What to do in Costa Rica: wonderful beaches and adventure
The unbeatable geographical advantage that this paradise offers is that you can choose between the Pacific or Caribbean beaches. What to do in Costa Rica all year round.
The country of "pura vida" invites us to enjoy its excellent location, incredible nature and a beautiful tropical climate. Beaches with crystal clear water, islands in the middle of the ocean and mountains with lush vegetation, come together with the hospitality of a society classified as "the happiest" according to the Happy Planet Index. We invite you to learn what to do in Costa Rica so you can start planning your next adventure.
Definitely, Costa Rica is heaven for lovers of outdoor life and extreme sports. In this Central American Eden, you will be able to carry out the most diverse activities, from diving to surfing classes, through paddle boarding, boat tours, snorkeling and much more. You can also visit national parks and relax watching the best sunsets on idyllic beaches, such as Nosara, Manuel Antonio or Culebra on the Pacific; Tortuguero, Limón or Cahuita, in the Caribbean.
Costa Rica is located in Central America; It limits to the north with Nicaragua and, to the south, with Panama. To the east, the Caribbean Sea bathes its coasts and, to the west, the waters of the Pacific. With abundant wildlife, unique landscapes and climates, this small country is home to five percent of the world's biodiversity.
What to do in Costa Rica: the place of "pura vida"
The phrase “Pura Vida” can be heard echoing throughout all of Costa Rica, from coast to coast. It is used as a greeting or expression of happiness. Its meaning is “full of life” and accurately describes the adventure and wonder that awaits visitors.
If you are looking to spend a few quiet days in a tropical style, there are several areas in Costa Rica to enjoy by the sea. The unbeatable geographical advantage that this paradise offers is that you can choose between the Pacific or Caribbean beaches.
If you want to travel in luxury, throughout Costa Rica there are unique and peculiar properties to relax in the middle of the forest, near the beach or near volcanoes. These hotels have first class amenities, from massages, holistic treatments, yoga or meditation classes, hot springs, private dinners on the edge of a hill, etc.
For the adventurous, there are also plenty of options. You can fly over the treetops in incredible zip lines (also called Canopy), go rafting in Sarapiquà and Turrialba, enjoy kayaking in lakes, sea, rivers and mangroves, join long horseback rides on the slopes of volcanoes, go hiking in some national park or bird watching like the Quetzal.
Best beaches in Costa Rica
If there is something that stands out in this wonderful country, it is its beaches. Thousands of people travel year after year to take advantage of the incredible waves, the white sands and the incomparable Costa Rican beach scene.
Santa Teresa
This city has become an almost obligatory destination for young people on their trips to Costa Rica. The quantity and quality of beaches, the variety of accommodation and the energetic nightlife move this city that receives visits from all over the world.
If you are passionate about water sports, prepare your surfboard, since the best waves on the Pacific Coast are here. The most popular spas for surfing are:
- Playa Carmen: it is located in the main commercial area of the city
- Playa Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula is located 3 kilometers further north.
Both are usually packed with surfers, so if you are looking for tranquility and enjoy a swim in the sea, we recommend Playa Hermosa. This is a wide beach, surrounded by palm trees and white sand, a typical landscape in these latitudes.
Old Port
Formerly Puerto Viejo was a fishing village little frequented by tourists. In recent years, because it is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, it began to attract a large number of people and gained popularity among visitors to the area.
Beaches with crystal clear water and golden sand invite you to enjoy a break, a surf session or snorkel in this place that has become the jewel of the province of Limón
The town is surrounded by bars, restaurants and discos that tend to fill up from sunset until late at night.
The busiest beach is Salsa Brava. Its peculiarity is that it presents rough waters and big waves in winter (November to January and April to August), while in summer (February-March and September-October) it becomes a paradisiacal and calm beach.
Tamarind
The third area of beaches par excellence is the province of Guanacaste and its star resort is Tamarindo. The beaches that are in the center of the city, like almost all the beaches in Costa Rica, are a paradise for surfers due to their waves. Tamarindo is considered one of the best in the world to practice Surfing and that is why every year it hosts several international championships of this sport.
The calm beaches, special for cooling off and soaking up the hot Costa Rican sun, are located further south in the province.
Another outstanding activity in Tamarindo is sport fishing and many tourists choose this destination to test their skills on the high seas. The typical fish of the area are Tuna, Dorado, Rooster Fish and Grouper. The most common tours last 5, 7 or 9 hours and consist of group outings of no more than seven people. In addition, all excursions include fishing equipment, snacks, lunch and various drinks.
Costa Rica all inclusive
For those who prefer a trip of absolute rest, Costa Rica has a wide range of all-inclusive hotels. The great advantage of this type of hotel is that meals, drinks and a large selection of cocktails are included in the price. In addition, they all have access to the sea and a large number of sports and recreational activities that are available within the complex.
In the all inclusive you will be able to give yourself the pleasure of spending an afternoon at the spa, playing golf among tropical landscapes and enjoying beautiful views of the sea from the room, the restaurants or the swimming pools
It should be noted that, generally, each hotel has its private portion of the beach and themed restaurants where dishes from different regions of the world are served.
In the province of Guanacaste there are a large number of “all-inclusive” accommodations. Those that stand out are the Westin Hotel in Playa Conchal, the Hilton in the area of the Gulf of Papagayo and the Riu Palace in Playa Matapalo.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
This natural reserve is located in the province of Puntarenas, in the center west of the country. Being located at 1600 meters above sea level, having extremely high humidity and very thick vegetation, a kind of dense fog is produced in this place that completely covers the forest and gives rise to its name.
In Monteverde, Costa Rica offers a special setting for those who love nature, the native flora and fauna of Central America.
Here you can see many species of birds, monkeys and some endangered cats. The two distinctive animal species of this forest are the Quetzal, a bird with green feathers and a red chest; and the red-eyed tree frog, a very strange animal worth seeing.
For tourists, the canopy is one of the main attractions. A 770-meter cable runs through the forest and provides the bravest with unforgettable views of this beautiful place. The other way to explore the reserve is on foot through a path that stretches for 13 kilometers.
Historical walk through the Capital
San José is one of the destinations you have to visit in Costa Rica. It is the capital of the country and of the province that bears its name. This city has about 300,000 inhabitants and its traditional buildings allow us to appreciate the history and Tico style. The most striking activities that you can do in San José are:
Guided visit to the National Theater. This building was built at the end of the 19th century and when you visit, you can learn many anecdotes and stories about a place that invites you to explore and learn.
Make a stop at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Built in 1825, it was the necessary condition of the Spanish Court to declare San José as a city.
Get to know the Central Market. This space was declared Cultural Historical Heritage and in it you can find all kinds of food, coffee and typical Costa Rican handicrafts.
Walk the Central Avenue. It is worth strolling through this pedestrian street full of shops, street vendors and local food.
The weather in Costa Rica
The climate in Costa Rica is very particular and special. This is why we recommend that you pay attention to this guide so as not to be surprised on your next trip. As in many countries with a tropical climate, the climate is divided into a wet season and a dry season, but in turn within the country we have different microclimates:
In the Pacific, the Central Valley, San José and the southern zone of Costa Rica, the dry season lasts from December to April and the wet season from May to November.
In Monteverde, on the other hand, the dry climate begins in January and ends in May. For its part, the wet season begins in June and ends in December. It is also important to note that November and December are very windy months.
In the Caribbean area, the months of February, March, September and October are dry seasons, while November to January and April to August are the seasons most prone to rain and storms.
How to get to Costa Rica
This section will obviously depend on where your trip begins, but if your destination is Costa Rica, you have to know that its main international airport is in San José. Direct flights arrive here from Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, the United States, among others in America, and from European countries such as France, Holland, and England.
Another option if you want to visit the happiest country is to get on board a cruise. Several companies offer itineraries from the United States, Mexico, Panama or Colombia, with a stop of a few hours in Costa Rica, mainly in the Port of Limón.
As for ground transportation, you can get to Costa Rica by bus if you are in Panama City, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador or Tapachula, in Mexico. The buses leave daily and you can check the schedules on the official website of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.
Transportation within Costa Rica
Internal transport has options that you can take into account to build your itinerary: boat, ferry, urban bus and train are available with different routes and terminals that usually satisfy the desires and needs of all travelers. Another alternative that surely gives you greater independence is to go to one of the many car rental companies.
Now, it's clear. Adventure, extreme sports, nature or total relaxation, the Costa Rican country has an option for each type of traveler. There are no excuses left to prepare the itinerary because in Costa Rica, fun and good vibes are guaranteed. Pure Life!
