Tourist Attractions of Costa Rica

The tourist attractions of Costa Rica draw visitors from all over the world year after year, and it’s no wonder: Costa Rica attractions include some of the most gorgeous white and black sand beaches in the world, amazing national parks that are home to some of the world’s rarest and most fascinating species of animals, active volcanoes surrounded by mountains and forests full of rare birds, and thriving metropolitan areas like the beautiful capital city of San Jose.

Costa Rica offers something for everyone, and more than a few surprises along the way. Most travelers arrive by plane in the capital city of San Jose, where they can spend their first night exploring city’s varied cuisine and shopping, and enjoying the cosmopolitan neighborhoods of a great international hub.

Most San Jose hotels will happily help visitors to plan an itinerary of tourist attractions of Costa Rica and can also make travel arrangements and call ahead for accommodations.

A popular first stop is Arenal National Park, where visitors can hike the trails on and around volcanic Mount Arenal and see old lava flows close up. The Mount Arenal observatory is a popular destination, and the nearby LaFortuna waterfall is another dramatic and beautiful Arenal natural wonder that continues to be one of the more popular tourist attractions of Costa Rica.

After visiting the falls and hiking Mount Arenal, many travelers go on to spend some time at the legendary beaches on the Pacific coast. Santa Rosa National Park at the northern tip of the Pacific coast is beautiful and secluded, but down south a bit farther are the white sand beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula, tourist attractions of Costa Rica that draw surfers, fishermen, and sun worshipers from every part of the globe year round.

Near the middle of the western Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio National Park offers a fabulous mix of wildlife (including lots of monkeys and exotic birds), jungle flora and fauna, and family-friendly beaches. Of all the tourist attractions of Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular for families with young children. Manuel Antonio is a Costa Rica destination that offers a little something for everyone.

Nature lovers will appreciate the eastern coast and the Tortuguero Village Canals. The Tortuguero nature preserve is one of the tourist attractions of Costa Rica that continues to attract ecologists and backpackers because it is home to wildlife found nowhere else on earth, including sea turtles (which have come there to nest for centuries), as well as three-toed sloths, howler monkeys, and green Macaws. A trip through the Tortuguero canals is like a mini-cruise down the Amazon.

The tourist attractions of Costa Rica will keep any traveler busy for as long as a vacation lasts. In fact, most travelers never get to see everything they wanted to see, but that OK. After all, that’s just a good excuse to back! Come once and you’ll understand why so many people come back again and again and again.