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All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot
from the Caribbean to Pacific and everything in between
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and the largest international airport is located nearby. Most people tend to head straight out to the beach and jungle towns after arriving in Costa Rica, but this area has its fair share of charms as well.
Here you can experience coffee farm tours, visit volcanic craters, and enjoy sweeping views of the valley.
This town is great for visiting the nearby Poas volcano, touring coffee plantations, and more!
The capital city in Costa Rica and home to many nice parks, museums, restaurants, and nightlife.
Cartago is home to Irazu volcano, beautiful views, coffee plantations, and hiking opportunities.
A cold cloud forest town that is perfect for bird watching and eating a lot of fresh trout.
A peaceful area filled with rolling hills, farms, and nature. A good place to get away from it all.
This is the most popular beach area in the country mostly due to how close it is to the San Jose International Airport. This area is great for mostly calm waters on the beaches, visiting the Manuel Antonio National park, sand plenty of adventure options.
A bustling beach town. In our opinion, this isn’t the nicest town, but it is a good jumping off point for adventures.
A small surfing village located next to Jaco. This is a good place to stay for relaxed vibes.
A bustling town that serves as a gateway to Manuel Antonio. The marina is a popular spot for fishing and catamaran trips.
This area is perfect for beaches of raw beauty backed up by dense jungle. The most popular activities in this area are surfing, whale watching tours, and hiking in Corcovado National Park.
Uvita is best known for its whales tail pictured above. It is a beach town with plenty of things to do.
A small village with several nice restaurants. Once a year, this town fills up for the Envision Music Festival.
Located on the Gulfo Dulce, this is a good town to stay in if you plan to visit Corcovado National Pak.
It is difficult to get here, but it is a great peaceful place to stay for exploring Corcovado National Park.
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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.
Some popular things to do in this area are; seeing sea turtles in Tortuguero, hiking at Cahuita National Park, and beach hopping near Puerto Viejo.
A popular town with backpackers and surfing enthusiasts. There is also a good night life scene here.
Tortuguero is only accessible by boat. It is a small town that is a must visit spot to see sea turtles laying their eggs.
This small village is a chilled out of a destination with a nice national park located near the Panama border.
A series of islands located in Panama just over the border. This place is paradise on earth.
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.
A medium sized town that is good for surfing and beach activities. This is a good spot for families.
A small town that is popular for yoga, surfing, and it is close to where sea turtles lay their eggs.
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.
It is a great place to visit for snorkeling, diving, luxurious resorts, and family friendly activities.
A quiet beach area that is perfect for families. The water is calm enough to swim and there are several nearby activities.
Often considered the nicest white sand beach in the country, Flamingo is a popular town for nice resort stays.
If you are looking for plenty of action from surfing to ATV tours, Tamarindo is the place for you.
This is the place to stay if you are looking for luxurious villas and a relaxed vibe close to the action of Tamarindo.
The northern mountains are perfect for jungle and cloud forest adventures.
Some fun things to do here are; zip lining, relaxing in hot springs, hiking, hanging bridge exploration, enjoying volcano views, and visiting waterfalls.
The best time to visit this area is between December and late April for the best volcano views and least rain.
La Fortuna is a popular jungle destination that is made for adventure. Here you can zip line, go white water rafting, swim under a waterfall, and more!
Monteverde is the perfect place for a unique cloud forest adventure. We love this spot for moody days, hiking, and zip lining!
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