10 Best Places to Go in Costa Rica

Central Valley, Costa Rica

The Central Valley is the heart of all things java and one of the best places to go in Costa Rica for true coffee aficionados. Try some of Costa Rica's signature beverage during Cafe Britt's coffee tour. Take a stroll through the plantation and roastery near the town of Heredia before sampling some of the cafe's fair-trade coffee during an expert "cupping." You'll learn how Costa Rica's unique climate and the Central Valley's ideal soil produce rich, mildly acidic beans for some of the world's most renowned brews.

San Jose, Costa Rica

If you take your urban atmosphere with a dash of tropical, San Jose is where to go in Costa Rica. This bustling metropolis is home to more than 1.5 million people—big enough to be a major city, but still "small" enough not to be completely overwhelming.

Built on the profits of the coffee trade, San Jose is equal parts Victorian-era architecture and contemporary tourism hub. El Pueblo's hopping nightlife scene, modern restaurants, and the 1897 National Theater draw urbanites to this up-and-coming destination. Meanwhile, the nearby city of Liberia, a once-quiet cowboy town in Guanacaste, offers a jumping-off point for an array of nature-focused adventures or day trips to Costa Rica's neighbor to the north, Nicaragua.

Arenal, Costa Rica

Costa Rica boasts a number of interesting volcanoes, but Arenal is one of the country's most notable natural wonders—and one of the best places to go in Costa Rica for thrill-seeking travelers. The volcano (currently in a resting phase) is more than 5,000 feet high, and its biodiversity is evident in the amazing array of plants and animals.

The surrounding 30,000-acre national park offers countless adventure activities, including Class IV whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, hiking, canopy touring, and horseback riding. Or, spelunk the nearby Venado Caves for a peek at bats, blind fish, and other subterranean critters.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

The once-tiny town of Manuel Antonio has blossomed into a full-on tourist destination—and it's proven itself to be where to go in Costa Rica for a family-oriented vacation. Manuel Antonio National Park offers kid-friendly tours of the Pacific rainforest, horseback-riding treks with bilingual guides, and canopy safaris for all ages within its nearly eight-square-mile radius. Some 150,000 annual visitors walk its hiking trails and experience its four calm white-sand beaches, easily making Manuel Antonio one of Costa Rica's most visited spots.

Playa Jaco, Costa Rica

Playa Jaco is the closest beach to San Jose, and its convenient location makes it a wonderful stop for the country-and-city mouse. The two-and-a-half-mile strip of beach is known for world-class watersports, while to the south, black-sand Playa Hermosa hosts surfing competitions and a flock of Ridley sea turtles in its protected beachfront.

But versatile Jaco isn't just a sleepy surf town—it's also where to go in Costa Rica for a mass of hotels and modern conveniences, with accommodations ranging from tiny, tranquil inns to budget-busting luxury condos along the stunning strand.

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Santa Teresa, often named one of the best places to go in Costa Rica by TripAdvisor members, is an inviting beach town where surfing is always on the docket. Crystal-clear water and a slew of beachside properties (including the swank and affordable Casa Marbella) make this former fishing village a must-see for the water-loving crowd.

Playa Carmen and Playa Santa Teresa, with their gentle breaks, are where to go in Costa Rica if you're a beginning surfer; and surf schools and shops line the broad sandy beaches.

Playa Papagayo, Costa Rica

Playa Papagayo, in Costa Rica's northwestern Guanacaste province, plays host to a number of plush properties that appeal to the luxury-minded vacationer. Among the most lavish is the five-star Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, with its multiple pools, spa with waterfalls, and suites that are as lush as the surrounding jungle. If you can tear yourself away from the sumptuous accommodations (and who could blame you if you can't?), the surrounding area offers all of the idyllic natural beauty and eco-centric you can wish for.

Monteverde , Costa Rica

Costa Rica was at the forefront of the ecotourism movement, and Monteverde is its brightest star. This lush mountain paradise is one of the best places to go in Costa Rica for eco-adventure-seeking vacationers, with the quaint town of Santa Elena as its center.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve comprises virgin and centuries-old forests and oodles of wildlife (including the strikingly colored and near-mythical Quetzal). Take a canopy tour, walk across suspension bridges, or zip-line through tall rainforest trees to marvel from on high at all that this wildlife sanctuary has to offer.

Montezuma, Costa Rica

Want to disconnect from the world, far away from the maddening crowds? Montezuma is where to go in Costa Rica to do just that. With bohemian flair and a laid-back attitude, this surf town welcomes travelers of every stripe in its small bars, restaurants, and uncrowded beaches (Playa Grande for surfing, Playa Las Manchas for world-class snorkeling). Montezuma was made for the budget traveler; you'll find rooms for under $100 per night at Hotel Luz de Mono and Hotel Los Mangos.

Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Accessible via a short plane ride from San Jose or a boat ride from Limon, Tortuguero's Caribbean coast is an unspoiled swath of land rich in wildlife. In July and August, visit the beaches at night to watch turtles laying eggs or hatching. The Tortuguero Parque Nacional is also one of the best places to go in Costa Rica year-round to spot monkeys, birds, and canals rife with crocodiles. The Sea Turtle Conservancy (formerly the Caribbean Conservation Corporation) runs an environmental volunteer program for visitors who just can't pull themselves away.