Why I love Costa Rica

“The night I moved to Costa an expat in a bar congratulated me. ‘The best part,’ she said, ‘is you can do anything here.’ She wasn’t talking about traveling the entire country, undertaking extreme adventures or attending a Christmas party in a bikini (but yeah, done all that). She meant that people here have the time, freedom and permission to truly live. Want to sleep in a shack and surf constantly? Do it. Want to...” Read More

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Ashley Harrell
Writer

Top experiences in Costa Rica

Recent articles

Go out on a limb: Costa Rica's best tree houses

Sleeping in a tree house is the best, maybe because it is something different, or maybe because the human subconscious understands that a few million years ago it was something normal. Even after our arboreal ancestors stopped living in trees, they still climbed up to sleep because it felt safe.

Lately a lot of places around the world are seeing renewed interest in tree houses, and Costa Rica – with its vast stretches of primary forest and ubiquitous, durable hardwoods – is no exception. These days, visitors are opting to sleep in tree houses not just because it’s awesome, but also because they care about forest conservation. When a tree generates more income standing than felled, people have incentive to keep it alive.
Ashley Harrell
Lonely Planet Writer

Traveling Costa Rica with kids

Costa Rica is a family travel playground, specializing in big adventures guaranteed to get your kid’s heart pumping; whether you are zipping through the leafy canopy or spying a lazy sloth, this little dynamo of a country offers a plethora of fun experiences that every family member can enjoy. We've come up with a list of recommendations sure to wow both kids and parents alike.

Costa Rica's rainforests are some of the most stunning in the world, but sometimes navigating it on foot just doesn't do the trick – get a bird’s-eye view instead. The country’s first zip-line, the Original Canopy Tour, is in Monteverde, but nowadays there are canopy tours all over the country. Not all zip-lines can accommodate small children (under 120 cm or six years old), but many do (Selvatura, Monteverde Theme Park, Arenal Paraíso Canopy Tour).  Kids can zip across the cables while attached to a guide, so they don’t have to worry about controlling their own speed.
Mara Vorhees
Lonely Planet Writer

Osa Peninsula: A guide to Costa Rica's most intrepid corner

Jutting into the sea at the southern end of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, the Osa Peninsula remains one of the country’s most remote destinations. That said, this wild region is worth the trip: explore the vast rainforest that shelters Costa Rica's largest remaining population of jaguars and tapirs, surf the cerulean waves along the peninsula’s southern point, or take a boat ride through its enormous expanse of mangroves.

The coastline of the Osa Peninsula © Mint Images - Frans Lanting / Getty Images
Anna Kaminski
Lonely Planet Writer
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Travel guides

Starting at €22.95

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Costa Rica adventures

€1299 Nature & wildlife

Costa Rica Adventure

If you’re looking for a taste of Costa Rica’s world-class highlights but want to keep things spicy with a sampling of hidden treasures, this action-packed adventure tops the menu. In spite of its small size, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world – explore its volcanoes, wildlife, rainforests and beaches. This adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time. Optional activities abound – choose to get your adrenaline pumping or take it easy with a stroll through a butterfly garden.
€120.13 Sightseeing tours

Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Day Trip from San Jose

Experience Costa Rica’s world-renowned Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs on this exciting full-day trip from San Jose. Feel the rush of adrenaline as you visit Arenal Volcano National Park and view one of the most active volcanoes in the western hemisphere! Enjoy a complimentary lunch and spend time relaxing in the thermal region’s rejuvenating hot springs. Then, indulge in a gourmet dinner as you continue admiring the stunning Arenal Volcano – a truly unforgettable experience! Receive personal attention on this small-group tour, limited to 20 people.Combine adrenaline and relaxation as you view Arenal Volcano and soak in Baldi Hot Springs on this rejuvenating day trip from San Jose! Your expert local guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Arenal Volcano National Park. En route to La Fortuna, stop for approximately 30 minutes in the artisan town of Sarchi, where you’ll have an opportunity to admire the colorful oxcarts or shop for souvenirs.When you reach the park, experience the thundering Arenal Volcano from a safe viewing area. Since a major eruption in 1968, this stratovolcano has been one of the most active in Costa Rica, with mild and nearly continuous explosive activity from the conical crater, whose summit reaches an elevation of 5,436 feet (1,657 meters). As you watch for any lava flows, clouds of smoke or ash, your guide will share information about the park’s thermal features.After your thrilling show, enjoy a complimentary lunch at the Arenal Volcano Inn Resort or La Perla Restaurant. Spend your afternoon soaking in the region’s rejuvenating thermal baths and mineral pools at Baldi Hot Springs Hotel and Spa. This family-friendly spa consists of several therapeutic pools of varying temperature, allowing people of all ages to steep in relaxation.Later, enjoy a gourmet dinner under the stars at the hot springs and continue admiring one of the world's most active volcanoes!
€91.48 Other

Sarapiqui River Sightseeing Cruise and Zipline Canopy Tour from San Jose

Admire scenic views as you travel to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui for a full-day riverboat trip and canopy adventure! Swing through the treetops of the Central American rainforest and enjoy a unique perspective of Costa Rica on a day trip from San Jose.After pickup from your San Jose hotel in the morning, begin your 1.5-hour journey to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui with your naturalist guide and pass through one of the most famous national parks in Costa Rica.Once you arrive, discover Costa Rica's beautiful tropical wildlife on a riverboat trip. Enjoy views of the magnificent rainforest on a 2-hour boat ride along the water, and look out for forest inhabitants such as toucans, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and more!Arrive at the private reserve, where you’ll have the choice to horseback ride or hike up to the canopy. After receiving a safety briefing from your naturalist guide, embark on your canopy adventure. Using a special system of steel cables and professional climbing gear, you’ll roam through the treetops and leap from platform to platform in the tropical rainforest. No experience required for this unique experience! After an adrenaline-packed two hours, enjoy a home-style lunch at the private reserve before relaxing on a scenic drive back to San Jose.
€81.31 Sightseeing tours

Poas Volcano, Doka Coffee Estate and Sarchi Arts and Craft

Take a full day to explore the natural and cultural attractions of Costa Rica! Visit a still-active volcano at Poas Volcano National Park and a family-owned coffee plantation at the Doka Estate before stopping in the historical artisan city of Sarchi. This eventful day trip from San Jose, which includes a peek at Botos Lake (Laguna Boas), offers an adrenaline rush mixed with a good dose of Costa Rican culture.Situated in the middle of Poas Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Poás) is the still-smoking and gurgling Poas Volcano. This majestic and imposing crater, which stands at an elevation of 8,900 feet (2,713 meters), allows you to enjoy a magnificent view of the park’s 16,000 acres (6,474 hectares) and the central valley beyond. Your guide will take you to a lookout platform near the edge of the 950-foot-deep (290-meter-deep) main volcanic crater, which remains active with small geyser and lava eruptions. After watching the fumarole activity, head to Botos Lake to see the beautiful green lake that now fills the inactive Botos crater.After the steamy sights of Poas Volcano National Park, visit the Doka Estate, located in the coffee capital of Costa Rica. You’ll be guided through all the stages of making some of Costa Rica’s best quality coffee at this estate where coffee production has been passed down in the Vargas Ruiz family for more than 70 years. As you tour the roasting plant, learn about the ideal climate and rich soil of the fertile volcanic slopes that cultivate the grains. You will have the opportunity to closely observe and understand how a first-choice bean turns into a fabulous cup of coffee.After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the town of Sarchi, the artisan center of Costa Rica. The charming town boasts more than 200 shops and family-operated factories that produce a variety of wooden goods. Don’t miss out on the construction and elaborate painting of the carretas, oxcarts traditionally used to carry coffee down from the highlands.
€519 Nature & wildlife

Essential Costa Rica Independent Adventure

Hit two of Costa Rica's signature spots: First, head for the outdoor adventure playground around Arenal Volcano and take advantage of everything from world-class rafting to relaxing in volcano-heated hot springs. Next, head to the beaches of Guanacaste, Costa Rica's northwest coast, known for dry sunny weather all year round, killer surf and beaches that stretch for miles.
€91.48 Sightseeing tours

Waterfall Canopy Zipline Tour at Adventure Park Costa Rica

Feel your adrenaline soar as you zoom across 25 zipline cables and over 11 waterfalls at Adventure Park Costa Rica! In a country known for its zipline tours, you’ll get a unique experience as you travel not only high above the rainforest floor, but also over gushing waterfalls and a hanging bridge, upping the thrill factor. With experienced guides to lead the way, you’ll enjoy personalized attention on this small-group tour, limited to a maximum of 10 participants.
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