Costa Rica National Parks and Attractions

La Paz Waterfall and Gardens

Lush tropical gardens, spectacular waterfalls, hummingbirds, a multitude of butterflies and meandering trails leading to nature exhibits are all part of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Travelling through this area wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Peace Lodge, featured on the Travel Channel’s “Honeymoon Hotspots International’s” as one of the eight most romantic worldwide destinations for honeymooners. Weddings are also popular here. Visit for the day or stay where rooms include river rock fireplaces and amenities such as waterfalls that come to life when you enter your Jacuzzi tub.

Poas Volcano

Easily accessible from San Jose City, many of those including the Central Valley in their Costa Rica trip visit here to see the bubbling crater of the Poas Volcano situated inside one of the country's oldest and best known National Parks: Parque Nacional Volcán Poás. 

Irazu Volcano

Near Poas, is located Irazu Volcano, which provides another option for viewing an impressive live volcano in Costa Rica. You can see both the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean on a clear day from Irazu. The landscape here resembles a moonscape and wildlife is very scarce, but you may be able to see eastern cottontail rabbit, coyote, armadillo, porcupine, weasel and tiger cats.

Rio Pacuare

Costa Rica's most scenic river and one of the great rafting rivers in the world, the Rio Pacuare offers class lll and lV whitewater rafting. Some sections drop 100 feet per mile as the river makes its way through one of the rare pockets of unexplored wilderness left on this planet.

Brauilio Carillo

Primary cloud forest and rainforest covers this Costa Rica National Park. Flora and fauna are abundant, as are rivers and waterfalls. With 32 miles of hiking trails that traverse 10,000 feet in elevation, the Park offers something for every Costa Rica vacation. The highway that bisects the park provides easy access.
 

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

In 2007, Costa Ricans voted Monteverde one of Costa Rica's 7 Wonders. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is indeed a leading attraction for Costa Rica travelers, especially for ecotourist. One of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the Americas, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monteverde includes eight distinct ecological zones, making it a wonderful destination for Costa Rica eco tours.

Monteverde offers a wide array of fun activities for Costa Rica vacations, including canopy tours and zip lines, hanging bridges with spectacular views of the cloud forest, horseback riding, mountain biking and ATV tours. Straddling the Continental Divide at 4662 feet, the Santa Elena and Monteverde Cloud Forest area offer one of the most interesting places to visit while on your Costa Rica vacation.

Hiking through this lush green garden of mosses, ferns, flowers and epiphytes is a wonderful experience. As clouds drift in and out, the air around you is filled with the songs of birds, the scurrying of small mammals, and the distant roar of a howler monkey from the canopy above.

Costa Rica bird watching and wildlife viewing is exceptional. The cloud forest features more than 100 species of mammals including 5 species of cats, over 400 species of birds including 30 kinds of hummingbirds and the Resplendent Quetzal, tens of thousands of insect species (over 5000 species of moths) and 2,500 species of plants (including 420 of Costa Rica's orchid species, with most in the trees).

Horseback riding tours, mountain biking and ATV tours are ways to fully take in the jungle at ground floor. The sights and sounds are even more magical at the canopy level. For this reason, many of the canopy tours, even ziplines, allow you to stop along the way to observe and take photos – after all, the Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife refuges in the New World Tropics.


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Monteverde Cloud Forest Activities and Attractions

During your Costa Rica vacation and while visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest, it is highly recommended to participate in a canopy tour. Whether across the suspension bridges, on an aerial tram or via one of Costa Rica's famously fun ziplines, the canopy of Monteverde is not to be missed. Half of its flora and fauna live in the canopy, and many of these species are unique to the area.

The four Costa Rica operators that offer canopy tours in Monteverde are Aventura Canopy Tour, Extreme Canopy Tour, Selvatura Canopy Tour and Sky Trek Canopy Tour. Here are few of the differences in the offerings:

Zip Lines  – Sky Trek offers the fastest (55 mph), longest (770 meters) and highest (150 meters) zip line rides. On Sky Trek's zipline the braking is mechanical so you don't need to worry about braking. Two of their cables are from tree platforms, and the other nine are from the ground and large towers. 

Tarzan Swing -  Aventura Canopy, Extreme Canopy and Selvatura Canopy let you play Tarzan. Your climbing harness is hooked to a rope, and then you leap from a tower into a free fall, swinging over the valley to a tree platform. Be sure someone has a camera ready!

Suspension Bridges – Selvatura, Aventura and Sky Trek all have a series of suspension bridges that lead you through the forest canopy in a 3-kilometer loop. Only Sky Trek and Selvatura have bridges (and zip lines) in primary Cloud Forest.  Sky Trek's Sky Walk includes six suspended bridges (the longest of which is about 800 feet (243 meters), high up in the canopy crossing deep canyons.
 
San Luis Waterfalls

Approximately a three-hour hike from downtown Santa Elena and nestled deep in a valley, is one of Costa Rica's most impressive waterfalls. The waters drop over 100 meters, and a hike to the falls is an adventure in itself, but do prepare for slippery trails and insects. Riding by horseback is another way to visit the falls. It goes without saying - make sure you bring your camera.


Selvatura Park

A Costa Rica conservation area in Monteverde Cloud Forest protecting 850 acres, this area is host to the Selvatura canopy tours mentioned above as well as a butterfly garden, educational center, Hummingbird Garden and Reptile and Amphibian Exhibition. Within the last few years, there has been a great surge of interest in these and other zoological attractions as Costa Rica ecotourism continues to attract more and more visitors.


Santa Elena Cloud Forest

This 765-acre cloud forest borders the Monteverde Conservation area and offers 7 miles (12 kms) of trails and a canopy observation tower. From here you can view the very active Arenal Volcano, as well as Lake Arenal if visability is good. The Santa Elena Cloud Forest offers similar habitat and wildlife to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, but the hiking trails here are less populated with humans. Guided tours and night jungle tours are available. The Santa Elena Cloud Forest is at a slightly higher elevation than the Monteverde Cloud Forest, meaning more mist and moisture.
 
Costa Rica travelers may encounter more than 400 bird species, 121 mammal species, 140 reptiles and amphibians and more than 2000 vascular plants in the Santa Elena Reserve. This cloud forest is best known for the three-wattled bellbird, resplendent quetzal, black-faced solitares, howler monkeys and hummingbirds (feeders line the entry path). Quetzals are best viewed in the Santa Elena Reserve from December to July.

While the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is not a national park, it is one of the first community administered reserves in the country and is under the protection of the Arenal Conservation Area. The town of Santa Elena, just 6 kilometers from the Santa Elena Cloud Forest is a great place to stop after working up appetite from hiking. Here you'll find a great selection of restaurants, offering everything from regional cuisine to pizza.

Monteverde Cheese Factory Tour

This tour allows you to learn about the history of the Monteverde Quaker community, as well as their booming dairy industry. In the 1950's Quaker families escaping the Korean war draft settled in this peace loving country. Monteverde was chosen by these dairy farmers for its cool climate.  Over half a century later the Quaker traditions continue and the resulting bilingual culture of progressive Monteverde is strength in serving the nature-loving Costa Rica tourists who visit the area.

The Quakers influenced the preservation of the Monteverde Cloud Forest by donating the land that now makes up most of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and the Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde, a non-profit reserve and major Costa Rica attraction. The rise in tourism created jobs that were filled by many Costa Ricans who then moved to the area. Today Quakers and Costa Ricans make up most of the region's population, and the area features both North American and Costa Rican culture.

Travel Tips

There is so much to do in the Monteverde area that it is advisable to plan on spending at least as few days to be able to take it al in. Temperatures in Monteverde range from 59 to 77 degree Fahrenheit (15 to 22 degrees Celsius), and annual rainfall averages around 117 inches (3,000 mm).  Bird watching is wonderful throughout the year, but the best time is during March through April nesting season.

When packing for a Costa Rica vacation that includes the Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forests, be sure to bring pants, good walking shoes and a light jacket or sweater. It would also be wise to bring sunscreen, a rain poncho, binoculars and a camera. Because the canopy tours keep groups sizes low, it's best to book in advance, especially if you plan to travel to Costa Rica in July, August and from December till May.

Barra Honda National Park  

Having more than 40 limestone caverns, this park has gained popularity with spelunkers. Some caves being over 780 feet deep gets its fair share of climbers, who descend the vertical entrances by means of climbing gear and rappelling down into the caverns. Tour guides have protected these caverns well, making them a favorite of responsible spelunkers. These Costa Rica caves are open throughout the dry season. Hiking is another option where you can explore the tropical dry forest and view wildlife including howler monkeys, deer, raccoons, anteaters and countless other species.


Travel Tips

Liberia, the capital of Costa Rica's Guanacaste province, offers a convenient gateway for Costa Rica tourists to the sunny Gold Coast beaches thanks to an international airport and several rental car agencies. The small city is located a short distance inland from Tamarindo.

The favorite Costa Rica vacation region of the "Gold Coast" has a dry season from November through part of May. The rain steadily increases through the months that follow until from September to November, the peninsula is transformed into a lush rainforest. Temperatures during the rainy season can drop to 71°F (22ºC) and in the dry season, temperatures can reach 97°F (36ºC). When making your Costa Rica travel plans, plan for the varied weather.
Activities:
•    Golfing
•    Sportfishing
•    Surfing
•    Canopy Tours
•    Hot Springs
•    Wildlife Fun/Sightseeing
•    Snorkeling
•    Scuba Diving

A Costa Rica vacation to the Central Pacific Region offers incredible scenic beauty and an abundance of fun activities from surfing and sport fishing to canopy tours and scenic golf courses. One of the most visited National parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonia, is located here. In this postcard perfect Central Pacific region, jungle blanketed mountains teeming with wildlife meet long stretches of white sand beaches and rocky coastlines, making this one of the most scenic Costa Rica trips on any itinerary.
Costa Rica Travel Tips (Central Pacific Region)

Because the Central Pacific region is more mountainous than Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, it provides a dryer climate. However, still plan on bringing a rain jacket just in case, and if your Costa Rica vacation includes other regions as well, be sure to bring a variety of clothing. As always, when planning to travel to any of our best beach vacation destinations, it's smart to book ahead to avoid sell-outs and letting you get the most out of your Costa Rica Vacation.
Activities:
•    Hiking
•    Sport Fishing
•    Horseback Riding
•    ATV
•    Canyoning/Canyoneering
•    Golf
•    Suring
•    Snorkeling
•    Rafting
•    Wildlife Fun/Sightseeing

The Southern Pacific Region of Costa Rica, where tropical forested mountains meet the sea offers some of the best eco tours in the world. Some of the reasons being the Corcovado National Park and Hacienda Baru National Park, where there are many tours available that allow you to experience what a true Costa Rica vacation should be about.  If you like to combine adventure with nature viewing, include this area in your Costa Rica travel plans.

Many Costa Rica travelers include a canopy tour while on vacation and are able to view the wildlife that live high up in the Costa Rica tree tops. There's good reason that one out of four Costa Rica vacations include a canopy tour – zip lines, tree climbing or hiking across hanging bridges, it's fun to hang out with the monkeys! Want to check out the nightlife? Take a jungle night tour!

If you visit the Southern Pacific Region while on your Costa Rica vacation, it offers the fun adventure  of white water kayaking trips, combining the excitement of white water with wildlife viewing. Sea kayaking to the impressive caves of Marino Ballena National Park is also another exciting activity that will make your Costa Rica vacation even more enjoyable.

If the challenge of sport fishing is what gets you going, Golfito's the key. The area of Drake Bay has become the premier destination for many anglers while on their Costa Rica vacation. Those of you who would rather peer through a diving mask will find great adventure diving here. Whatever your adventure, the Southern Pacific Coast is sure to please.
Dominical

Marino Ballena National Park

The Marino Ballena National Park, also called Whale Park, is a major attraction with its protected coral reef and pristine, scenic beaches. If your Costa Rica travel is taking place anytime from April to December, when humpbacks mate and give birth, you can enjoy a whale watching tour. Throughout the year, sea kayaking tours are available (perfect for families) as well as snorkeling or diving tours that explore the coral reefs. Dominical also offers whitewater kayaking tours through class l, ll and lll rapids on the Terraba River.

Osa Peninsula  and The Corcovado National Park

The Osa Peninsula offers pristine rainforests and rugged natural beauty. The peninsula is home to many of the country’s rare and endangered animals and bird species including the puma, jaguar, Harpy Eagle and Scarlet Macaw. Bird watching and wildlife viewing are a pure delight in this area. Declared one of the most biologically intense places on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, the Osa Peninsula along with Drake Bay have become the premier ecotourism destination for Costa Rica vacations. 

Corcovado National Park protects a large percent of the Osa Peninsula, including the single largest expanse of a lowland tropical rainforest in Central America and one of the tallest rainforests in the world. A hiking tour guide is vital here, not just for the knowledge (and directions) you will gain but because living in Corcovado is Costa Rica’s most deadly snake, the extremely aggressive Fer-de-lance. One of the most remote parks in the country, Corcovado National Park is worth a look around.

Cabo Matapalo 

Resting on the Osa Peninsula's southernmost tip, this small surfing town is among the most beautiful and remote areas in Costa Rica. While the surf break is a bit inconsistent, the swells are pretty decent. One of the most pristine places in Costa Rica, the village offers inclusive hotels and resorts. Most planning for Costa Rica trips to this area are done so because of the close proximity to the Corcovado National Park and the adventure diving at Isla del Caño (see Drake Bay). Driving here in the rainy season can be treacherous, so make sure you take this into consideration when planning your Costa Rica vacation.

Golfito and Puerto Jimenez

A tropical hideaway, Golfito sits across from the Osa Peninsula on the Golfo Dulce.  A typical bus ride from San Jose to here takes 8 or more hours, and there is the Golfito Domestic Airport if you want to fly in. Many Costa Rica travelers use Golfito as a stopover before heading to the stunning beaches of Playa Zancudo, Pavones, and Piedras Blancas National Park.

A remote and secluded region of the country, the amenities are rustic, but it is a place of incredible tranquility and beauty. However, not so tranquil is the fishing. Golfito is paradise to those who want to do some sport fishing on their Costa Rica vacation. Here one can land sailfish, blue marlin, dorado, roosterfish, barracuda, snook, tuna and many others.

Drake Bay and Sierp de Osa

The main attraction of Drake Bay is the biological reserve of Isla del Caño. One of most well known and most inaccessible destinations in the Southern Pacific region, Drake Bay can only be reached by boat and has only a small offering of lodges – most run on solar power generators, making them true eco lodges. The waters off this tiny island offer some of the very best snorkeling and scuba diving in Costa Rica. Rated by Skin Diver magazine as among the best diving spots in the world and one of the world's newest hot spots for adventure diving.

Isla del Cano is not for the inexperienced diver or the faint of heart because not only will you get to swim with pretty tropical fish, playful dolphins and gentle whales, you'll also be swimming among white tip sharks that may average 6-10 feet! Diving guides assure us that because this is a reserve there are plenty of smaller and tastier fry to keep the sharks' tummies full.

Snorkeling on the surface is preferred by those not looking for shark encounters. Horseback riding on the beaches and excellent sport fishing off the coast are also popular activities at Drake Bay. If you're into nature, take advantage of the fantastic bird watching opportunities, as well as hiking trails that lead to beautiful remote beaches.


Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge

Billed as the best ecotourism spot in Costa Rica, the refuge protects 815 acres of a variety of habitats and offers a wide array of eco tours, including canopy tours for every type of Costa Rica traveler. Adventurers can let an electric winch carry them up over 100 feet to a wildlife observation platform or they can use climbing equipment and scale an enormous, 109-foot rainforest tree. Experience the lacy green world of the canopy by day or take a night jungle tour and see the nocturnal wildlife.