Must see in Costa Rica

Costa Rica's Absolute Essentials

This collection features Costa Rica’s most significant natural landmarks and cultural hubs. It includes the active Arenal and Irazú volcanoes, the biodiverse Corcovado National Park, and the Monteverde cloud forest. Coastal highlights range from the surfing waters of Tamarindo to the white sands of Manuel Antonio. Visitors can explore the 19th-century San José Central Market for local goods or trek to the Rio Fortuna and Nauyaca waterfalls. These sites represent the country's diverse ecosystems, from volcanic peaks to tropical rainforests and marine habitats.

Costa Rica's Absolute Essentials — Map

A

Jardin Botanico Herrera

Private botanical garden and nature reserve near Golfito, featuring diverse tropical plant species and local wildlife in a preserved rainforest setting.

Yricordel / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Arenal Volcano

An active andesitic stratovolcano in northwestern Costa Rica. It rises 1,633 meters above sea level and is characterized by its near-perfect conical shape and proximity to Lake Arenal.

José R. / CC BY 3.0

C

Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park is a National Park on the Osa Peninsula, in Osa Canton, located on the southwestern regions of Costa Rica, which is…

Eric T Gunther / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Rio Fortuna Waterfall viewpoint

La Fortuna Waterfall is in central Costa Rica, in the Alajuela Province. In Spanish, it is known as Catarata Fortuna.

Cephas / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Reserva Monteverde

A 10,500-hectare biological reserve protecting one of the world's most famous cloud forests. It is home to thousands of plant species and rare wildlife like the resplendent quetzal.

m.prinke / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Hanging Bridges Arenal

A series of suspension bridges and trails through the rainforest canopy near the Arenal Volcano, providing elevated views of the forest floor and volcanic landscape.

MongeNajera / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Park Entrance Rio Celeste

The entry point to Tenorio Volcano National Park, leading to the river known for its distinct turquoise color caused by a chemical reaction of volcanic minerals.

Mariordo / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Tamarindo Beach

This beach, together with other surrounding beaches, forms a unique bay.

I

Irazu Volcano National Park

Irazú Volcano National Park, or in Spanish the Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú, is a National Park in the Central Conservation Area of Costa…

J

Nauyaca Waterfalls

Two-tiered waterfalls located in a wide canyon near Dominical. The upper fall drops 45 meters, while the lower fall is 20 meters high and feeds into a large natural swimming pool.

Jakes19 / Public domain

K

National Park Manuel Antonio

Entry and information point for Costa Rica's most visited national park, which combines tropical rainforest with white-sand beaches and coral reefs.

Puroticorico / CC BY 2.0

L

San José Central Market

San José Central Market is the largest market of the city of San José, Costa Rica.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

M

Observation deck de Volcán Arenal

A scenic lookout point offering unobstructed views of the Arenal Volcano's western slopes and the hardened lava flows from previous eruptions.

Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 3.0

N

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

Rincón de la Vieja is an active andesitic complex volcano in north-western Costa Rica, about 23 km from Liberia, in the province of…

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