Costa Rica attractions

Housed in the barracks of the Bellavista Fortress, the National Museum (Museo Nacional), displays indigenous and pre-Columbian artifacts, religious artwork, and geological and archaeological pieces linked to Costa Rica’s rich and colorful history since 1950. Separate rooms explore ancient cultures dating back some 12,000 years, as well as collections of ornate jewelry, medallions, and gold statues.

Perched on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve is considered one of Costa Rica’s first natural reserves, and thus spurred a trend that resulted in more than 30 national parks and reserves. Inside the park, you can explore lush forests and white-sand beaches, and go on the lookout for exoitc wildlife on a hike.

The world’s most extensive collection of Costa Rican artwork is housed in this Spanish-style building, which served as San Jose’s main airport terminal until 1955. With a permanent collection of more than 6,000 pieces, the Costa Rican Art Museum (Museo de Arte Costarricense) is among the country’s top destinations for art lovers.

Proyecto Asis is a wildlife rescue center focused on the protection and rehabilitation of native animals. Visitors can tour the facilities, take Spanish classes, or volunteer to help care for the animals, whose natural habitats are often threatened by expanding development in the region.

Built between 1975 and 1983, the Plaza de la Cultura is a square in downtown San Jose. Sitting atop the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, this square is a social gathering spot for locals, though it offers little of a tourism draw. Except for some landmark attractions, the square has largely no historical significance.

Tucked away in the mountains, the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens is one of the most popular attractions in the area. The 3-acre (1.2-hectare) sanctuary houses four unique climate-controlled habitats where more than 30 species of butterflies thrive alongside 20 species of arachnids and insects and a colony of leaf-cutter ants.

Tree-shaded walking paths, sports fields, and family-friendly fun draw San José locals to the 178-acre (72-hectare) La Sabana Park, the city’s biggest urban green space. It’s a great place to get outdoors, with opportunities to enjoy a public pool, a skating rink, and children’s play areas—there’s even an onsite ice cream parlor.

The 593-acre (240-hectare) Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm is the only coffee farm owned and operated by US coffee shop chain, Starbucks. The site primarily works on coffee research and development, and uses sustainable farming methods. Visitors can enjoy local coffee and food at the café, tour the farm, and admire the colorful murals around the grounds.

Offering scenic views of Volcan Arenal and Lake Arenal, the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges are a series of tall suspension bridges that form meandering trails through the rain forest, providing access to remote areas filled with natural beauty. The bridges immerse you deep into the heart of the forest, close to the extraordinary biodiversity of the jungle.

Spread over 36 acres (14.6 hectares) near San José, Rescate Animal Zooave is a conservation park that primarily houses rescued animals that wouldn't be able to survive in the wild on their own. The focus here is on conservation, and park tickets help fund other initiatives, including a rescue center and breeding programs.

Santa Rosa National Park (Parque Nacional Santa Rosa) encompasses much of Costa Rica’s Santa Elena Peninsula and is one of the country’s oldest protected areas. Thick jungles and mangrove forests give way to rolling ocean and white beaches along the country’s coastline, while further inland, dry tropical forests teem with flora and fauna.

Las Pumas Rescue Center (Centro de Rescate Las Pumas) rescues and rehabilitates wildlife and advocates rainforest conservation efforts in the Guanacaste Province near Cañas, Costa Rica. The sanctuary sits on an old farm in the heart of the Santa Rosa Sector Guanacaste Conservation Area (Area de Conservación Guanacaste), both a network of protected areas and a World Heritage Site. The center rescues large cats primarily, but it also works to provide a safe home to monkeys, deer, parrots, and other animals.

Animal encounters await at safari-style Ponderosa Adventure Park. The sprawling and arid Guanacaste landscape is home to African animals including zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and ostriches, which you can see up close during guided tours. Opportunities for kayaking, ziplining, and horseback riding make this a top spot for adventurous visitors of all ages.

Among the most natural hot springs in Costa Rica, family-owned and run Eco Termales has springs heated from the heart of the Arenal Volcano. They’re also one of the most romantic and least crowded hot springs in the area, limiting admission to no more than 80 guests twice daily to ensure visitors can enjoy dips in peace surrounded by the rainforest.

Nestled in the rainforest of northern Costa Rica, the Butterfly Conservatory lets visitors discover diverse butterflies and flowers via a network of trails and gardens. Dedicated to the preservation of butterflies and other tropical rainforest species, the conservatory has a learning center and educational exhibits.

Long lines of coffee plants soak up Costa Rican sunshine at Doka Estate, a family-owned plantation founded in 1940 at the base of Poas Volcano. Tours of the coffee estate go from bean to cup, taking visitors for a flavorful trip through the farm’s coffee cultivation as well as harvesting, processing, fermenting, and roasting.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños) is Costa Rica’s largest private reserve, purchased by children from 44-plus countries in a collaboration to preserve the rainforest. Visitors come to hike and see native wildlife in the park, which stretches across mountains and valleys between Arenal National Park and Monteverde.

Far from the tourist center of La Fortuna, the village of El Castillo offers a more secluded place to view Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano. Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa, one of the few hotels on this side of the mountain, offers impressive views of the volcano, plus well-maintained hiking, horseback riding, and mountain-biking trails.

Ranked among Costa Rica’s most beautiful and easy-to-reach beaches, Playa Flamingo lures with its sugary shorelines and Pacific sunsets. Come for comforts such as lodging and plenty of outfitters for sailing and snorkeling among the family-friendly waves, and appreciate that it's less developed than neighboring Tamarindo.

Powdery sand and turquoise water lend Samara Beach its laid-back charm, and make this Nicoya Peninsula shore town a favorite for locals and in-the-know visitors alike. Gentle waves and sparse crowds offer a low-key contrast with buzzy surf beaches up the coast, instead offering a family-friendly shoreline ideal for swimming, body surfing, and relaxing in the shade of a palm tree.

If you’re cruising to Costa Rica, you’ll almost certainly dock at the Puntarenas Cruise Port, the ideal jumping-off point for day-long excursions along the country's Pacific Ocean Coast. Explore the rain and cloud forests around Monteverde, or visit Poas Volcano and Carara national parks from this major Costa Rican cruise port.

Tropical rainforest flanks the natural and man-made waterways of the Tortuguero Canals, which wind through Tortuguero National Park. Visiting by boat is a chance to explore a spectacular natural area where wildlife populates the shoreline far beyond the reach of roads and tourist crowds. Sightseeing cruises frequently spot sunning caimans, tree-hugging sloths, and a rainbow of birdlife, such as agami herons, sungrebes, and kingfishers.

Miles of pristine, gray sand draw travelers to Matapalo Beach (Playa Matapalo), which wraps the southern tip of Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula. Its palm trees lean towards Pacific breakers, shading beachfront guest houses and bungalows that cater to surfers, backpackers, and visitors seeking the country’s quieter side.

Costa Rica is famous for its biodiversity and wildlife, and the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center provides a helping hand to animals in need. The center rehabilitates and releases some wildlife, while providing a home for animals that can’t be released. Visitors can take guided tours or independently follow the 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) of trails through the lush outdoor park.

Playa San Josecito is a remote beauty of a beach that’s only accessible by foot, water taxi, or a very basic road. You won’t find many people here, since it’s so difficult to get to. But you will find cool water, shaded areas, and soft sand. Bring a picnic lunch and your drink of choice, then get ready to relax listening to the lapping waves.

A relaxing visit to the local hot springs in the uplands of La Fortuna is a must, and Kalambu Hot Springs Water Park offers the chance not only to sit and soak, but also to have some wet and wild fun. Visitors can relax in thermally heated pools near the base of the Arenal Volcano, while enjoying the thrills you’d expect at a modern waterpark.

Adventure Park and Hotel Vista Golfo in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province combines the beauty of nature with thrilling experiences. Visitors fly across ziplines while taking in a bird’s-eye view of the jungle landscape, including waterfalls. There’s also a ropes course, Tarzan swing, and climbing wall. The park also offers hotel accommodations and an on-site restaurant.

Travelers interested in Costa Rican history, and Central American history more broadly, shouldn’t miss Alajuela’s Juan Santamaría Historical Cultural Museum (Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría). Set in the former city jail and army garrison, the museum is dedicated to Costa Rica’s national hero, Juan Santamaría, who was instrumental in fending off invasion by US mercenaries in the 1856 Filibuster War.

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary provides veterinary care and rehabilitation for injured animals and gives visitors the chance to see native wildlife up-close in a controlled environment. The centre is dedicated to releasing animals back into their natural habitats whenever possible but also provides lifelong care when needed.

The hot springs of Termales Los Laureles offer visitors a relaxing experience surrounded by tropical forest. The complex, which comprises thermal baths and cold pools accessible by water slide, is a cost-effective alternative to the more expensive hot springs of Monteverde. Plus, you can see Arenal Volcano from the baths.