Top Highlights: Don't miss these
1. San José and Surroundings
San José, the capital city, is a lively cosmopolitan city and has a lot to offer. A tour through San José will take you through residential and business areas. You will see the cathedral and the main post office building among others and visit the National Theater, a masterpiece with influence of the Renaissance style built at the end of the last century, and one of the main museums; the old Bella Vista fortress, where the abolition of the army took place in 1948, converted into the National Museum, the Gold or the Jade Museum and see the University o Costa Rica, the largest in the country with more than 35.000 students.
2. Poás Volcano
Drive through urban and rural areas. At 2.700 m (8910 ft) above sea level, admire the Poás Volcano known to be the largest geyser in the world. Walk to Lagoon Botos, a former crater with exuberant volcanic vegetation. Discover the coffee plantations in the surroundings.
3. Tortuguero National Park
Drive to Limón, the Afro-Caribbean province of Costa Rica. Pass across the Braulio Carrillo Cloud Forest National Park and experience the weather, temperature and landscape variations. Up Siquirres, see many of the largest banana plantations. Near Matina, board the boat to Tortuguero. admire the great diversity of flora and fauna: sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, green turtles and more. Visit this rain forest with its 309 different bird species, its swamp forest and floating aquatic plants. Or hike to the Tortuguero Hill and enjoy the beautiful view. Visit the small town and the Green Turtle information Center.
4. Arenal Volcano
Observe one of the world's most impressive volcanoes. After sleeping quietly for 400 years, the Arenal erupted with tremendous force in 1968. It continued to erupt in a smaller scale until 2010. See, on clear days, the near perfect cone shape of the volcano and enjoy the hot springs in the surroundings.
5. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Monteverde is a 10.000 ha (24.710 acres) private preserve, which is always cold and humid thanks to the rain clouds coming from the Caribbean. Exuberant forest area with trees covered with moss and ferns that protect the home of the red and blue frogs and the resplendent quetzal (one of the 400 kinds of birds to be found here). In the 1950's, a small group of farmers that belong to the "Quaker" community founded Monteverde, which is today a charming little town with a friendly atmosphere. Select among a visit to the butterfly garden, or the serpentarium or the exotic orchids garden.
6. Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
Ride across the Central Valley and descend the San Ramón Mountains. Continue through the beautiful pampa until Liberia. Ascend through a secondary road. Visit the Rincón de la Vieja National Park that, with its 14.084 ha (35.210 acres), comprises an active strate Volcano. Nature is diverse with giant trees and offers more than 257 bird species. See an area of intense volcanic activity known as Las Pailas, which covers approximately 50 ha, and consists of hot springs and solfataric lakes. Or in "Azufrales" enjoy small pools with hot springs and also a site with refreshing waterfalls. Visit also the incredible red deep hole at river Blanco.
7. Corcovado National Park
This 41.788 ha (103.258 acres) National Park is a virgin forest where you will admire the incredible flora and fauna. The wildlife of Corcovado is as rich and varied as its plant life, which is also protected by a freshwater herbaceous swamp known as Corcovado Lagoon, which covers over 1000 ha thick with shrubs and grasses. There are 8 main habitats, more than 500 species of trees, 140 of mammals and 367 of birds in this park. It protects the jaguar (panther) and the largest population of scarlet macaws (ara macao) in the country. It is considered an excellent refuge for wildlife.
8. Papagayo Gulf
Enjoy the beaches in the Gulf of Papagayo.
9. Irazú Volcano National Park
Drive through dairy farms and vegetable plantations. Enjoy the view of the crater of the Irazú Volcano, the highest in the country with its moonlike landscape.
10. Manuel Antonio National Park
Guided visit to the National Park (closed on Mondays). This is a perfect combination for nature lovers. Discover the rain forest in this unique National Park and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio. There are four especially interesting features in the Park. The first is the “tómbolo” on Cathedral Point, which communicates the ancient Cathedral Island to the mainland. The second is the blowhole at Escondido Port. Thirdly, Serrucho Point, a deeply eroded cliff that
looks like a saw and has sea caves. The fourth is the pre-Columbian underwater turtle trap. Observe innumerable tiny fish at low tide. There are many different habitats, 109 registered species of mammals and 184 bird species.
looks like a saw and has sea caves. The fourth is the pre-Columbian underwater turtle trap. Observe innumerable tiny fish at low tide. There are many different habitats, 109 registered species of mammals and 184 bird species.