Costa Rica
The most biodiverse country on earth
By Emma Sparks
Costa Rica is a leader in land conservation, with an astonishing 25% of its territory designated as protected area.
Its dizzying array of national parks (26 in total) are home to all kinds of wildlife, landscapes and ecosystems — think volcanic peaks, white-water rapids and miles of coastline.
Adventure is never far from the table in Costa Rica. There are rainforest hikes and world-class surfing, while its biodiversity and green conservation means that more than half a million species call Costa Rica home, from tropical fish and howler monkeys to toucans and scarlet macaws.
So come to Costa Rica and join the local ticos in their peaceful, relaxed way of life.
National parks of Costa Rica
Costa Rica's top national parks and how to get there
Costa Rica’s national parks are a beacon of inspiration to the world. As a leader in land conservation and habitat protection, Costa Rica has designated an astonishing 25% of its landmass as protected area—the highest anywhere in the world. A dizzying 26 national parks encompass all kinds of landscapes, habitats, and ecosystems...read more
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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Boasting an incredible ecosystem and home to approximately 5% of the planet’s total bird species, 130 mammal species and more than 3,000 plants, the cloud forests of Monteverde are a nature lover’s dream... -
Arenal Volcano National Park
For several decades, the Cerro Arenal Volcano was the most active in Costa Rica, spewing molten lava and red hot boulders into the surrounding darkness... -
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Once a sleepy backwater surfing town, Puerto Viejo has become a stop-off for travellers looking to party... -
Manuel Antonio National Park
If you imagine Costa Rica to be a paradise of pristine beaches, exotic flowers, thick rainforests, and crystal-clear waters, where monkeys and sloths and scarlet macaws frolic freely, then you have Manuel Antonio National Park in mind... -
Guanacaste National Park
Sandwiched between Santa Rosa National Park and Rincón de la Vieja National Park -- the other two parks in the Guanacaste Conservation Area trio -- this incredibly diverse and endearingly rustic national park is one of Costa Rica’s least visited... -
Cocos Island
The uninhabited Cocos Island is known as one of the world’s best scuba diving destinations... -
San Jose
At first glance, San Jose might not seem like the prettiest of cities but delve a little deeper into the colonial mansions of Barrio Amon, the restaurants of Barrio Escalante and the many live music clubs, and you’ll soon uncover the beating cultural heart of Costa Rica’s capital... -
Tortuguero National Park
This wild and interconnected web of canals is an aquatic fairyland, where gavilan trees stand sentry at the water’s edge, caiman snouts poke out of canals, tiger herons perch atop driftwood, and four species of endangered sea turtle travel thousands of miles every year to lay their eggs on the beaches where they once hatched... -
Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve
The first national park in Costa Rica, Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area in the province of Puntarenas... -
Playa Carrillo
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Santa Teresa
A small beach village in the Puntarenas Province, Santa Teresa’s beach is famous amongst surfers for its fast and powerful beach break and consistent waves... -
Corcovado National Park
Few places on Earth are as wild, as rich, and as spectacular as Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park... -
Tenorio Volcano National Park
If wild and wonderful are your jam, then Tenorio Volcano National Park is a must for your Costa Rica agenda... -
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park
Home to some of the most startling and unique scenery in Costa Rica, Rincón de la Vieja National Park and its eponymous volcano welcomes visitors to volcanic landscapes, complete with steaming fumaroles, boiling mud cauldrons, and natural hot springs... -
Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park is a dreamy destination, where coastal rainforest spills onto sand, and sand fades into the turquoise Caribbean... -
Poás Volcano National Park
Poás Volcano is the second-most visited national park in Costa Rica for one excellent reason: a gently active volcano (and its triplet craters)... -
Palo Verde National Park
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Carara National Park
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Quetzales National Park
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Marino Ballena National Park
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Sarapiqui
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Nosara
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Places to go in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Tours
Tortuguero and Tropical Rainforests
Discover Costa Rica's "Little Amazon"
7 daysFrom $1,335| Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park, San Jose, Tortuguero National Park | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Beach, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Ziplining, Active, Walking, Horseback Riding, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Indigenous Tourism |
Costa Rica & Nicaragua Multi-Adventure
An active tour of Costa Rica and Nicaragua
10 daysFrom $1,679| Costa Rica, Nicaragua | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Beach, Adventure, Climbing, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Kayaking, Ziplining, Active, Walking, Cycling, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, National Parks, Culture, Indigenous Tourism |
Costa Rica Adventure Tour
Costa Rica tropical eco-adventure tour
9 daysFrom $2,150| Arenal Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, San Jose | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Adventure, Climbing, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Kayaking, Ziplining, Active, Walking, Cycling, Horseback Riding, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, National Parks, Culture, Indigenous Tourism |
Caribbean to Pacific Family Adventure
12 days exploring Costa Rica
12 daysFrom $4,650| Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park, San Jose, Tortuguero National Park | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, Culinary, Food |
Guanacaste, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and Beaches
8 days at Rincon de la Vieja and Tamarindo beach
8 daysFrom $3,500| Guanacaste National Park, Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Climbing, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Ziplining, Active, Walking, Horseback Riding, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture |
Nature Highlights
10 days in the national parks of Tortuguero and Corcovado
10 daysFrom $2,565| San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Corcovado National Park | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Luxury, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries |
Costa Rica Travel Companies
Lost World Adventures
Custom tours to Latin America
| Central America, South America | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Cruise & Sailing, Luxury, Family, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
South American Vacations
Custom tours to Latin America since 2002
| Central America, South America, Antarctica | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Cruise & Sailing, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Horseback Riding, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Archaeology, Museums & Galleries, History, Culinary, Food, Wine |
Horizontes Nature Tours
Custom nature tours to Costa Rica
| Costa Rica | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Kayaking, Canoeing, Ziplining, Active, Walking, Horseback Riding, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Archaeology |
YellowWood Adventures
Sustainable travel for the modern-day explorer
| Central America, North Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Central Asia | |
| Custom itinerary, Small group tour, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking & Trekking, Mountain Biking, Water Sports, Active, Walking, Overlanding, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Conservation, Solo Travel |
The Adventure People
The Most Inspiring & Exciting Adventure Holidays On Earth.
| Central America, South America, North Africa, East Africa, South Asia | |
| Small group tour | |
| Safari, Beach, Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Culture, Solo Travel |
The Latin America Travel Company
Guided tours to Latin America
| Central America, South America | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Cruise & Sailing, Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Overlanding, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Culture, Archaeology, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History |
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