Where is Costa Rica Located? Find Out and See Key Places

Costa Rica is a small but stunning country in Central America, located between Nicaragua (north) and Panama (south).

It is unique because it borders both the Pacific Ocean (west) and the Caribbean Sea (east), making it a prime destination for beach lovers, nature enthusiasts, and adventure seekers.

Despite its small size, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. It is home to lush rainforests, active volcanoes, and abundant wildlife.

Whether you’re planning a visit or just curious about its location, we created this guide to help you understand exactly where Costa Rica is and why it’s such a special place.

See the world map below to find Costa Rica’s exact location!

Where is Costa Rica Located? Map, Distance & Places to Visit

Costa Rica Location at a Glance

📍 Continent: North America (Geopolitically part of Central America)
📍 Bordering Countries: Nicaragua (north), Panama (south)
📍 Coastlines: Pacific Ocean (west), Caribbean Sea (east)
📍 Total Land Area: 19,710 sq mi (51,060 km²)
📍 Driving Distance (Coast to Coast): ~4 hours
📍 Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST, UTC -6)
📍 Capital City: San José
📍 Main International Airports: Juan Santamaría (SJO) & Liberia (LIR)
📍 Official Language: Spanish
📍 Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC), though USD is widely accepted
📌 Fun Fact: Because Costa Rica is so compact, you can start your morning watching the sunrise over the Caribbean Sea and end your day with the sunset over the Pacific Ocean!

Costa Rica on a World Map (See Exact Location!)

Costa Rica is located in Central America, forming part of the narrow land bridge that connects North and South America.

It sits between 8° and 11° latitude north of the equator, which means it enjoys a tropical climate year-round. It also means that the sun is powerful here, so bring all the strong SPF when you visit!

How far is Costa Rica from major cities?

✈️ From New York, USA: ~5-hour flight (~2,200 miles / 3,540 km)
✈️ From Miami, USA: ~2.5-hour flight (~1,100 miles / 1,770 km)
✈️ From Los Angeles, USA: ~6-hour flight (~2,700 miles / 4,345 km)
✈️ From Madrid, Spain: ~11-hour flight (~5,300 miles / 8,500 km)

Clickable Map of All Places to Visit in Costa Rica

COSTA RICA VIBES

Use this interactive map to explore the most popular towns and destinations in Costa Rica.

How it works:

Click on any location to access our in-depth travel guides.
Get transportation tips, seasonal recommendations, top hotels, restaurants, and must-do activities!

Not sure where to start? Keep reading for a breakdown of Costa Rica’s top cities, regions, and best places to visit!

Where Is the Capital of Costa Rica?

The capital of Costa Rica is San José. This city is located in the heart of the country in the Central Valley region.

It serves as the main economic, cultural, and transportation hub of Costa Rica.

Key Facts About San José:

Geographic Location: Central Costa Rica
Main International Airport: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
Driving Distance to the Coasts: ~1.5 hours to the Pacific, ~2.5 hours to the Caribbean
Population: ~333,980 (city), ~2 million (greater metropolitan area)

Why Visit San José?
San José offers historical landmarks, vibrant markets, museums, and a great food scene. If you have time, check out:

National Theater of Costa Rica – Stunning architecture & cultural events.
Central Market – A great spot for authentic Costa Rican food.
Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) – Learn about Costa Rica’s fascinating history.

Check Out Our Guide to San Jose for More Info

Costa Rica Airports: Where to Fly Into?

Costa Rica has two main international airports, plus several domestic airports that make getting around easier.

International Airports in Costa Rica

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) – San José

Most flights arrive here, making it the busiest airport in Costa Rica.
The airport is actually located closer to the city of Alajuela. This is a better city to look for hotels for your first or last night.

Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) – Liberia, Guanacaste

Growing in popularity with more direct flights from the U.S. and Canada.
This airport is much easier to get out of and immediately be at the beach. There is far less traffic here than at the San Jose Airport.

Which airport should you choose?

Flying into SJO? Best for trips to Manuel Antonio, the Caribbean, or the Southern Pacific.
Flying into LIR? Best for Tamarindo, Papagayo, and Nicoya Peninsula destinations.
If you want to visit the jungle towns of La Fortuna or Monteverde, both places are easily accessible from either international airport.

Check out our full Costa Rica Airports Guide →

For flights, we suggest checking out Skyscanner. We consistently find the best deals and flight options there.

Where are the Domestic Airports in Costa Rica?

Flying within Costa Rica? Several domestic airports make it easy to reach remote destinations.

Popular Domestic Airports:

Tambor (TMU): Gateway to Montezuma & Santa Teresa (Nicoya Peninsula)
Drake Bay (DRK): Closest to Corcovado National Park
Tortuguero (TTQ): Best for seeing sea turtles in Tortuguero National Park
Quepos (XQP): Closest to Manuel Antonio National Park

Why fly domestically?

Avoid long, winding drives (Costa Rica’s roads and traffic can be unpredictable).
Save time getting to remote areas like Drake Bay or the Nicoya Peninsula.

Why not fly domestically?

Domestic flights are often more expensive than ground transportation
If small planes scare you, this is not the option for you.

Find Out More in Our Guide to Domestic Airports

What Are the Regions of Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is divided into seven main regions, each offering unique landscapes, climates, and experiences. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide where to go.

San José & the Central Valley

This area is home to beautiful views, dormant and active volcanoes, the major international airport, plenty of coffee farms, and most of the major cities in the country.

Best for: City life, volcanoes, coffee farms, cultural experiences
Top Destinations: San José, Alajuela, Cartago, San Gerardo de Dota
Must-Do: Visit Poás Volcano, Irazu Volcano, and coffee farms

The Central Pacific Coast

Best for: Beaches, surfing, national parks, and adventure
Top Destinations: Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Esterillos, Herradura
Must-Do: Visit Manuel Antonio National Park & go surfing in Jaco

The South Pacific (Osa Peninsula)

Best for: Wildlife, jungle, remote beaches, adventure
Top Destinations: Uvita, Dominical, Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay
Must-Do: Go whale watching in Uvita & explore Corcovado National Park

The Caribbean Coast

This side of the country has a completely different vibe than the Pacific coast.

Here you can expect a Caribbean vibe, turquoise waters and many darker sand beaches.

Best for: Relaxed atmosphere, turquoise waters, wildlife, Afro-Caribbean culture
Top Destinations: Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Manzanillo, Tortuguero
Must-Do: See sea turtles in Tortuguero & snorkel in Cahuita National Park

The Nicoya Peninsula

This remote little corner of the country is filled with beautiful beaches, world-class surf, fishing, and great hiking spots.

It is not the easiest to get to this region, but that contributes to its charm.

Also, don’t tell the rest of Costa Rica, but this is our favorite spot.

Best for: Surfing, yoga, off-the-beaten-path beach towns
Top Destinations: Santa Teresa, Montezuma, Nosara, Samara
Must-Do: Yoga & surfing in Nosara + waterfall hikes in Montezuma

Guanacaste (Northwest Costa Rica)

This area near the Nicaragua border is home to the city of Liberia, one of the country’s two international airports, several nice beach towns, volcanoes, and waterfalls.

Best for: Luxury resorts, snorkeling, volcanoes, dry tropical climate
Top Destinations: Tamarindo, Papagayo, Flamingo, Playa Hermosa
Must-Do: Stay at an all-inclusive resort in Papagayo & visit Rincon de la Vieja volcano

The Northern Mountains (Arenal & Monteverde)

Best for: Adventure, hot springs, cloud forests, volcano views
Top Destinations: La Fortuna, Monteverde
Must-Do: Hike Arenal Volcano, soak in hot springs, zipline in Monteverde

How to Use Costa Rica Maps to Get Around

When planning your trip to Costa Rica, you will need to use digital maps to get around.

Google Maps vs. Waze: Which One to Use?

Google Maps: Best for estimating driving times and exploring locations before your trip. Google Maps is also easy to download offline in case you lose cell phone service.
Waze (Recommended): The most reliable navigation app in Costa Rica. It updates in real time and is widely used by locals. We love Waze because people here are great about marking things like police or road work on the map. This is so helpful when driving.
Paper Maps? Not Recommended. Roads are constantly changing, and digital maps provide the most up-to-date directions.

Pro Tip: Always add an extra hour to your estimated travel time, especially for long drives in remote areas! It is not unusual to get stuck behind a big truck and have difficulty passing on narrow stretches of road.

Where Can I Rent a Car in Costa Rica?

Renting a car is one of the best ways to explore Costa Rica at your own pace, especially if you plan to visit beaches, national parks, and rural areas.

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Not comfortable driving long distances? You can also take a private or shared transfer to your destination and then rent a car locally for day trips!

You can pick up a rental car at the San José (SJO) and Liberia (LIR) International Airports or in major tourist towns like La Fortuna, Tamarindo, and Manuel Antonio.

Here is a map of all the Adobe offices throughout the country.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving long distances you can always opt to take a private transfer and then rent a car in your destination for day-to-day exploration.

Check Rental Car Availability

Crossing Costa Rica’s International Land Borders

Costa Rica shares land borders with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south.

The two easiest places to cross the border are in Sixaola (if heading to Panama) and in Penas Blancas (if heading to Nicaragua).

For more information, we suggest checking our guide to the Nicaragua border and our guide to the Panama border crossing.

Map of Costa Rican Resorts

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort experience, Costa Rica has plenty of options.

We included our favorite 15 places throughout the country in this map.

For more options check out our guide to Costa Rice resorts.

Costa Rica Beach Map

Costa Rica has over 800 miles (1,290 km) of coastline with stunning beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

Keep in mind that by law all beaches in Costa Rica need to be free to enter and have access to the public.

That means the thousands of miles of coastline are yours for the taking!

This map shows some of our absolute favorite beaches in the country. Some places are great for surfing, some for swimming, and some for relaxing.

For more beach tips, check out our Costa Rica beach guide.

Costa Rica Map of National Parks

Costa Rica has 30 national parks located throughout the country which encompasses 25% of the land in the country.

These national parks consist of volcanoes, sea turtle breeding grounds, areas of dense wildlife, waterfalls, and more.

Click on the map above to find out more about the national parks in the area you are visiting.

We also have a guide to national parks to give you more info.

Map of Costa Rica Waterfalls

This waterfall map of Costa Rica includes the most popular falls to visit.

Keep in mind that sometimes you will get lucky and find waterfalls on private properties or in other parks throughout the country.

For more information check out our waterfall guide.

Map of Costa Rica Volcanoes

Costa Rica is filled with impressive active and dormant volcanoes.

For the best volcano pictures, head to Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna.

For active volcanoes in which you can see the crater up close, we suggest Poas or Irazu in the Central Valley region.

Map of Costa Rica Golf Courses

If golfing is your thing, here is a map of all the major golf courses in the country. Keep in mind that some of these are located in private resorts and may not be open to non-guests.

You can find out more with our guide to golfing.

FAQ: Costa Rica Maps

Where is Costa Rica on the world map?

On a world map, Costa Rica is the country directly north of Panama and south of Nicaragua. It is located in Central America and has an extensive Pacific and Caribbean coast.

Does Google Maps work in Costa Rica?

Yes, Google Maps is great for driving directions within Costa Rica. However, the preferred GPS app for most people in Costa Rica is Waze.

What side of Costa Rica is nicer?

That depends on your preference. The Pacific coast is more popular with tourists and is known for having nicer beaches. But, the Caribbean coast has a more raw authentic feel.

Is Costa Rica an island?

No, Costa Rica is not an island. The country is located in Central America and has land borders with Nicaragua and Panama.

If you have more questions regarding Costa Rica maps please leave them in the comment section below.

We are always happy to help you out!

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Where is Costa Rica Located? Map, Distance & Places to Visit