Travel in Costa Rica is straight forward and there are options for all types of travelers. Costa Rica is a travel destination that has many tourist hot spots which have services such as accommodations, eateries, restaurants, cafes, banks and Internet. The buses are inexpensive and connect most locations. There are also plenty of car rental agencies. It's easy to find a qualified guide for sporting activities, nature tours, fishing, scuba diving or hiking. There are many schools for learning language, surfing, yoga, martial arts and so on. Combine these services with the vast ecology of Cost Rica and most will come to see how terrific it is to travel in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica travel destinations

The following is a list of popular destinations in Costa Rica and provides links to destination information.

• Arenal Volcano and the route to this volcano is one of Costa Rica's premier destinations. The volcano is still active and explodes almost on a daily basis.
• Chirripo National Park is Costa Rica's principal mountain park and offers a hike to its peak.
• Coco Beach or Playa del Coco is the easiest beach to access from Liberia. It is named for the cocoa-colored sand and is a Tico party destination.
• Corcovado National Park is an ecologically diverse area with an abundance of wildlife and marine life. It's remote but worth the effort.
• Drake Bay is located between the jungle of Corcovado National Park and the waters of Drake Bay. The two towns in this bay make a good base to explore the Osa Peninsula.
• Dominical is a popular surfing destination and has not yet been developed into a resort. It has a laid-back scene ideal for relaxing.
• Flamingo is a beach destination where packaged tourists and sportfishers frequent. It has a white-sand shoreline and is a highly developed tourist destination.
• Golfito is a fading town where sportfishers can find good sailfishing.
• Hermosa is a quite beach community near Jaco and offers some good waves for advanced surfers.
• Irazu Volcano National Park has Costa Rica's highest volcano and offers a view of both the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts.
• Jaco is a surfers destination with many international retirees. This close-to- San Jose beach community offers an abundance of services.
• Limon is a port city but not particularly targeted at tourists. However, travelers can enjoy the genuine conditions of this unique town.
• Mal Pais is a surf destination and is nearly adjoined to neighboring Santa Teresa. There are three local beaches for surfing.
• Manzanillo is on the Caribbean and is an idyllic village with a pristine coastline. This village is vastly different from its northern neighbor Puerto Viejo where nightlife prevails.
• Matapalo is one of the best surf destinations in Costa Rica. This destinations is still off-the-beaten-path and has some basic but good services.
• Montezuma is a laid-back destination with some great services and lovely beaches.
• Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica's most popular national parks with spectacular scenery and fabulous beaches.
• Monteverde Cloud Forest is Costa Rica's most popular cloud forest reserve and offers some of the best wildlife and bird viewing in Central America.
• Nosara is a village in a beautiful area with attractive beaches and offers some great services for the size of the village.
• Ocotal is a small beach near Playa del Coco but does not have a town. It's possible to rent a privately owned villa.
• Osa is the name of the peninsula where Corcovado National Park is located. It is biologically intense and on of the most picturesque spots in Costa Rica.
• Papagayo is a resort area located on the Golfo de Papagayo about 3-km (1.9 mi) north of Playa Hermosa which is close to Liberia. This area has been slated for high-end resort and condo development.
• Pavones is a legendary surfing destination where the sandy beaches are lined with palms. This destination offers modern services and amenities and is losing its off-the-beaten-path designation.
• Playa Conchal is north of Tamarindo and is regarded as Costa Rica's most beautiful beach. It's a great spot for snorkeling.
• Playa Grande is a national park protecting turtles, especially the leatherback but it's also a surf destination.
• Playa Negra is a popular surfing destination and is only 15-km (9 mi) south of Tamarindo. The beaches are not crowded.
• Poas is Costa Rica's most visited volcano national park. Visitors can look into an active volcano without hiking to the top.
• Puerto Viejo is a Caribbean dream destination with perfect beaches. The village has a laid-back atmosphere. There is good nightlife and an abundance of restaurants.
• Punta Leona is a refuge which is located just north of Jaco. It has one of the last remaining forests in the transitional zone between the rainforests of the southwest and the dry forests of the northwest.
• Quepos is a town near Manuel Antonio National Park and offers an abundance of amenities and services.
• Samara is a village located south of Nosara and is nearly perfect. Samara offers reasonable development, accommodations and services and would make a great vacation destination.
• San Jose is Costa Rica's capital city and has the country's major national airport. It has some interesting sights but beware of the growing crime rate.
• Santa Teresa is nearly combined with Mal Pais and is almost one large city. There is a surf area and offers surf culture and lifestyle.
• Sarchi is a crafts center targeted at tourists but still has charm. the traditional ox-cart is in use around the country and seen at this center.
• Tabacon Hot Springs are located in La Fortuna on the Arenal Route. The lovely waterfall is warm and located on a spot where the volcanic eruption passed through in 1975.
• Tamarindo is a hot spot surfer's destination and has some well-developed services and amenities. Nearby is the Marine Leatherback National Park where turtles and surfing are the key attractions.
• Tortuguero National Park is located on the Caribbean coast and is a park made up of coastal rainforest where a maze of canals are the main attraction.
• Uvita is a small village about 15-km (9 mi) south of Dominical. There are some good accommodation which could be a base while exploring nearby Marine Whale National Park.

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Why travel to Costa Rica? About Costa Rica.