5 Most Beautiful Places To Explore In Costa Rica

Cloud forests, active volcanoes and untouched beaches along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts – you’ll find some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders in Costa Rica. This Central American country, known for its biodiversity (it’s home to more than 500,000 animal species), attracts more than 1m visitors annually. But where exactly to go? These are the most beautiful places to visit in Costa Rica.

# Poás Volcano National Park

Fancy seeing an active volcano? Head to Poás Volcano National Park, an hour-and-a-half drive from San Jose, where the Poás Volcano sits among 16,000 acres (6,475ha) of parkland. The most recent eruption took place in 2019, spewing smoke and solid material into the atmosphere. Today, it’s a popular tourist destination, with numerous hiking trails and viewpoints over an area dense with vegetation and wildlife.

# La Fortuna Waterfall

To reach La Fortuna Waterfall, an hour’s walk from downtown La Fortuna, you’ll have to journey through the rainforest near the edge of the Arenal Volcano. Those determined enough to hike down the canyon will be rewarded with one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls, with a colossal drop of about 246ft (75m). There’s a small admission fee, but it allows you to swim in the stream and small rapids directly below the fall.

# Corcovado National Park

The Corcovado National Park, the largest park in Costa Rica, attracts ecologists and enthusiastic travelers eager to discover its biodiversity. It covers a huge area of about 164sqmi (424sqkm) and is among the world’s most biodiverse regions – jaguars and macaws are a couple of its live-in residents. Join a jungle trek to explore its terrain fully.

# The Guanacaste beaches

The Guanacaste beaches, spanning the northwestern point of the country, are the epitome of tropical paradises. Think lush scenery, soft sand and clear waters perfect for fishing, swimming, diving and surfing. Tamarindo Beach is a prime spot for all of the above but also one of the main nesting areas for leatherback turtles; these endangered creatures take over the beach from November to April, digging their nest up to 3ft (1m) deep and laying their eggs before returning to the sea.

# Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park is only reachable by plane or boat, but the effort is well worth it. There are 11 different habitats here, including rainforests, mangroves, swamps, beaches and lagoons. Once an archipelago of volcanic islands, the national park is also a nesting area for green sea turtles, leatherbacks and hawksbills. Going inland along the extensive network of freshwater creeks and lagoons, you may also spot one of seven species of river turtles or the endangered West Indian manatee. As no roads lead to Tortuguero, it’s worth coming here on an organized tour for ease of access.