things to do are Cahuita National Park hike, snorkeling at Cahuita National Park, surf at Playa Cocles, learn about wildlife at the Jaguar Rescue Center, eat delicious rice and beans, visit the BriBri community for a chocolate tour and kayak down Punta Uva river.
Read about other things to do in Puerto Viejo here.
Samara
Samara is a very family friendly beach town in the South Guanacaste zone. It is an excellent town to see beautiful beaches, surf, relax and adventure.
Samara is 2 hours from Guanacaste Airport and 4.5 hours from San Jose International Airport.
Why Visit
Samara is very tourist friendly with plenty of hotels, restaurants, info centers, banks and tour operators.
It’s a small family friendly town with a holistic focus on wellness, making it ideal for yogis, vegans and surfers. There is less of a party scene here in Samara than in Tamarindo.
Check out our Costa Rica family itinerary for Guanacaste Airport that goes to Samara and Bijagua.
The best things to do in Samara is surfing, kayaking and snorkeling at Isla Chorro, visiting nearby beaches like Playa Barrigona, dolphin and snorkeling tour, and an ATV tour.
San José
Although San José is the capital city, you can see the city in one or two days easily since it’s not that big.
San Jose has a great food scene and is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica to learn about culture and history.
San José is 30 minutes from San Jose International Airport.
Why Visit
Being the capital city, San José has absolutely everything for tourists to experience typical Costa Rican city life.
Visit the various museums, walk through downtown, stroll through La Sabana Park, eat at Barrio Escalante (the foodie neighborhood), hit up some night clubs and take a city tour.
We love the National Theater and the Jade Museum.
San José is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica if you are only there for a few days.
From San José which is in Central Costa Rica, you can take day trips to many different places like the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Poas Volcano National Park, Arenal Volcano tour and Irazu Volcano National Park and Rainforest Adventures near Braulio Carrillo National Park for hiking and wildlife.
Get our La Paz waterfall gardens discount here!
Read our San Jose travel guide and post about day trips from San Jose. We also offer small discounts for San Jose day tours you can get in the link.
Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa’s vast beaches, excellent surfing waves and remote location is another beloved surfing, yoga and wellness destination in Costa Rica.
Although Santa Teresa is a bit far from the airports, it’s worth the journey to visit this idyllic beach town in the Nicoya Peninsula.
Fly into San Jose International Airport and then take the Puntarenas ferry or drive to Santa Teresa (4-6 hours).
If you fly into Guanacastel Airport, make sure to drive around the Nicoya Peninsula via Route 21.
4wd or high clearance car highly recommended.
Why Visit
Santa Teresa’s location makes it far from main services like hospitals but it has pretty much everything for tourists at least for hotels, tour desks and restaurants.
Santa Teresa is a cash preferred community, so bring plenty of USD and Costa Rican colones. Credit card (Visa/Mastercard) is also accepted in some establishments.
Santa Teresa is Costa Rica’s premiere destination for digital nomads. It has a very “young hip” vibe as it’s full of young adults, college students, backpackers, solo travelers, surfers and nomads.
The best things to do in Santa Teresa are the walk the beaches, watch the sunset on the beach, take a surf lesson, practice yoga on the beach, party and go fishing.
There are also many great places to visit on a day trip from Santa Teresa like Montezuma, Tortuga Island, Punta Cuchillos for a bioluminesence kayak tour and Curu Wildlife Refuge.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is one of the best places to go in Costa Rica for the first time as it’s a popular beach town in Guanacaste with excellent surfing waves and a fun nightlife.
It’s a favorite for families looking for a fun beach and convenience.
Tamarindo beach is a little over a hour drive from Guanacaste Airport and 4.5 hours from San Jose International Airport.
There is also a domestic airport 5 minutes outside town. Find out how to get to Tamarindo here.
Why visit
Tamarindo has everything: an airport, car rental companies, hostels, banks, souvenir stores, pharmacies, tour companies and supermarkets.
Tamarindo is a party town. It gets extremely rowdy and crowded during holidays like Christmas, Spring Break and Holy Week. Many Americans visit Tamarindo.
The best things to do in Tamarindo are surfing, long walks on the beach, watching the sunset, going on estuary boat tour, fishing and hitting up bars.
From Tamarindo, you can enjoy many day trips to the national parks and other attractions.
Read our post for more info on things to do in Tamarindo as you can easily spend many days in Tamarindo doing something different.
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 time visitors.
This area, nicknamed the “Little Amazon” of Costa Rica is one of the best for wildlife watching, nature and rainforest!
To get to Tortuguero, you need to fly into San Jose International Airport. Then, take a plane directly to the village or drive to the La Pavona dock and take the boat.
From San Jose, Tortuguero is around a 4-5 hour journey by bus and boat. The plane ride is only about 45 minutes. Find out how to get to Tortuguero here.
You can travel independently or book a Tortuguero tour package that includes round trip transportation, a visit to Tortuguero National Park, meals and lodging.
Get our Tortuguero tour package discount here.
Why Visit
Tortuguero is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for wildlife and nature lovers because it’s such a lush rainforest with abundant wildlife, giving tourists a great first impression of Costa Rica.
Tortuguero National Park protects nesting green sea turtles and is the main attraction of the area.
The best months to go to Costa Rica for Tortuguero is August and September as it’s the peak of the nesting green sea turtle season.
Recommended Hotels
- Evergreen Lodge, Aninga and Pachira: Sister lodges next to Tortuguero 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 cabins, restaurant and pool, also has its own entrance to Tortuguero beach and village.
Uvita
Uvita is a small coastal town on the South Pacific coast famous for humpback whales, Marino Ballena National Park, beaches, and lush rainforests.
It has a very laid back, mellow and relaxing vibe but it has been growing rapidly the last several years.
Uvita is 3.5 hours from San Jose International Airport and 5.5 hours from Guanacaste Airport.
Why Visit
Uvita has everything for tourists: supermarkets, banks, tour companies, hostels and international restaurants.
The Costanera Sur highway Route 34 is paved as well as the main road through town.
However it is hard to get around if you don’t have a car so it is highly recommended to have a rental car for Uvita, preferably a 4×4.
This area is way less touristy than the North Pacific so perfect for those who don’t like crowds.
However, there aren’t any white sand beaches down in the South Pacific and there are more rip tides as its direct to the Pacific Ocean.
The best things to do in Uvita are whale watching, snorkeling at Cano Island, walking the beaches and watching the sunset at Marino Ballena National Park and surfing.
Here are more ideas of things to do in Uvita.
Itineraries
Don’t know how to start building your itinerary?
Check out our sample Costa Rica itineraries here! Many of them includes these destinations.
These detailed itineraries have information on everything to help you get around, find a place to stay, decide what to do, where to eat and much more!
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Z says
Hi Sammi–great blog, so helpful! We are a grad student couple (26 years old) coming to CR for our spring break (third week of March). We are looking to do 3 days in Arenal and 4 days hanging out by the beach. For the beach, we initially picked Manuel Antonio since it looks amazingly beautiful and we’d love to see all the animals. However, after doing some more research, we’re a little concerned that MA might be too touristy, crowded, hectic, and expensive for our relaxing beach getaway, especially on a weekend in peak season, and also more oriented for families. We then discovered Dominical, which looks like it might have more of that low key, easy going, authentic Costa Rican beach town feel, with more of a young person vibe (we’re not huge partiers, but a cool bar to hang out and grab a couple drinks in the evening would be nice), and still allow us to do a day trip to MA to see the park. But on the other hand, especially for first timers who likely won’t have a car and aren’t much of the rugged backpacker type, the convenience and amenities of MA might be better for us. What do you think? Am I right about the vibes of each place? And even if so, does the convenience and sheer number of activities in MA (not to mention waking up every morning in such a paradise) still make it worth it? Also one of us is a vegetarian, so we can be a bit picky with food, if that makes a difference. Thanks so much!
Sammi says
Hi Z, I think if you’re just spending 4 days hanging at the beach with no plans to really go anywhere else, you can stay the whole time in Dominical. It is a lot chiller than Manuel Antonio and less touristy and MA gets suppppper busy during March and April, especially since you’re visiting during spring break. It’ll still be busy in Dominical (it’s not really that authentic since it’s pretty touristy too but it’s way less touristy than MA) but it’s a lot smaller and nowhere as developed. You can then do a day trip to MA to visit the national park and spend the rest of your days hanging out at Dominical beach.
Since you’re just planning on beaching it and not exploring, you can get away with visiting Dominical without a car. If you wanted to explore more of the area like go down to Uvita, visit some lesser known beaches or waterfalls, I’d 100% recommend a car but for just a few days at the beach and only going to MA for 1 day, you can stay the whole time at Dominical.
One thing to note is that Dominical beach is not very nice, it’s very rocky and has strong surfing waves whereas MA has white sand beaches where you can swim.
Another option is to stay 2 nights in both places since it’s only like a 40 minute drive from MA to Dominical so it’s pretty close. Then you can experience both places equally.
Lindsay Reid says
Great blog!! Planning a trip for end of January 12 days all in (2 days travel from Canada). My husband and I mid 30’s, my parents 50’s. We love good food, drinks, beaches, atmosphere. We like to relax while on holidays and walk through the town, do the odd hike. A place that has decent nightlife but nothing crazy…more so just drinks in the evenings out in town. Ideally would like to stay in one place and after reading through multiple sites, I’m debating between Manual Antonio and Conchal Beach. Which do you recommend or would you recommend another area? The trip is all about convenience (saving time) for us so flying into either airport is fine. Appreciate your guidance in advance.
Sammi says
Hi Lindsay, either place is great but I would choose Manuel Antonio as Conchal doesn’t really have a town. There is Brasilito but it’s very small, pretty quiet and not as many bars/restaurants as Manuel Antonio (they are more spread out throughout Flamingo – Potrero – Brasilito). Manuel Antonio has way more nightlife (bars, happy hour, etc.) and is easier to get around, you don’t even need to rent a car, you can walk to all of them if you’re staying on the hill in Manuel Antonio. Conchal needs a car to get around or to take taxis since it’s much more spread out. Also Manuel Antonio has the national park for hiking whereas there’s not really any hiking in Conchal.
Bobi Jo says
Hello. After reading your posts and articles, I have decided my family would really love Arenal/La fortuna and Manuel Antonio. We’d like to spend 3 days in each and maybe try to add a day in Monteverde. If we fly in to San Jose we will rent a car but where should we start? Is this a plausible vacation or did I over stretch it? Thanks for your assistance.
Sammi says
Hi Bobi, you can even do a day trip to Monteverde from La Fortuna or stop by for one or two nights in Monteverde but it does depend on how long you have. You can definitely rent a car from San Jose. You can read our tips here: Costa Rica car rental tips and we also have a car rental discount you can get here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Sylvia Capello Mraz says
Hi Sammy,
My husband and I will be traveling with our boys (24,21 yrs ) and one will be bringing his girlfriend. We will be staying Jan3-11 at Sol de Mar in Playa Hermosa- Guanacaste,CR.
We are able to rent a car if needed. Any suggestions on activites? We like fishing, nice beaches, hiking, snorkeling. Any suggestions are very much appreciated! We are looking forward to visiting your county. My husband and I are considering moving there for a few years when we retire in a few years. Thank you for your help! I am enjoying reading your website for suggestions!
Sammi says
Hi Sylvia, here is our post on the best day trips from Coco/Hermosa area: day trips from Playas del Coco
Our favorites if you want to see beaches, fishing/snorkeling is the private boating tour around the Gulf of Papagayo. It’s really the only way to get the best experience of the area since many of the beaches are boat access only and you’ll see that Hermosa is not that nice with black sand and dark water. You can find white sand beaches with clear water by taking a boat ride around the Gulf and you can also go trolling/inshore fishing. Our friend Marcy runs private boat tours you can read more here: Boating in Playas del Coco
Tiffanie Story says
Hello!
My husband and I are traveling to Costa Rica on August 6th and will be there for 8 days.
I am an absolute animal lover and would like to do as many outdoor adventures as possible. My husband and i aren’t into the party scene and would prefer peace and quiet over loud crowds. We want to go snorkeling, ziplining and hiking while we are there. We will be renting a car. What places would you recommend? My husband has a very stressful job and we want to go and enjoy the beauty of the country and get away from our hectic lives!
Thank you so much!
Tiffanie
Sammi says
Hi guys, I think somewhere like Puerto Viejo or Samara would be nice.
Amy Parrish says
This is the single best source for information on visiting Costa Rica — thank you so much! I have a question about visiting during the Aug. 2 national holiday and pilgrimage to the basilica in Cartago — We have bought our plane tickets to visit for the first time from July 27 – Aug 6. We have friends in San Jose and Cartago that we will be visiting, but also plan to go to Arenal, Manuel Antonio, and the Rio Pacuare rafting trip. Our Cartago friend says all the roads will be closed in Cartago starting a couple days before Aug. 2. We are wondering how much this will affect traffic to/from certain places and whether the other tourist areas will be more crowded or less crowded because of this?
Sammi says
Hi Amy, the only place that is really affected by the pilgrimage is Cartago, it doesn’t affect anywhere else since everyone is going to the basilica in Cartago.
Simone says
Hi! I would love your feedback on a trip we are trying to plan for end of December with kids ages 14,12&7 – for maybe 8 days. Is there one particular place that we can use as our base and just do day excursions or maybe we have to travel to 2 different areas to stay in order to see/do what we want? Our interests are seeing/learning about wildlife, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, canopy tours/ziplining, arenal/hotsprings, and maybe fit in some surf lessons. Also, are there organizations that would allow us to do some volunteer work while we are there something along the lines of wildlife preservation? Someone recommended the Los Seunos Marriott resort in Jaco but I don’t think we can use that as a base for everything we want to do??
Sammi says
Hi Simone, you can stay in both Manuel Antonio and Monteverde for your trip, you can do like 3 days in each destination. The surfing in Manuel Antonio is not good for beginners though because waves are very short and fat so they’re best for shortboards so you can do a surf lesson in maybe Jaco or Dominical if you’re beginners. Most wildlife organizations in Costa Rica don’t take one day volunteers they usually require a minimum of a month but you can ask them to see.
whitney navarro says
Hi! I’m trying to plan an itinerary for my friends and my 7 day trip to CR in December and you’re blog was so helpful! I’ve been scared that I might pack too much into one trip or get the wrong information. We are flying into SJO because it is cheaper, there are a couple key spots I wanted to fit in but I understand it may not be possible :/ Im not sure if you can help or give some input. Ive been considering transportation that would make it possible to save time and enjoy all the spots we want such as car rental, domestic flights, and ferry’s. Im interest in going to Tamarindo definitely, Montezuma, Tortuga Islands, Arenal. We are all adventurers but at the same time love beautiful beaches and relaxing (We’re from Miami). So were looking for waterfalls, hiking, beaches, animals, nightlife (We’re 24). Also, I can’t find domestic flight prices, I’m assuming I would have to buy it when we land there? Any input would really, really help! Thank You so much!
Sammi says
Hi Whitney! I’m glad the blog has been helpful. Regarding your itinerary, that’s definitely way too hectic for only 7 days. San Jose to Tamarindo is about a 4-5 hour drive and pretty far from the other places (Montezuma and Arenal). I would stick to just Montezuma and Arenal or just Tamarindo and Arenal so you can really get to enjoy both places and not just spend 1 day in each place. You could do day 1 San Jose, Day 2 La Fortuna, Day 3, La Fortuna, Day 4 Tamarindo Day 5 Tamarindo Day 6 Tamarindo Day 7 San Jose. If you fly, that will save a ton of time and will be best because San Jose to La Fortuna is about 4 hours, La Fortuna to Tamarindo is about 4 and Tamarindo to San Jose is about 4-5 hours driving.
For domestic flights, Sansa and Nature are the two airlines. I believe Nature is pending operations at the moment but Sansa should have their flight schedules up already. There is only a local airport to Arenal however from San Jose. Montezuma doesn’t have one so it will be easier to go to Tamarindo since it has a local airport.
For Tortuga Island, you can only do a one day trip which you can do from San Jose. (We actually have a $10 discount on the Tortuga Island cruise from San Jose you can read here: Tortuga Island day cruise
Lakita says
Hello,
Thank you so much for this site, it has really saved me 🙂
We are visiting Costa Rica for 3 weeks in August and plan to go to Quepos, Puerto Viejo, and perhaps Monte Verde. Can you share what the best order might be to visit each? Also is one place better than another for staying the majority of the time (i.e. 10-12 days and then shorter stays at the other two)? Thank you in advance for your help!
Sammi says
Hi Lakita, if you’re landing in San Jose, I recommend doing Puerto Viejo first, then back to San Jose for one night, then Monteverde and down to Quepos. Monteverde is good for about 2-3 days unless you want to spend more time in the mountains since you’ll get a lot of beach at Quepos and Puerto Viejo.
Drea says
Stumbled on your page from Pinterest! I’m looking to travel with my spouse and 3 year old. Any areas that you think we should definitely stay that would make sense and be easier with a toddler?
Sammi says
Hi Drea, I would go somewhere that is easy to get to (paved roads) and has a main town with everything (pharmacies, clinics, supermarkets, banks, etc.) Depending on if you want to go to the beach or mountains and how you’re getting around, some good places are Playas del Coco, Arenal, the Central Valley cities, Grecia, Tamarindo, Playa Panama and Manuel Antonio.