Destinations Central & South America Costa Rica 20 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica From cloud forest hikes to chocolate farm tours, here's how local experts say you should get to know Costa Rica. By Lindsay Cohn Lindsay Cohn Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 28, 2024 Close Photo: Janusz Kubow / Getty Images Ecotourism plays a major role in drawing visitors to Costa Rica, which has great weather and everything from rain forests and cloud forests to volcanoes and hot springs. Framed by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, there are countless places to surf or chill out on a beautiful beach. With cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in San José and a myriad of eco-friendly resorts, it’s easy to see why the country is so popular. With so much to see and do, it can be tough to narrow down your itinerary. To help you choose, we've put together a list of the 20 best things to do in Costa Rica with help from three local experts: Lucas Medeiros, chief concierge at the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica; Natasha Brown, the founder of Salty Afro Surf; and Jemma Wright, director of experience at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection. Top 5 Can’t Miss Arenal Volcano National Park is a hub of outdoor activity, from hiking and zip lining to horseback riding and river rafting.Keep an eye out for sloths and monkeys at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve.Explore rain forests, coral reefs, and white-sand beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park.Thermal pools, cascading waterfalls, and warm, calming waters await at Tabacon Hot Springs.Spot turtles, caimans, and manatees in the wild at Tortuguero National Park, accessible only by plane or boat. See Costa Rica's most famous volcano up close. Adrian Rudd / Travel + Leisure One of Costa Rica’s most-visited attractions is the nearly 30,000-acre Arenal Volcano National Park, located about a 30-minute drive from the town of La Fortuna. Most travelers make the journey to witness its crown jewel stratovolcano, which rises 5,357 feet toward the clouds. Hiking, horseback riding, zip lining, and river rafting are also popular activities. For a luxurious stay in the heart of the park, splash out on a villa with a personal hot spring-fed soaking pool at Nayara Springs. 14 Best Hotels and Resorts in Costa Rica Spend a day among the trees. Brandon Rosenblum / Getty Images Nestled in the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve covers more than 35,000 acres of lush trees. Besides incredible endemic flora, it’s also home to animals such as howler monkeys, hummingbirds, tree frogs, and two-toed sloths. Soak in all the beauty around you on a high-flying zip line tour. Spot monkeys, sloths, and iguanas in their natural habitat. AutumnSkyPhotography / Getty Images Manuel Antonio National Park packs a ton of nature into a relatively small area. It’s just seven square miles, but within its boundaries, you'll find rain forests, tropical plants, untouched white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and coastal hiking trails. It's also home to diverse wildlife including everything from three-toed sloths and white-faced capuchin monkeys to orange crabs and black spiny-tailed iguanas. Let your stress melt away in a thermal pool. Bkamprath / Getty Images While Costa Rica has many wonderful places to reap the benefits of volcano-heated mineral waters, few are as iconic as Tabacon Hot Springs. Tucked inside a lush private rain forest reserve, this natural oasis wins points for its thermal pools and cascading waterfalls with healing, stress-melting benefits. Venture out to Tortuguero National Park. Arctic-Images/Getty Images Hidden away on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coast and only accessible by boat or plane, Tortuguero National Park is one of the most distinct, isolated, and biodiverse places in the country, according to Wright. Nature lovers venture to this remote wilderness area to spot sea turtles, manatees, speckled caimans, and birds in the wild while navigating the canals on a canoe. Unleash your inner adrenaline junkie. Jose Hernandez / Travel + Leisure Rincón de la Vieja National Park spans over 34,000 acres of rugged terrain and is known for its hiking trails and adrenaline-pumping activities. “Mountain bikers of all levels can enjoy a thrilling ride around the largest volcano in Guanacaste,” says Medeiros. Enjoy a relaxing soak at Ecotermales Fortuna. Jose Hernandez / Travel + Leisure The ideal place to soothe overworked muscles and relax after countless rugged adventures? Ecotermales Fortuna. The warm, magnesium-rich waters heated by the nearby Arenal Volcano are said to help combat inflammation and relieve pain, while the cool pools provide the perfect opportunity for hot and cold therapy. Take in beautiful scenery at Corcovado National Park. MB Photography / Getty Images “Corcovado National Park, located on the Osa Peninsula, protects one of the most biologically diverse and complex ecosystems in the world,” says Wright. “The natural richness of this area — unspoiled beaches, rain forest trails, mangrove swamps, waterfalls, and wildlife — helps visitors appreciate our beautiful country.” Learn to surf in Santa Teresa. Aldo Pavan / Getty Images Santa Teresa is a must-visit spot for pura vida (pure life) chasers and surfers at all levels. New to paddling out? There are a ton of options available for first-timers who want to try a group or private lesson. Back on land, the palm-fringed beach draws crowds for sunbathing and sunsets. See an impressive volcano and waterfall up close. Jose Hernandez / Travel + Leisure Situated in Costa Rica's rugged north and part of the broader Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area, Tenorio Volcano National Park thrills travelers with its namesake volcano. It's also where you'll find the spectacular Rio Celeste Waterfall (and the 3.5-mile trail that leads to it), canopy bridges offering scenic views, and plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting. Snorkel at one of Costa Rica's most underrated beaches. Simon Dannhauer / Getty Images Just a short drive from Puerto Viejo, Playa Chiquita is the place for travelers seeking long swaths of uncrowded beaches and snorkeling among the beautiful reefs, says Brown. 9 Best Beaches in Costa Rica for Surfing, Snorkeling, and Wildlife Spotting Go behind the scenes on a coffee farm tour. Left: Kathleen Messmer / Travel + Leisure; Right: Adrian Rudd / Travel + Leisure Costa Rica produces some of the best coffee in the world, and it’s one of the country's biggest economic drivers. While it’s certainly not difficult to procure a great cup of joe, serious java enthusiasts wanting to learn more about the process should consider booking a tour at one of the many coffee farms outside San José. Britt Coffee Tour and Finca Rosa Blanca are two of the most popular, located about a half-hour drive from the city center. Spot sloths, snakes, and toucans at a wildlife sanctuary. Jose Hernandez / Travel + Leisure “I love going to Bijagua Ranas to enjoy the rain forest and see the sloths,” says Medeiros. Snakes, frogs, and toucans also call the wildlife sanctuary home. A series of hiking trails, bridges, and viewing platforms are in place to help visitors get a closer look at its wild inhabitants. Watch local surfers take on the waves at Playa Cocles. Jose Hernandez / Travel + Leisure Just south of Puerto Viejo along the Caribbean coast, Playa Cocles is a popular surf spot and afternoon hangout. “Both locals and travelers come here at the end of the day to watch fire shows, enjoy a drink with friends, or sneak a few waves while watching the beautiful sunset,” says Brown. Learn about Costa Rica's Indigenous history and culture. Jose Hernandez/Travel + Leisure Head to the capital, San José, to learn about Costa Rica’s history at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Housed in an underground building beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, it dazzles visitors with a collection of more than 680 gilded artifacts. The museum also covers the heritage and culture of the country's Indigenous communities and what life is like for them today. Catch a wave in Nosara. Courtesy of Visit Costa Rica One of the top spots to learn, practice, or master surfing in Costa Rica, Nosara is awash with strong breach breaks and knowledgeable instructors. The laid-back town is also a wellness destination with many yoga studios and retreats. One of Costa Rica's Most Beautiful Destinations Has a New Family-friendly Hotel — and It's Right Next to the Beach Go on an eco-tour in Tapir Valley Nature Reserve. Kathleen Messmer / Travel + Leisure In northern Costa Rica, the private Tapir Valley Nature Reserve shelters animals like ghost glass frogs and hummingbirds. Visitors can explore the 544-acre site's diverse habitats, from grassland to lush rain forest, on a range of eco-tours. Follow tapir tracks with the help of a local Bijaguan guide, rise early for a birding adventure, or book a nighttime jungle tour to glimpse nocturnal critters. Check out the mangroves in the Térraba-Sierpe Wetland. Jesus Fung Yan / Courtesy of Visit Costa Rica You’ll find the largest mangrove forests in Costa Rica at the Térraba-Sierpe Wetland, just north of the Osa Peninsula. “Exploring the mangroves, which hold so much biodiversity, supplies a deeper understanding of where the land, river, and sea unite," says Medeiros. Bird-watch in the "Everglades of Costa Rica." Kryssia Campos / Getty Images Part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area, located in the remote northern part of the country near the Nicaraguan border, Caño Negro Mixed National Wildlife Refuge is a paradise for bird-watchers. You'll have pretty good odds of spotting roseate spoonbills, jabirus, and even the reclusive agami heron in the “Everglades of Costa Rica.” Discover how chocolate is made, from beans to bar. Jonathan Ledezma / Courtesy of Visit Costa Rica and Rainforest Chocolate Tour When most people think of Costa Rican food, plates of pork, fish, rice, beans, and vegetables come to mind. But chocolate is a major staple (and export) as well. If you’re interested in learning more about how cacao becomes fine artisan chocolate, book a beans-to-bar tour at a chocolate farm. In La Fortuna, Don Olivo Chocolate Tour and Rainforest Chocolate Tour are popular choices, as is La Iguana Chocolate in Mastatal, about a 2.5-hour drive southwest of San José.