Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica: 17 Places, Ranked by How Many Guides Name Them

The places, most named first

From the 8 guides that rank for "best places to visit in costa rica"

Named by 5 of 81. La Fortuna and Arenal VolcanoAlajuela, Costa RicaViews of Arenal Volcano, waterfalls and hot springs make it a first-timer pick.Activities include ziplining, hot springs, ATVs and day trips.
Named by 4 of 82. MonteverdePuntarenas, Costa RicaA cloud forest reserve with hanging bridges, at 4,500 feet elevation.Drier from December to April, which is also high season.
Named by 3 of 83. Manuel AntonioPuntarenas, Costa RicaWhite-sand beaches and a national park full of wildlife.Very crowded from December to April; May, June and November are quieter.
Named by 2 of 84. TamarindoGuanacaste, Costa RicaA social beach town for surfing, sunsets and day trips.One of the many beaches in Guanacaste.
Named by 2 of 85. San JoséCosta RicaA good first stop for culture, food and day trips, especially when flying in or out.The capital has some of the country's best museums.
Named by 2 of 86. TortugueroLimón, Costa RicaA Caribbean-coast island reached by boat, with canals on one side and the sea on the other.Called one of the country's best destinations on the Caribbean coast.
Named by 2 of 87. Cahuita National ParkLimón, Costa RicaExplored only on foot, on a marked trail that is 5 miles one way.Known for black-sand beaches.
8. GuanacasteCosta RicaOne of the most popular tourist areas, on the northwest Pacific coast.Santa Rosa National Park has ten habitats, including mangroves and savannas.
9. Puerto ViejoLimón, Costa RicaA Caribbean-coast town with beaches, wildlife tours and restaurants, 20 minutes from Cahuita.
10. MontezumaPuntarenas, Costa RicaA relaxed beach town known for waterfalls and jungle trails.
11. Santa TeresaPuntarenas, Costa RicaA busy surf town with nightlife and sunset views.
12. Uvita and Marino Ballena National ParkPuntarenas, Costa RicaPacific-coast beaches and jungle; the park has a whale-tail sandbar.
13. Rio Celeste and Tenorio VolcanoGuanacaste, Costa RicaBest visited on the way between La Fortuna and Liberia; arrive early.
14. Bajos del ToroAlajuela, Costa RicaAn area of seven waterfalls north of San José.
15. Poás VolcanoAlajuela, Costa RicaAn active volcano less than an hour from San José, with a crater lagoon.
16. Punta UvaLimón, Costa RicaA quiet Caribbean beach a few kilometers from Puerto Viejo.
17. Peninsula de OsaPuntarenas, Costa RicaDense jungle on the Osa Peninsula.