Costa Rica's main attractions are its people, beaches, volcanoes, rainforests, national parks of intense bio-diversity...

 Costa Rica is a country of extraordinary natural beauty; its beaches, volcanoes, rainforests and national parks of intense bio-diversity, all provide an ideal playground for a wide variety of outdoor activities and adventure sports. Besides recreational appeal, the country's peaceful culture, friendly people and congenial climate continue to draw visitors from all over the world.

 Beach and Water Activities in Costa Rica

Surfing is the most popular water sport in Costa Rica; all along the Pacific coast you can find many beaches with the perfect waves, among which the most popular surfing spots are Tamarindo, Langosta, Negra, Guiones, Jaco, Hermosa, Dominical and Pavones.

Deep sea fishing, diving and white water rafting are the top adventure sports in Costa Rica. Boat tours to small outlying islands for snorkeling and picnicking, kayaking or canoeing through mangrove swamps and marine caves, cruising out to watch whales and dolphins are the popular guided tours. One of the most memorable experiences for beach bound vacationers in Costa Rica is the spectacle of marine turtles nesting on our friendly shores.

Costa Rica National Parks Activities

There are more than fifty national parks, wildlife or biological reserves in Costa Rica and most of them offer nature trails, observation points and naturalist guides. Zip-line tours across the rainforest canopy are extremely popular; for the less adventurous however, birdwatching and observing wildlife are both exciting and educational. In the National Parks, nature walks on marked trails can be self-guided or accompanied by a guide. For a full list and more details on national parks please visit About Costa Rica - Biodiversity and National Parks.

Costa Rica Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest

At Arenal Lake and Volcano, you can enjoy a guided walk at the base of the volcano, soak in the hot springs, windsurf or cruise on the lake. Nearby in Monteverde, you will walk on suspension bridges through cloud forests, watch wildlife from tree-top level, horse-ride across beautiful countryside, visit cheese factories and coffee farms.

Costa Rica Central Valley Attractions

Archeological sites, indigenous preserves, plantations, fruit farms, historical cathedrals, mineral springs and waterfalls are among the popular places to visit in the inland regions surrounding San Jose, known as Sarapiqui, Turrialba and the Orosi Valley.

The Capital City of San Jose, Costa Rica

In the capital city, cultural excitements await: multi-ethnic cuisines, dozen of theatres, historical monuments, and museums of various themes ranging from indigenous art to jade, gold, contemporary designs, stamps and coins, natural science and popular culture. The National Museum and the National Theatre should not be missed. For shopping, San Jose features more than a dozen modern shopping malls and plazas. For the best range of crafts, souvenirs and gifts, head for the hillside town of Sarchi, about an hour northwest of San Jose.