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Costa Rica Tourist Destinations

The country has categorized six different regions where visitors will find different attractions that will make their vacation as active or relaxing as they want.

This region includes the Central Valley with the bustling city of San Jose as Costa Rica’s capital, being the commercial center of the country, and where the main government offices are concentrated.

Outside San Jose, it is located the most important international airport serving Costa Rica: SJO – Juan Santamaria Int´l Airport, the gateway to surrounding mountain destinations such as Bajos del Toro, Naranjo, San Ramon, and Savegre Valley.

This region includes the exuberant Tortuguero National Park with its deep jungles, lagoons, water canals, and wildlife everywhere. An area that is accessible only by tourist boats or by small aircraft. There are no roads or even cars.

Limon City is home to the most important ports of Costa Rica, including the main cruise ship terminal that received thousands of Cruise Fans who enjoy the local culture and spicy gastronomy.

At the South Caribbean Coast, visitors will find the Cahuita National Park and Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, well-recognized sanctuaries that protect emblematic species like manatees, the largest coral reefs of the country, and multicolor-sanded beaches.

The northern region of Costa Rica is world-renowned for its variety of wild rivers, stunning lakes, volcanoes, and protected tropical rainforests. The weather in the area is generally humid and you can expect abundant rains, almost every day.

The Sarapiquí River is one of the most iconic rivers of the area, surrounded by lowlands of tropical rain forest with lush vegetation and a large variety of plants, animals, reptiles, and birds.

Arenal Volcano National Park protects one of the main attractions of the country, the mighty volcano that stands at 1,633mts above sea level with its notorious almost perfect conic shape.

The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Maquenque Wildlife Refuge, which are considered part of the biological corridor between the northern wetlands and the San Juan River, Nicaragua

In the outskirts of the northern plains of Costa Rica, the gorgeous Celeste River will amaze all the visitors with its “out of the world” turquoise color.

Chosen as one of Costa Rica’s Seven Wonders, Monteverde Cloud Forest private reserve was founded in 1972 and it has been recognized worldwide for its efforts in the conservation of wild species and their habitats.

Guanacaste harbors an important portion of the Costa Rican cultural and natural patrimony. Not in vain there are a significant number of protected areas, including coastal, mountainous, terrestrial, and aquatic ecosystems, where life develops with exuberance. It is situated in the northern part of the country, covering the pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Currently, the warm weather, beautiful beaches, and the incomparable beauty of the Guanacaste pampas and tropical dry forest have placed Guanacaste, as one of the most popular beach destinations in the country. Along with the fact that the Guanacaste Int´l Airport (LIR) is located in this area, where a large number of charters and commercial flights arrive and depart every day.

The Rincon de la Vieja National Park is an impressive park where you will experience unforgettable sceneries of the exuberant forests, Crystal Rivers, and hidden waterfalls.

In the south Guanacaste, in the region knows as the Nicoya Peninsula the most popular beaches are Samara, Carrillo, Nosara, Santa Teresa, and other surroundings.

Cabo Blanco & Curu are well-recognized wildlife refuges that protect the tropical dry forest and some mangrove swamps.

This is one of the closest beach destinations to the Central Region. There is a highway connecting San Jose with Puntarenas City and its Cruise terminals

Jaco is a very developed coastal city where surf and water enthusiasts abound and where excellent restaurants, bars, and nightlife are available.

The well-known Manuel Antonio National Park is located in this area, white-sand beaches bordering turquoise waters and lush rainforest, an incredible amount of wildlife, hillside hotels overlooking the ocean, and a wide variety of fine dining, this is pure tropical relaxation.

This region is considered the richest in biodiversity with the biggest protected areas and the less developed infrastructure.

The Ballena National Marine Park is the first protected area of the Dominical region. A small park protects sandy and pebble beaches, mangroves, cliffs islands, and coral reefs. A marine platform has formed in front of the park. Connecting to the mainland via a sandy bridge and can be visited at low tide. Looking at the platform from the air, it looks like a whale’s tail.

Further down south is located the Corcovado National Park one of the wettest areas in the country; it protects the largest primary tropical rainforest on the American Pacific coastline and one of the few remaining sizeable areas of lowland tropical rainforests in the world, this National Park is a further distance down south and with no access to cars.

Stone Spheres Museum (Finca 6) is the first in situ (onsite) archeological museum of Costa Rica and the most significant pre-Columbian stone sphere park in the world. A World Heritage Site recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).