Places to discover

Best places to visit in Costa Rica

Going on holiday to Costa Rica, a corridor between North and South America, is making the choice to have an ethical and environmentally friendly holiday in the country of 'green gold'. Almost 5 times smaller than the UK, Costa Rica has very different landscapes on its two coasts (Caribbean and Pacific), several volcanoes and 34 national parks (a third of its land).

However, you must prepare your itinerary carefully because the country is obstructed with mountain ranges, the roads are often bad and travelling can be quite expensive. It's better to optimise your travelling and focus on its main interesting sites. For this, you can count on the Evaneos Travel experts. They will tell you their favourite places in the Switzerland of Central America.

A trip to Costa Rica always starts in San José, a capital city often criticised but very welcoming and culturally rich. A particular feature of the country are the lodges harmoniously integrated into nature in the plains and mountains of the North of the country. Stay close to the Arenal Volcano National Park in La Fortuna, reach new heights in the Cloud Forest Reserve in Monteverde with the canopy tour or be amazed by the celestial blue of the Park Tenorio river.

On the Caribbean coast, it's absolutely necessary to go around on the canoes in the Tortuguero National Park and to see the turtles laying eggs on the beach. Cahuita National Park, the Jamaican village Puerto Viejo, as well as the Bribri communities of the Talamanca canton will seduce interested travellers who want to relax in the sun.

On the Pacific coast, the Manuel Antonio Park is a must-see with family due to its splendid beach and its friendly wildlife. Surfers will find their happiness on the unrelenting sea nearby whilst adventurers will enjoy walking in the Corcovado Park on the Osa Peninsula.

Nicoya is a large peninsula in the north west of Costa Rica that is famous for its surf beaches. It's one of the most touristy parts of the country.
Turrialba is a brightly colored, university town. It's not a major town on the tourist trail, but it's a nice stopover if you're on a Costa Rican road trip.
Poas

Poas

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An active volcano that is 2,047 meters high and one of the most visited sites of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica's Rio Pacuare river is famous for its kayaking and rafting. It rises in the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range and flows towards the north-west, passing, in particular, through Siquirres. 
Just beside Tamarindo, the most touristy spot here, Playa Grande is a bit more difficult to get to if you don't have your own means of transport but it isTHE surf spot in the area.
You can explore Costa Rica's most famous waterfall by following a trail through an enormous, purpose-built private garden. 
Siquirres is both a canton and a town located in the province of Limón (Atlantic coast), close to the very wild and natural park of Tortuguero.
Playa Ballena is the beach in the Marino Ballena National Park, a few kilometres from Dominical and Uvita, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Alajuela is a big city close to San José. In the shadow of the capital, it is an interesting departure point for visiting the North of the country and its volcanoes.
The small town of Sierpe is a little port lying very close to the mangroves and is a place you need to pass through to reach the Osa Peninsula.
A small, quiet town in the north east of Costa Rica, close to Lak Arenal. The countryside around Tilaran is quite flat, which I don't find very attractive.
The most popular of the Nicoya Peninsula beach resorts and a famous surfing spot..
The capital of Costa Rica, a town where it's always spring and the strategic joint between the two sides of the country.
The town of Parrita is a canton in Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province and serves as a transit point between Quepos and Jaco.
The country's main port cityand heavily geared towards all-Inclusive hotel based tourism.
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