discover the best parks and attractions in costa rica

San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and sits in its geographical heart, so you are likely to connect back here more than once. Inland there are misty mountains of Monteverde and Santa Elena with cloud forests that beg to be discovered, plus soaring volcanoes and hot volcanic springs. Then there are two very different coasts; the Pacific and Atlantic, each with their own attractions.  Manuel Antonio reserve on the Pacific Coast has a peninsula setting with nearby marine parks that are a beautiful playgrounds for dolphins, whales and turtles, whilst Corcovado and the Osa Peninsula further south offer a much more remote adventure.  On the east coast, the mangroves and beaches of Tortuguero are a turtle breeding haven, hence its literal translation as ‘land of the turtles’.

A well organised and tranquil country within a relatively small area, Costa Rica may be compact but it packs a terrific amount of variety across its parks and attractions listed below. 

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Marine Life: Pristine coral reefs can be found on Isla del Cano on the Osa Peninsula.

Monkeys: Squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, howler monkeys and white-faced capuchins can all be seen in Corcovado National Park. 

Sloths: These famous animals can been seen year round in lots of Costa Rica’s wildlife areas, including Tortugero National Park.

Turtles: Hawksbills and green turtle can be seen during the nesting season in Tortugero National Park.