There is much more to see and do in Costa Rica than its stunning beaches. Located in Central America, its coastline directly overlooks the Caribbean and the Pacific. As a result, it has become a favourite destination for lovers of the sun and sea.
Costa Rica is especially rich in nature, but also offers a wide variety of historical and cultural sites and landmarks. You can enjoy an excellent combination of beautiful cities, paradisiacal beaches and huge rainforests. You’ll also find some of the world’s most impressive volcanoes, some of which are still active. If you want to know the places you can’t miss in Costa Rica, keep reading our post!
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The best places to see in Costa Rica
San José
The first city we recommend in Costa Rica is San José, the capital. This beautiful city is the largest and most important city in the country, offering a wide variety of places to visit and activities to do.
You can start your visit with the impressive Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the most important in Costa Rica. You will be able to admire its beautiful facade, which has a mixture of styles: Baroque, Greek and Neoclassical. It is an architectural jewel. In addition, you can go inside and see artefacts of great historical value, such as the famous Hoffman tombs.
Next, you can go to the Plaza de la Cultura. This square is one of the most iconic places in San José, as it is home to some of the city’s most important cultural buildings. Among them are the National Theatre and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. In addition, this square has a series of colourful buildings that give the place a special charm.
When you’re in the mood for a bit of peace and quiet, we recommend going to the Spirogyra Butterfly Garden. This place is a large natural space where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll surrounded by nature and an infinite number of butterflies. You will feel like you are in a fairy tale.
Finally, don’t miss a visit to the beautiful Barrio de Amón, probably one of the best things to see in Costa Rica. It is home to most of the city’s landmarks, as well as an impeccable colonial style. Learn about the history of the city in its various buildings and narrow streets. You will feel like a real Costa Rican.
If you want to discover everything there is to see in this city, read our post: Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica.
San José
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San José
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Liberia
There are lots of things to do in Liberia, one of the most economically important cities in Costa Rica. You can enjoy a wide range of cultural, historical and natural sites, as well as a host of activities.
First of all, a visit to the Mario Cañas Ruiz Park is a must. It is probably the most symbolic place in Liberia, mostly due to its beautiful colonial style. In this park you can enjoy a long walk while admiring its abundant nature. And, depending on the time of year you travel, you may even be able to witness some of the social events that take place throughout the year.
Next, you can visit the Hidden Garden Art Gallery, without a doubt one of the most beautiful and interesting galleries Costa Rica. It is located very close to Liberia, so you will be able to get there easily. Inside you will be able to see important works created by famous local artists. Don’t miss it!
Finally, and especially if you’re travelling with children, don’t miss the Africa Safari Adventure Park. Here you can enjoy an incredible family day out and see some of the country’s most interesting species. At the end of the visit, you’ll find a small waterfall where you can stop to rest before the end of the day. You’ll have a great time!
Cartago
Cartago is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Costa Rica, as well as an important historical and cultural point in the country. In addition, the surrounding area is home to incredible natural sites, from national parks to towering volcanoes.
You can start your visit at the Plaza Mayor of Cartago. Located in the centre of the city, this square is considered Historical and Architectural Heritage of Costa Rica. It has great historical value as it was the site of an important event during colonial times.
Next, don’t hesitate to stroll through the Lankester Botanical Gardens, one of the most beautiful natural sites in the city. It is a beautiful, large Japanese-style park, where you will be fascinated by its distinctive vegetation.
Finally, you cannot miss a visit to the Basilica de la Virgen de los Ángeles, considered one of the most important churches in the country. It is especially famous for being the place where the pilgrimage is held every first day of August. You will love it.
Read our post on things to do in Cartago to complete your list of places to visit.
Alajuela
Alajuela is the second largest province in Costa Rica. Located in the beautiful Cordillera Central mountain range, this province has some of the most stunning natural sites in the country.
First of all, we recommend visiting the city of Alajuela. Although it is small, here you will find all the necessary services, from hotels to restaurants. It is without a doubt the perfect place to recharge before setting off on an adventure in the surrounding area.
Another site not to be missed is the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall. It reaches a height of 60 metres and flows into a natural turquoise pool where you can enjoy a wonderful swim. Once you have finished visiting the waterfall, you can take a hike in the surrounding forest.
If you want to discover all the places to visit in this area, read our post: Things to do in Alajuela.
Puntarenas
Puntarenas is one of the most visited areas of Costa Rica, mainly due to the large number of paradisiacal beaches it offers. Even so, you can also get to know the places hidden in its small town.
The first place you must visit in Puntarenas is the famous Paseo de los Turistas (Tourists’ Promenade). This beautiful boulevard is located next to the coast, so you can enjoy a pleasant stroll while admiring unbeatable views of the sea. At the end of the promenade you will find the Puntarenas Lighthouse, one of the most iconic points of the city.
Next, you can choose to enjoy a morning or afternoon in the sun at the beautiful Playa Blanca beach. It has crystal-clear waters and white sand that make it a true paradise. And, as if that weren’t enough, at the end of the beach you can see some impressive cliffs.
To end your visit, we recommend visiting the interesting Parque Marino del Pacífico (Pacific Marine Park). There you will find a huge aquarium where you can see some of the most fascinating marine species. It is the ideal place to visit if you are travelling with children. You’ll all have a great time.
Discover all the things to do in Puntarenas by reading our post!
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
The best natural places to see in Costa Rica
Irazú Volcano
The Irazu Volcano is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive sites to see in Costa Rica. At 3,5000 metres high, it is a natural gem for anyone who visits it. You can catch a glimpse of its main crater from a great viewpoint.
It is located in the Natural Park of Irazú, known for its jungle flora and its beautiful wooden trails that will take you to the different viewpoints. From there you will be able to marvel at the volcanic terraces. You will be completely fascinated.
Visit the province of Limón
Limón has some of the most beautiful natural sites to see in Costa Rica. Thanks to its abundant vegetation, it offers dreamlike places, impressive jungles and a great natural heritage.
You can visit Uvita Island, located just a kilometre and a half from the port of Limón city, or the beautiful Cahuita National Park, where you will find an impressive natural mix of beaches, jungles and all kinds of animal species. If you want to discover more about the wonders of this place, don’t hesitate to read our post: Things to do in Limón.
Tortuguero National Park
Located in the province of Limón is the impressive Tortuguero National Park, which is home to one of the most beautiful natural areas in the country. Although it is not very easy to access, it is well worth a visit.
The most characteristic feature of this park is that it is mostly made up of canals, so to get around you will have to go by boat. Enjoy a pleasant trip while you navigate through the impressive surroundings, and observe a wide variety of turtles. You’ll love this place!
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is located in the province of Puntarenas. Its name comes from the fog that is produced due to the high humidity since it is located almost 2,000 metres above sea level.
You will be able to enjoy an impressive variety of fauna and flora while you walk through one of the most beautiful natural landscapes not only in the country, but in the whole world. Don’t miss the famous La Ventana viewpoint, from where you can admire the entire forest. A must-see!
What to do in Costa Rica in 5 days?
- Visit Liberia
- Discover San José
- Navigate through Tortuguero National Park
- Climb the Irazú Volcano
What to do in Costa Rica in 10 days?
- Visit Puntarenas
- Explore the province of Limón
- Discover Alajuela
- Go to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Travel to Cartago
- Enjoy Liberia
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Costa Rica
The best time to travel to Costa Rica is from December to April, as this is the dry season. You’ll be able to enjoy both the natural landscapes and the sun and beach in peace and quiet.
There are many typical dishes in Costa Rica that you must try. Here is a list of what we consider to be the most important ones.
– First of all there is the casado. This dish consists of rice, red peppers, beans, onions, meat and fried plantain. It is usually accompanied by fried potatoes or vegetables – an amazing combination!
– Secondly, we recommend you try the chile relleno, made from peppers stuffed with meat and spices. It is one of the most popular dishes in the country.
– If you travel to Costa Rica at Christmas time, you can’t miss their famous pork tamale. The most popular dish for the occasion, it is a mixture of rice, meat, beans and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves.
– Finally, you can’t leave Costa Rica without having tried its most typical breakfast: the gallo pinto, which consists of rice and beans accompanied by fried or scrambled eggs, minced meat and tortillas. There’s no better way to start the day!
Costa Rica is generally safe to travel to, although it is a country where there is a lot of drug trafficking. It’s important to avoid lonely streets late at night in cities such as San Jose, as this is where most of this happens.
Otherwise, it is safe to travel to Costa Rica as long as you respect basic security measures (don’t leave the hotel with a lot of money and be sure to leave your passport there).
Costa Rica is a country full of natural places that you can’t miss. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the most essential spots:
– Puerto Viejo, a small town in the province of Limón, characterised by its stunning beaches and hippie atmosphere.
– Poas Volcano, one of the largest craters in the world, located in one of Costa Rica’s most important national parks.
– Cocos Island, a World Heritage Site, is an ideal place for snorkelling and discovering Costa Rica’s fascinating marine wildlife.
– The Monteverde Cloud Forest, mentioned above, is a true green paradise to wander through in Costa Rica.
– Visit the small indigenous refuge of Talamanca, located in Puntarenas, where you can learn more about the history and culture of Costa Rica.
How to plan your itinerary of places to see in Costa Rica?
Sign up on the Passporter website to plan your itinerary in Costa Rica in the most comfortable and intuitive way. You can draw inspiration from the experiences of other travellers, as well as save websites that can help you. You can also save tickets and create routes easily with the help of Google Maps. Finally, you can choose the means of transport that best suits your needs and, the best part, you can post photos of your trip to Costa Rica so that other people can visit your traveller profile.
If you want to know more about the Passporter app, make sure to read the details in our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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