• Horseriding, Costa Rica

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. 

NEXT STEPS

• Take a look at our Costa Rica holidays
• Download our free guides
• Contact our Destination Specialist for advice

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PARKS & ATTRACTIONS OF COSTA RICA

Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano provides a stunning sight as the lava lights up the night sky. The perfect spot to combine with Monteverde or Santa Elena.

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Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Corcovado National Park & the Osa Peninsula

Corcovado and the Osa Peninsular offer a biodiverse haven with award winning jungle eco-lodges & spectacular wildlife and scenery.

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Punta Leona, Costa Rica

Guanacaste & the Nicoya Peninsula

A stunning province within Costa Rica filled with beautiful beaches and national parks.

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Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park simply comprises of incredible beaches, tropical jungles, sloths, spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, and spectacular views!

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Montverde, Costa Rica

Monte Verde & Santa Elena Cloud Forest

Monteverde & Santa Elena are Cloud Forest Reserves that are almost perfect models for sustainable eco-tourism.

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Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park protects a 22 mile stretch of beach of green turtle nesting grounds. Find out the best times to see turtles nesting.

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Best places in Costa Rica to see…

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.

NOT SURE WHERE TO GO?

Speak to one of our Latin America specialists to find out more, and start designing your very own extraordinary journey. Please note we recommend a budget of from £7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to these destinations.

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