Things to do in  Costa Rica

In the lush tropical forest of Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna Waterfall cascades 200 feet (61 meters) down the sheer cliff face of Cerro Chato, Arenal Volcano’s dormant neighbor. One of Costa Rica’s most impressive and easily accessible waterfalls, La Fortuna is a popular spot to hike, swim, and picnic. The waterfall’s perpetual mists and dense rainforest backdrop are postcard-perfect and a draw for photographers.

Soaring suspension bridges with open-grate flooring lead you through the rainforest at Mistico Park. The dramatic cone of the Arenal Volcano rises in the background, and the bridges take you between ecosystems and past a waterfall as you immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s enveloping warmth. Keep your eyes open for toucans, pumas, and colorful amphibians and reptiles—the forest is full of life.

Although visitors once flocked to Arenal Volcano for its impressive lava shows, the 5,437-foot (1,657-meter) volcano has stayed quiet since its last eruption in 2010. However, Arenal and the surrounding Arenal Volcano National Park remain a hot spot for visitors to Costa Rica, especially popular among those seeking hiking trails, swimming holes, hot springs, bird- and wildlife-watching, and sweeping views of the tropical rainforest.

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica’s smallest national parks, but the beauty of the area’s rocky coastal formations, verdant tropical forests, and diverse fauna make it one of the country’s most beloved attractions. Here, you can snorkel off coral reefs, hike through lush greenery, and listen to the songs of tropical birds and the calls of monkeys.

Deep turquoise water surrounds the archipelago of the Rosario Islands, and lively coral reefs swarm with sealife. This island group off the coast of Colombia is home to mangrove forests and underwater fields of seagrass, with white sandy beaches backed by bright green vegetation. Despite its proximity to Cartagena, you’ll feel like you’ve fully escaped the city with a trip to this biodiverse haven.

Wisps of fog trail through the lofty canopy of the 35,089-acre (14,200-hectare) Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve in the Costa Rica highlands, creating the perfect environment for thousands of animal and plant species. Here you can find wild orchids, colorful birds, sinuous jungle cats, and scenic mountaintop vistas. Among the natural crown jewels here is the brilliant-hued resplendent quetzal—a bucket-list sighting for bird-watchers from around the globe.

Once the site of a quiet fishing village, Tamarindo Beach has become one of Costa Rica's most popular stretches of golden sand. Surfers travel from across the globe to ride Tamarindo's waves, but you don’t need to be a pro to hang 10 here. There are spots nearby that are calm enough for first-time wave riders to learn.

White-sand beaches, swaying coconut palms, and sapphire-blue water bring travelers to secluded Tortuga Island in the Gulf of Nicoya, where there’s just enough infrastructure to enjoy a day by the sea. It’s a prime spot for swimming, snorkeling, and basking in plentiful sunshine, as spider monkeys play in the jungle that wraps the pretty shoreline. Getting there is half the fun—boat trips to Tortuga Island take in beautiful coastal scenery.

From jaguars to capuchin monkeys, more than 100 animal species reside at this scenic nature park. Stop by to take in the animal exhibits, dine at the restaurant, and walk the 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) of well-maintained trails, which take you past five waterfalls scattered throughout the rain forest and cloud forest.

Clear water, grottos, and saunas make up the Baldi Hot Springs complex, whose 25 different pools are heated by the Arenal Volcano and surrounded by the Costa Rican jungle. Progressing down the side of the mountain, the thermal pools at the top are the hottest, and they cool down as you go. Waterfalls, slides, and hidden spots mean there’s something new around every corner.

Running right through the heart of Costa Rica’s Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Celeste River—“Sky Blue” River—is named for its bright blue waters. Local legend claims that God dipped his paintbrush into the river after painting the sky, creating the striking blue hue. In fact, it’s created by sunlight reflecting off the volcanic minerals and silica particles in the water, but either way, it’s an impressive sight.

The landscape of Rincon de la Vieja National Park is a dramatic one—bubbling mud pits give way to misty waterfalls, and the rainforest provides shelter to quetzals, monkeys, and jaguars. It feels like a dozen biomes overlapping, but the natural beauty remains consistent. Costa Rica’s commitment to environmental protection is on full display in this national park.

Poas Volcano National Park houses one of the most visited active volcanoes in Costa Rica, a telling superlative for a country that’s world-renowned for its geothermal activity. The gaping Poas Volcano crater is the star attraction, stretching as wide as 15 city blocks and featuring a bright turquoise crater lake, surrounded by ancient lava flows and shrouded in steam. Near the active primary crater, the dormant Botos Lagoon is filled with cold water.

Llanos de Cortés is one of Costa Rica’s most scenic waterfalls, just a short drive from Liberia, a city more commonly used as a jumping-off point for the country’s Pacific beaches, rather than jungle swimming holes. The waterfall is about 40 feet (12 meters) tall and 50 feet (15 meters) wide and creates a gorgeous veil of white water streaming over the rocks.

Nestled in the lush interior of Rincon de la Vieja National Park, these rustic hot springs are fed by a naturally heated river that flows from a nearby volcanic peak. Slather on the mineral-rich mud, and then soak it off in a variety of steam pools, all while surrounded by the untamed Costa Rican rain forest.