| Â | | | | underwater flora and fauna. It is the perfect |
| | | | combination between the extensive golden |
| Having Visited Costa Rica, I have compiled a | | | | coasts full of scenic beaches & luscious |
| list of the best locations to visit. This | | | | mountains. |
| list is by no means comprehensive or | | | | |
| complete, it is just a checklist of all the | | | | Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a |
| places I would visit when I go to Costa | | | | few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants |
| Rica. | | | | in the area. While swimming here is near |
| | | | impossible with the strong swells and rip |
| Arenal Volcano | | | | tides, one can kayak off the coast or enjoy |
| | | | some diving or snorkeling opportunities in |
| The Arenal Volcano area is one of Costa | | | | the area. Horseback tours can also be |
| Rica's top attractions. Only 3 hours away | | | | arranged to the nearby Nauyaca Waterfalls, or |
| from San Jos, in the town of La Fortuna, | | | | one can visit the Marino Ballena National |
| stands a majestic 1,633m volcano, known to be | | | | Park, which is home to a number of marine |
| one of the most active in the world. Despite | | | | mammals like turtles and whales that come |
| its constant activity, the volcano is very | | | | here seasonally to mate and nest. If you |
| safe to visit as long as you stay within the | | | | like, you can take a short day trip to the |
| safety perimeter. In this area take advantage | | | | lovely Cao Island just off the coast. This |
| of the pristine natural surroundings! Go | | | | island is considered one of the best |
| fishing, horseback riding; take a canopy | | | | adventure diving spots in the world and is |
| tour, rafting or experience a tremendous | | | | home to an impressive array of underwater |
| canyon expedition. Whatever you decide, be | | | | marine life. |
| sure to visit the relaxing hot springs in the | | | | |
| area, the most famous being Tabacon and | | | | Tortuguero |
| Baldi. | | | | |
| | | | Tortuguero National Park is one of Costa |
| La Fortuna and Surroundings | | | | Rica's most biologically diverse wildlife |
| | | | areas. Featuring one of the most verdant |
| Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the | | | | landscapes in the country, the 26,156 hectare |
| town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the | | | | park was created with the main purpose of |
| gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. A | | | | protecting the green sea turtle nesting area. |
| charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily | | | | Tortuguero owes its very wet tropical forest |
| accessible from the capital city San Jose, | | | | to the 5000 to 6000 millimeters of rain it |
| and offers some panoramic views of the | | | | receives per year. These climatic conditions |
| spectacular Arenal, Costa's Rica's most | | | | are favorable to more than 400 tree species, |
| active volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers | | | | around 2200 species of other plants and more |
| away from town and regularly spewing smoke | | | | than 400 birds, 60 amphibian and 30 fresh |
| and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal | | | | water fish species, as well as several |
| is the country's top rated tourist attraction | | | | endangered animals including tapirs, monkeys, |
| and is indeed a sight to behold. | | | | ocelots, jaguars, manatees and sloths. |
| | | | Tortuguero is characterized by beautifully |
| Over the last few years in particular, La | | | | scenic canals, lagoons and rivers that may be |
| Fortuna has become quite a bustling town. | | | | toured by boat, canoe or kayak. In addition |
| However, there are plenty of accommodations, | | | | to the green turtle, three other sea turtle |
| hotels and resorts here to suit every budget. | | | | species nest on the park's beaches. |
| A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing | | | | |
| resort spas surrounding the volcano. On a | | | | Malpais |
| clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and | | | | |
| if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on | | | | Malpais is situated on the Pacific coast of |
| a brilliant show with bright red rocks | | | | Costa Rica on the southern tip of the Nicoya |
| tumbling down its sides. Beside the volcano, | | | | Peninsula. Also known as the Hawaii of Latin |
| this town has other great tourist attractions | | | | America, there are several beaches to swim, |
| like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, Tabacon | | | | dive or snorkel though it's main attraction |
| Hot Springs, white water rafting, hiking | | | | is it's unique conditions for surfing and |
| excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, | | | | it's pristine subtropical nature. Horseback |
| horseback riding, canopy tours and Cao Negro | | | | riding, sportfishing, canopy tours, scuba, |
| Boat Tours are just some of the many | | | | and nature tours make up some of the other |
| activities that one can enjoy while you are | | | | popular activities nearby. Malpais is a |
| here. | | | | community unlike any other in Costa Rica |
| | | | with a strong surf culture and a the |
| Monteverde Cloud Forest | | | | laid-back atmosphere that maintains the type |
| | | | of earthy tourism that made Costa Rica |
| Most famous for being associated with the | | | | famous. |
| Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve,the tiny | | | | |
| community of Monteverde is a small village | | | | MalPais boasts a great selection of places to |
| located near the entrance of the cloud | | | | stay and eat from camping on the beach to |
| forest. Monteverde was founded by the Quaker | | | | luxurious resorts and a wide range of |
| community that migrated from North America to | | | | activities. Without a doubt it's a very |
| Costa Rica in the 1950's. In town, which is | | | | attractive place to relax and enjoy the |
| actually Santa Elena, you'll find banks, drug | | | | golden rays of the Pacific sunset. |
| store, a local hospital, book store, gas | | | | |
| station, ATM machine, police station, post | | | | Turrialba Valley |
| office, supermarkets, internet cafes, | | | | |
| restaurants | | | | With some stunning views of Costa Rica's |
| | | | rural countryside, Turrialba is a charming |
| As the weather here is quite chilly and | | | | little town in the lush and beautiful Central |
| misty, due to the village being high up in | | | | Valley in Cartago province. Famous for being |
| the Tilaran Mountain Range, you should bring | | | | a white water rafting hotspot and base camp, |
| some thick clothes and a light jacket to stay | | | | this town lies 53 km east of the capital city |
| warm. When here, do remember to try out the | | | | San Jos and is an excellent place to tour the |
| delicious local cheeses, which are a treat to | | | | pre-Columbian ruins at Guayabo National |
| eat. If you are a bird watcher, this village | | | | Monument, or the rarely visited but lovely |
| offers some lovely bird watching | | | | Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba. A quiet |
| opportunities, even though you are not in the | | | | town, Turrialba with its charming street |
| cloud forest itself. However, if you prefer | | | | corners and gorgeous surrounding sceneries is |
| to do the more touristy thing, visit the | | | | among the few places in Costa Rica with |
| local craft centers, the women's co-op | | | | direct access to a volcano's crater. From the |
| center, the butterfly garden and the | | | | summit of the volcano, you can on a clear |
| Hummingbird Gallery in town. | | | | day, see the Irazu, Pos and Barva volcanoes |
| | | | in the distance Botanists and gardeners will |
| Dominical Beach | | | | want to pay a visit to the Center for |
| | | | Agronomy Research and Development (CATIE), |
| Located on Costa Rica's amazingly beautiful | | | | which is located 5km (3 miles) southeast of |
| Central Pacific coastline, the small village | | | | Turrialba on the road to Siquirres. This |
| of Dominical is a surfer's paradise where | | | | center is one of the world's foremost |
| waves can reach over 10 feet high, a place | | | | facilities for research into tropical |
| rich in island biodiversity and amazing | | | | agriculture. |