Costa Rica Travel Guide
I traveled to Costa Rica for a travel study course in college and it was an incredible experience. The trip only lasted ten days, but I was able to see the key travel destinations that Costa Rica has to offer. I have created this Costa Rica travel guide to help anyone that wants to visit plan their trip. It is filled with the experiences I had, and a couple that I wish I could have experienced as well.
San Jose
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and a must see to add to any trip itinerary. Some of the most popular sites include the Central Market and National Theater. I visited both during my trip and loved seeing the culture that each contains up close.
Central Market
The Central Market was my favorite part of San Jose’s downtown experience. It contains shops and restaurants that are popular among both tourists and locals. If you are looking for an authentic place to grab lunch while seeing San Jose, the Central Market is the place to go!
National Theater
Performers have come from around the world to perform in San Jose’s National Theater. Since it was constructed in the late 1800’s it’s sculptures, paintings, and architecture are absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend stopping here during your day in San Jose.
Beaches
When people think of Costa Rica travel opportunities, beaches are one of the first things to come to mind. Since there are costs on both sides of the country, Costa Rica is definitely an ideal travel destination.
Playa Blanca
During my stay at Hotel Punta Leona I had direct access to Playa Blanca. The beach is absolutely beautiful and perfect for a day of relaxing in the sun. If you’re looking for a little more fun, the resort has all kinds of activities to choose from as well.
Playa Manuel Antonio
My favorite beach to visit was Playa Manuel Antonio. This beach is part of the Manuel Antonio National Park and a popular home for monkeys. I had never seen so many monkeys up close before outside of a zoo. Seeing them in their natural habitat and getting to enjoy such a beautiful beach on the same day easily made it my favorite beach in Costa Rica.
Rainforest & Jungle
The part of Costa Rica that isn’t made up of beaches, is made up of rainforests. This provides lots of activities like hiking, ziplining, and sky trams to help explore all the land and wildlife that these rainforests hold.
Hiking & Sky Tram at Monteverde Park
The Sky Tram at Monteverde Park is a very unique experience that allows you to see up above the trees of the park for incredible views. If you are not interested in ziplining, a sky tram offers another way to get the same view that zipliners get.
La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall is a beautiful location to visit. There are multiple ways to get down to the bottom where there is a lake for people to swim in. If you are interested in the beautiful scenery of Costa Rica, this is a must see during your trip.
Butterfly Gardens
When thinking about Costa Rica’s wildlife you might not think about butterflies right away. However, these rainforests contain some of the most beautiful butterflies. Visit a butterfly farm or sanctuary while you are there to see them!
River Boat Ride
If you want to see the wildlife of Costa Rica in its natural habitat a river boat ride is the way to go. This allowed me to see monkeys, iguanas, caiman, and more all in one boat ride. The tour guides that are with you know exactly where to look for these animals and can point out things you may have missed.
Coffee Plantation
During my trip I visited the coffee plantation for the Down To Earth coffee brand. For a coffee drinker like myself, seeing how it is grown and made into the beans we buy at the grocery store is very interesting and a must see. Costa Rican coffee is special because of the elevation it is grown at, take a look at the coffee plantations in the area you travel to for an experience you won’t forget!
Chocolate Tour
The Chocolate Tour on the Tirimbina Reserve was one of the most interesting tours I participated in during my trip. The tour I was a part of discussed the history of chocolate back to its earliest origins. Fun fact, it used to be called the drink of the gods and served as a liquid. The tour walked me through the different stages that cacao goes through to become what we know as chocolate. Very educational, but also a lot of fun!
Natural Hot Springs
The Baldi Hot Springs Hotel Resort and Spa was a unique and unforgettable experience. My group decided to purchase the day pass with a dinner option. The pools get warmer the higher up they are and are cooler towards the bottom. The water slides and relaxing hot water made it the perfect mix of relaxing and fun.
Other Things to Consider
I did not get the opportunity to zipline or see the Land of the Strays while I was in Costa Rica, but I have heard great things about both. If you are looking for a little bit of adventure, ziplining might be for you. If you are an animal lover, Land of the Strays might be the perfect addition to your trip.
Ziplining
Costa Rica is well known for its ziplining experiences. Most places in the mountains will have a place to go ziplining along with some hiking trails. If you are looking for a fun afternoon, try ziplining!
Land of the Strays
Last, but certainly not least, Land of the Strays is a well known destination among animal lovers. This is a volunteer-run organization that is home to hundreds of dogs. Some people even adopt one of them after visiting!
Costa Rica is a beautiful place to travel to. Not only does it have places to relax and unwind, but it also has activities full of adventure and learning. Put these two things together and it makes for the perfect vacation. Which one of these places or activities are you excited to experience? Tell me in the comments below!
