San José
Capital
The capital is mostly a transit stop, but the Mercado Central, Teatro Nacional and Barrio Escalante restaurants justify half a day.
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Travel Guide — Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Pacific coast, volcanoes & cloud forest
10 places
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Costa Rica panorama
Costa Rica is a nature trip first and a city trip never — the draw is national parks, volcanoes and beaches. My time was on the central Pacific coast around Quepos and Manuel Antonio, plus the interior highlands.
A rental 4WD opens the country up — distances look short on the map but mountain roads are slow. Public "directo" buses cover the main routes cheaply if you’re patient.
Getting there & around
01
Fly into San José (SJO)
SJO sits in the Central Valley — most people overnight near the airport and head straight to the coast or Arenal the next morning.
02
Manuel Antonio is 3h by road
The coastal highway via Jacó is paved and scenic; Quepos is the gateway town with buses shuttling to the park entrance.
03
Arenal/La Fortuna is the volcano base
About 3 hours northwest of San José — shuttle vans between La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio are the backpacker standard.
Places I recommend
Everything I visited and would send a friend to. Starred entries are the ones I'd put at the top of the list.
01
Landmarks & History
02
Outdoors & Views
Manuel Antonio National Park
Top pickQuepos, Puntarenas
The country’s most-visited park — rainforest trails ending on white-sand beaches, with sloths, capuchins and scarlet macaws along the flat main path.
Arrive at opening to see wildlife before the heat and crowds; bring swimwear for the park beach.
Playa Guapil & the Aguirre coast
Top pickParrita, Puntarenas
The quiet string of Pacific beaches north of Quepos — estuary birdwatching, empty sand and the Palo Seco mangroves.
My saved pin on this stretch — far quieter than Manuel Antonio.
Arenal Volcano
La Fortuna, Alajuela
The near-perfect volcanic cone that was active until 2010 — lava fields, a lake at its base and trails through regenerating forest.
Mistico Hanging Bridges
La Fortuna
A 3 km trail crossing sixteen suspension bridges through the rainforest canopy with the volcano as a backdrop.
Go in the morning mist — the canopy feels completely different than at midday.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Puntarenas
The famous misty highland reserve protecting quetzals, orchids and the continental divide — walk it on a guided morning tour for the best sightings.
La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna
A 70 m waterfall dropping into a jade pool at the forest edge — 500 steps down and the same back up.
Hot springs
La Fortuna
Arenal heats a whole valley of thermal rivers — from free access points at Río Chollín to resort pools like Tabacón and Baldi.
03
Food & Drink
Sodas & casados
Everywhere
Family-run diners called sodas serve the national plate — casado: rice, beans, plantains, salad and a protein for a few dollars.
04
Misc
Coffee & chocolate tours
Central Valley / La Fortuna
Working plantations around the Central Valley and La Fortuna run tours from bean to cup — the Don Juan and Café Britt tours are the classics.