The top Costa Rica vacation spots to visit are determined by what you want to do on your vacation. It can be planted in one place all the time, but most tourists travel all over the country to enjoy the many and diverse experiences the country has to offer.

Central Valley

This is where most trips to Costa Rica begin. The Central Valley is home to the capital of Costa Rica, San José, as well as the main terminal for international flights.

San José will probably be your starting point for the rest of your trip in Costa Rica. However, consider spending a day or two checking out what San José has to offer. When it comes to vacation spots in Costa Rica, there are plenty of museums to visit and parks to relax in. And that is just the beginning.

Of particular note is the Central Market, or Mercado Central, which is a great place to experience the local culture, pick up some souvenirs, or stock up on some of the local gourmet coffee. There are many modest shops selling fresh fruit and vegetables, various meats and fish. And don’t forget to stop for a bite to eat inside the food courts.

If native culture is your thing, also explore the various museums and galleries outside and inside the city. Shopping is plentiful, and at night, the bars and nightclubs start to come alive!

Just outside of San José, in Heredia, is the Café Britt coffee tour. For those who have any affinity for coffee, check this out. You can turn a real working coffee farm. Coffee is cheap here, I bought 20 bags to take home, however it is much less expensive at Mercado Central if one does it that way.

North Zone

There is much to try and do in the northern area. When you’re originally from San José, your first vacation destination is likely to be one of the most memorable and amazing: the Arenal Volcano. It’s been erupting every day since 1968. The views are beautiful, and if the cloud cover isn’t too bad, you’ll see red-hot molten lava flowing down the side.

At the foot of Arenal, in neighboring La Fortuna, there are several hot springs where you can relax and bathe in luxurious warmth. Along with Arenal, these hot springs are on the “must do” list. Tobacco is a well-known option, but it is not the only option. Additionally, there are Calvo and Eco Termales. We spent a late dark romantic evening getting the most excellent neck and shoulder massage hanging out in a sultry waterfall and pounding. Simply amazing.

Completing the best adventures in the north is the La Fortuna waterfall. The 200-foot waterfall descends to the right into a resplendent blue-green swimming hole.

North Pacific Coast

Bordering the North Pacific and the North zone is the small area of ​​Monteverde. You’ll want to stop here to enjoy the extraordinary Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve.

Going towards the coast, the Guanacaste region and the Nicoya Peninsula of the North Pacific coast are among the least populated areas of Costa Rica. However, tourists flock to these destinations to explore the beautiful and enticing beaches that dot the coastline. If you’ve ever planned on learning to surf, consider taking a few instruction sessions with local residents to make your dream come true.

Divers will definitely appreciate the many easily accessible dive sites. The marine life here is as vibrant as life in the cloud forests.

If you’re basing your trip in this general vicinity, consider flying directly to Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia. The vast majority of the North Pacific coast can be accessed in less than an hour by car or bus.

Central Pacific Coast

The region of Puntarenas and the Central Pacific coast mixes exotic and welcoming beach places with the most famous nature reserves in Costa Rica.

A couple of hours from San José, the town of Jaco is not very big, but it is famous for its black sand beach. Get a surf lesson or rent a surfboard or boogie board. (I never bothered to stand up, so a boogie board was more my style.) You’ll discover a multitude of restaurants available for your dining enjoyment, and clubs and bars stay open late. Some consider this town a “party beach”.

An hour to the south is the popular Manuel Antonio National Park. It is the most popular park in the country. Arrive reasonably early; because only so many visitors will be allowed in at the same time – when capacity has been reached, you have to wait for people to leave before you can enter.

Manuel Antonio has some of the best trails, great beaches to go swimming, plus some of the most diverse wildlife in the country. This helps make it one of those “must-see” vacation spots.

And here’s a tip: book a tour guide to enhance your expedition. Our guide was pointing out lizards, sloths, and monkeys that were essentially right under our noses. It is absolutely an amazing park.

South Pacific Coast

National Geographic calls this region the “most biologically intense place on Earth.” The South Pacific coast of Costa Rica has the largest percentage of land dedicated to national parks. Access has improved substantially as a result of the completion of a recent highway project. For anyone interested in wildlife, visit Corcovado National Park. This is where you will see most types of monkeys, rare wild birds, and even big cats like jaguars and pumas call this home. (If you’re lucky, you’ll find footprints.) The vegetation is more diverse than anywhere else in the country.

The Osa Peninsula is also the place to find amazing angling, snorkeling, and deep-sea diving. Base your stay in Drake Bay and head to Caño Island Biological Reserve for some of the best snorkeling and diving Costa Rica has to offer.

Caribbean coast

The east coast ended up being where Christopher Columbus landed and christened the region “Costa Rica,” or rich coast.

In contrast to the Pacific coast, the Caribbean coast is much less developed and much less busy. That makes this one of the most exclusive vacation spots. It has a substantially different atmosphere than other parts of the country – think reggae and “rasta” culture and you won’t be far away.

Puerto Limón is the capital of the Limón region. It is the main city on the Caribbean coast, as well as a port of call for numerous cruise lines. Tortuguero National Park on the north coast is famous for its occupants: sea turtles. Several species (some in decreasing numbers) use virgin beaches as nesting sites.

Another key attraction in the region (not counting the mile after mile of private beaches) is the Cahuita National Park within the city of Cahuita. With the most important coral reef in Costa Rica, this park is famous for its diving and snorkeling prospects.