Costa Rica’s volcanic Lake Hule (Lago de Hule)—named for the abundant tropical rubber trees surrounding it—is located in the highlands around Poas Volcano and Congo Volcano. Visitors can stop at a restaurant overlooking the lake to enjoy sweeping views or embark on a rugged hike down to or around the lake. A 4-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended if you’re driving.
Home to Costa Rica’s highest peak, Cerro Chirripó Grande, the rugged Chirripó National Park is an excellent introduction to the country’s diverse ecosystems. From tropical jungle with emerald green vegetation and waterfalls to cloud forest with giant oak trees shadowing ferns and bamboo, this national park is a lush refuge for hundreds of species of exotic birds and animals.
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls boast nature trails, streams, and views of the tallest waterfall in Costa Rica. After exploring orchid gardens and watching toucans flying overhead, you can enjoy an al fresco meal on the patio.
A well-heeled suburb of San José, Escazú often draws comparisons to Beverly Hills, with sprawling mansions and hotels dotted around the hills. Though there is little in the way of traditional tourist attractions here, there are lots of draws, including upscale malls, chic boutiques and restaurants, and views of the Central Valley.
Home to around 100 bats from 8 different native species, the enclosed Bat Jungle replicates the conditions of a cloud forest at night. While bats can be difficult to observe in the wild, this exhibit lets you see bats eating, interacting, and caring for their young. A tour gives visitors further insight into these mysterious nocturnal creatures.
Housed inside a bright yellow castle, the Children’s Museum (Museo de los Niños) in San Jose, Costa Rica, is designed to delight little ones. With interactive displays across 40 rooms, children (and the adults accompanying them) can learn about the human body, plants and animals, space exploration, and much more.
The largest of the postcard-perfect Rosario Islands, Isla Grande delivers the clear turquoise waters and bone-white sands that the Colombian archipelago is famous for. It's also home to the best variety of accommodation options if you’re looking to stay overnight; hotels range from backpacker hostels to luxurious complexes right on the beach.
The elegant metal facade of this San José landmark was made in Belgium and then shipped piece by piece to Costa Rica. Now an elementary school, the 1896 Metallic Building (Edificio Metálico) is a recognizable San José landmark on some San Jose walking tours, along with nearby Parque España and Morazan Park.
Located on a 150-year-old Costa Rican horse and cattle ranch, Pura Aventura offers multiple ways to enjoy the Guanacaste area. The ranch provides a natural habitat for birds, monkeys, and pumas. It’s also a picturesque backdrop for the park’s canopy tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, and ATV adventures.
If you love tropical fruit and chocolate, Rancho Raices de Puerto Jiménez is a must-visit attraction when you’re in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. The farm owners offer tours where you can try fruits such as white pineapple and papaya. You’ll also see cacao trees, taste the seeds, and learn about the entire chocolate-making process.
This private rainforest preserve hums with life, from forest-floor trails to the vine-draped branches of centuries-old trees. Colorful frogs, slow-moving sloths, and tropical birds abound. Explorations of the 3,400-acre (1,376-hectare) Veragua Rainforest are focused on all that wild nature, whether hiking to the scenic Puma Waterfall or riding an elevated tram through the rainforest canopy.
Situated in the heart of Guanacaste Province next to Rincon de La Vieja National Park, Vida Aventura Nature Park offers a heady mix of adventure in a large private reserve. Travelers can easily spend an entire day here ziplining, walking nature trails, riding horses—and then wind with mud bath treatment or dips in the hot springs.
Enter a pristine forest in northern Costa Rica and explore the offerings at Cinco Ceibas Rainforest Reserve and Adventure Park. Adventure meets sustainability with activities like horseback riding, a canopy boardwalk, and river rafting—all designed for minimal impact to the environment.
A sunshine-bright facade makes the 1916 Yellow House (Casa Amarilla) a cheerful landmark in San Jose’s Otoya neighborhood. Home to Costa Rica’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the building is closed to the public but still merits a quick detour, especially since the Yellow House is strolling-distance away from a handful of other sites.
