Top Tourist Attractions in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a utopia of natural attractions, with beaches, forests, volcanoes, and unique wildlife. It is a nation that appeals as much to luxury-focused travellers and bird watchers as it does to backpackers and surfers. Costa Rica’s busy capital city, San José, is home to the country’s best museums and charming squares, but the real treasures lie beyond in the small coastal villages and forests. Endless stretches of beach line on the Pacific Coast, with small towns that cater to sun seekers and surfers. Inland, the forest-covered mountains offer adventurous mini getaways, from ziplining to hiking near volcanoes and waterfalls and extraordinary wildlife viewing.

Costa Rica also has shoreline along the Caribbean. It is a lesser-visited area of the country, but it offers something a little different. The Caribbean coastline has a different culture and attractions that are known in particular as a breeding ground for green sea turtles.

Here are some key attractions all tourists should experience during their visit to Costa Rica:

Manuel Antonio National Park

Beaches, wildlife, and fun are what draw visitors to this park and the neighbouring town of Manuel Antonio. The park is known for its beautiful forest, stretches of sand, and its unique wildlife. Standing in stark contrast to this serenity is the small town of Manuel Antonio, which is known for its lively atmosphere. Visitors who want to embrace both will find the area lends itself to a longer stay. The town has plenty of restaurants and hotels and is within walking distance of the park.

The National Theater in San José

Costa Ricans take pride in this theatre, which is considered the most stunning structure in San José. In the 1890s, the ruling coffee barons implemented a tax on coffee exports to fund the construction of it, and European artists were brought in to design the building. It features statues symbolizing music, dance, and fame with a classical Renaissance columned exterior.

Volcan Arenal National Park

This park is in the rugged Cordillera de Tilarán and is one of the best places to view volcanoes in the country. The main attraction in the park is the Arenal Volcano, reaching 1,633 meters into the sky. It was dormant since 1500 AD until a huge explosion in 1968 that destroyed two villages. Since then, visitors have seen regular activity from clouds of ash in the air to flowing red lava coming down.

Jaco

This spot is an excellent choice for visitors looking to get out of San José but still yearning for the comforts and amenities of a larger town. The beach here is spacious and relaxing, but modest by Costa Rican standards. The surfing here is very great, and the waves are less extreme than other areas along the coast, so swimming is fairly safe. What sets Jaco apart from the other coastal towns along this stretch of the Pacific is modern apartments and stores, mouth-watering restaurants, stylish hotels, and other modern conveniences that have made it a favourite with retirees and expats. Even travellers staying in nearby villages like Esterillos tend to gravitate towards Jaco for a day or two for either shopping or a delightful dinner out.

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