The Best Travel & Vacation Spots in Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio

Though Manuel Antonio can be somewhat crowded with tourists, its beautiful white sand beaches and dense forests are worth the visit. This National Park is located about a three- to four-hour drive southwest of the capital, San Jose, and has various hiking trails throughout , some of which follow along the beach. There are numerous moderate- and high-end hotels to stay in just outside the park. If you're traveling on a budget, you might want to stay in the lower cost accommodations located in the nearby town of Quepos. You can take a short bus ride to the park from Quepos. To get there from San Jose, you can drive or take the bus from the Coca Cola terminal, located on Calle 16 between Avenidas 1 and 3 in San Jose (according to http://costa-rica-guide.com/BusSchedule.html).

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Arenal is a highly active volcano, and while many guidebooks claim you can see sparks and lava emerging from the crater nightly, in actuality the volcano is often covered in clouds and mist. However, it's still well worth the four-hour trip from San Jose, if for nothing else than the hot springs. Monteverde is about two and a half hours from Arenal, and you can purchase jeep-boat-jeep tickets, which take you on a van ride to Lake Arenal, then on a short boat ride across the lake, and then on a very bumpy van ride to Monteverde. It's the most direct route (it is rumored that driving around the lake can take as many as nine hours). Monteverde is a beautiful cloud forest located near the small town of Santa Elena. It has beautiful hiking trails, though they are heavily traveled by tourists, which tend to scare off the 100 species of mammals you might have read about (see http://www.monteverdeinfo.com). Buses to La Fortuna (the town where the volcano Arenal is located) and to Santa Elena leave San Jose from the bus terminal Atlantico Norte, which is on Calle 12 between Avenidas 7 and 9 (according to http://costa-rica-guide.com/BusSchedule.html).

Keep your belongings close to you in Cahuita or the monkeys might carry them off

If you want some Caribbean flavor, this is the place to go. You might first want to stop by the beautiful little beach town of Cahuita, a 20-minute drive north of Puerto Viejo (and a stop on the bus before arriving in Puerto Viejo). Cahuita has beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear water. Puerto Viejo doesn't have a great beach, but it does have great nightlife and numerous shops and restaurants. The younger crowd might want to check out Johnny's at night for a bonfire on the beach and dancing into the night. Your best bet for a hotel will probably be on the road leading out of town toward Punta Uva. The hotels along this road cater to all price ranges and are more beautiful and tranquil than those in town. Also consider day trips to the beaches southeast of Puerto Viejo. They are beautiful and only a bike ride away! Buses leave from Terminal del Caribe, located near the intersection of Calle Central and Avenida 13 (according to http://costa-rica-guide.com/BusSchedule.html). On Saturdays, in particular, the 10:00 a.m. bus tends to sell out at least an hour before. Though you can purchase "de pie" (standing) tickets, it's a four and a half hour ride, so your best bet is to get there early or buy your tickets ahead of time.

Swimming hole at Rincon de la Vieja

Tamarindo caters to a somewhat more upscale clientele with numerous boutiques to shop in and resort-style hotels. It is also known as a great surfing spot. There are numerous other beaches along the northwest Pacific coast that are similarly impressive and worth checking out. You might also be interested in spending some time hiking at Rincon de la Vieja, an active volcano complete with steaming hot spots along the trails and a two-hour hike to a swimming hole below a waterfall. You can fly directly into Guanacaste (the northwest region) via the Liberia airport. Buses from San Jose leave from Avenida 5 between Calles 14 and 16 (according to http://costa-rica-guide.com/BusSchedule.html).

Playa Samara

Playa Sámara is the quintessential sleepy beach town. If you're looking for a wild night out, you won't find it here. But if you want somewhere quiet to relax on the beach, this is for you. Buses leave San Jose from Avenida 5 between Calles 14 and 16 (according to http://costa-rica-guide.com/BusSchedule.html).