Costa Rica Attractions

Recommended by Alex Robinson and Jeremy Snelling, our Costa Rica specialists · Updated October 2026

Things to Do in Costa Rica: National Parks, Volcanoes and Wildlife

Costa Rica protects around a quarter of its land in national parks and reserves, and it’s one of the easiest places in the world to see wildlife up close. In two weeks you can walk the hanging bridges at Arenal, look for quetzals in the Monteverde cloud forest, canoe the canals of Tortuguero and watch scarlet macaws fly over Corcovado.

These are the attractions our Costa Rica specialists recommend most. Alex Robinson is a travel journalist who has lived in Costa Rica and written about its forests for Wanderlust, and Jeremy Snelling is our Senior Travel Specialist for Latin America. Every experience can be arranged privately, with your own naturalist guide and driver, as part of a tailor-made Costa Rica holiday.

1. Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna

Arenal’s near-perfect cone rises above the plains of the north. It erupted in 1968 and stayed active until 2010, and it’s now in a resting phase, so you won’t see lava, but the area is full of things to do.

• Arenal Hanging Bridges: a trail of suspension bridges through the rainforest canopy, best early in the morning for birds, monkeys and sloths.
• Arenal Volcano National Park: walk over the 1968 lava flows, now covered in young forest, with views of the volcano and Lake Arenal.
• La Fortuna Waterfall: a 70-metre waterfall reached by around 500 steps, with a pool at the bottom for swimming.
• Hot springs: end the day in natural thermal pools heated by the volcano.

Where to stay: Lomas del Volcán, Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort or Arenal Paraíso.

2. Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park

About two hours north-west of Arenal, the Río Celeste is a river coloured bright sky blue by minerals where two streams meet. A forest trail leads to the Río Celeste waterfall and the bubbling pools where the colour begins. It makes a good day trip from Arenal or a stop on the way to Guanacaste.

3. Monteverde Cloud Forest

High on the Continental Divide, Monteverde’s forests are covered in moss, ferns and orchids and often wrapped in mist.

• Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: guided walks for resplendent quetzals, which are easiest to see from about February to May, as well as dozens of hummingbird species.
• Night walk: after dark, look for tarantulas, tree frogs, sleeping birds and sometimes sloths and kinkajous with a guide and torch.
• Coffee and chocolate farms: small family farms around Monteverde show you how beans are grown and roasted, with tastings.

Where to stay: Hotel Poco a Poco or Ficus Lodge. For waterfalls and cloud forest in a quieter area, add El Silencio Lodge & Spa in Bajos del Toro.

4. Tortuguero and Sarapiquí

Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast, has no roads. You arrive by boat or small plane and explore its canals by canoe.

• Tortuguero canals by canoe: early-morning paddles with a guide for caimans, river otters, monkeys, sloths, kingfishers and herons.
• Turtle nesting: green turtles nest on Tortuguero’s beach from about July to October. Night visits are only allowed with a licensed guide.
• Sarapiquí: on the way to or from Tortuguero, Sarapiquí’s lowland forests are excellent for birdwatching, poison dart frogs and night walks.
• White-water rafting on the Pacuare: one of Central America’s best rafting rivers, running through a forested gorge on the Caribbean side.

Where to stay: Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero, Tirimbina Lodge in Sarapiquí, or Selva Bananito Lodge in the Talamanca mountains.

5. Corcovado National Park and the Osa Peninsula

Corcovado protects one of the largest areas of lowland rainforest left on the Pacific coast of the Americas. It’s the best place in Costa Rica to see tapirs, all four of the country’s monkey species and scarlet macaws, and with luck a peccary herd or even a puma.

• Sirena Ranger Station: a full-day guided trip by boat to the heart of the park, with the best chance of seeing tapirs. All visitors to Corcovado must go with a certified guide.
• Caño Island: a marine reserve off Drake Bay with some of the best snorkelling and diving in Costa Rica.

Where to stay: Corcovado Wilderness Lodge or Drake Bay Wilderness Resort.

6. Marino Ballena and the Southern Pacific

Marino Ballena National Park, near Uvita, protects a sandbar shaped like a whale’s tail. Humpback whales come here to breed, from both the northern and southern hemispheres, so there are two whale-watching seasons: roughly July to October, and December to April.

7. Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica’s most popular national park combines rainforest trails with white-sand beaches. Sloths, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, toucans and iguanas are easy to see close to the paths.

• Guided walk: a naturalist with a telescope finds wildlife you would miss on your own. Go first thing, when the park opens at 7am.
• Tickets: numbers are limited and tickets must be booked online in advance. The park is closed on Tuesdays. We book your tickets and guide for you.

Where to stay: Hotel Playa Espadilla, next to the park entrance.

8. Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

The dry north-west is the place to end a trip on the beach. Nicoya is one of the world’s five Blue Zones, known for the long lives of its residents, with surf towns, quiet beaches and Rincón de la Vieja volcano inland for hiking and hot springs.

Costa Rica Attractions at a Glance

Seeing Wildlife Responsibly

We use certified local naturalist guides, who keep a respectful distance from animals and never feed or touch them. Your park fees help pay for Costa Rica’s protected areas, and many of the private reserves we visit are run by local families and conservation groups. Read more about our responsible travel approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to see wildlife in Costa Rica?

Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula has the greatest variety, including tapirs, scarlet macaws and all four of Costa Rica’s monkey species. Tortuguero is best for caimans, otters and nesting turtles, Monteverde for quetzals and hummingbirds, and Manuel Antonio for sloths and monkeys close to the trails. Most of our trips combine three or four of these.

Where can I see sloths in Costa Rica?

Sloths live in most of Costa Rica’s lowland and mid-altitude forests. Manuel Antonio, Arenal, Tortuguero and Sarapiquí are the most reliable places, and a guide with a telescope makes all the difference, as sloths move slowly and are well hidden high in the trees.

Do I need a guide in Costa Rica’s national parks?

A certified guide is required by law in Corcovado National Park. In other parks it isn’t required, but we strongly recommend one, as you will see far more wildlife. All our guides are local naturalists, and they carry telescopes so you can see animals up close.

Do I need to book national park tickets in advance?

Yes, for the most popular parks. Manuel Antonio limits daily visitor numbers, tickets must be bought online in advance and the park is closed on Tuesdays. Corcovado’s Sirena Station also has limited permits. We book all park tickets and guides as part of your holiday.

When can I see turtles nesting in Costa Rica?

Green turtles nest at Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast from about July to October. On the Pacific coast, olive ridley turtles nest at Ostional, sometimes in mass arrivals, mainly in the wet season. All night visits to nesting beaches are led by licensed guides.

When is the best time for whale watching in Costa Rica?

Humpback whales visit the southern Pacific coast twice a year: whales from the southern hemisphere roughly from July to October, and from the northern hemisphere from December to April. Marino Ballena National Park near Uvita and Drake Bay are the best places to see them.

Is Arenal volcano still active?

Arenal erupted in 1968 and was active for over 40 years, but it has been in a resting phase since 2010, so you won’t see lava. You can still walk on the old lava flows, enjoy the hot springs and see the volcano’s cone on clear days, which are most common early in the morning.

Plan Your Costa Rica Holiday

Most of these attractions fit into our 16-day Grand Costa Rican Tour: Coast to Coast or 17-day Costa Rica Wildlife Highlights itineraries, which we tailor around your interests and pace. Browse our Costa Rica hotels, or read our Costa Rica travel guide for practical advice. Costa Rica also combines well with Nicaragua, and suits our wildlife, family and adventure holidays. To start planning, request a video call with our Costa Rica specialists.