30 Best Things To Do In Costa Rica

If you are planning a trip to Central America and are looking for the best things to do in Costa Rica, you are in the right place. I have just returned from a second, epic trip to Costa Rica with my sister, and not a day went by that was not filled with adrenaline, nature, and lots of fun.

Costa Rica is a safe country packed with natural beauty: long, sandy beaches, thick forests, rivers and waterfalls, lots of wildlife, and more. Add to this the outstanding hospitality of people in Costa Rica (by and large, the friendliest, most generous people I have ever met) and their professionalism, and you have the perfect cocktail for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Curious to find out more? Then continue reading: I have selected the most fun things to do in Costa Rica based on my experience.

Disclaimer: my trip to Costa Rica was not sponsored. I paid for every single activity out of my pocket and I only recommend the companies and places that I feel offer an outstanding experience.

30 Fun Things To Do In Costa Rica

Explore Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park is definitely one of the top places to visit in Costa Rica. We visited at the very end of our trip and spent 3 full days exploring, and it was nothing short of amazing.

This National Park is hard to reach and very expensive to visit (our 3 days / 2 nights visit costed us around $650 USD), but once there you will definitely think that it is is worth the effort. 

Located in the Osa Peninsula, on the Pacific coast, this is one of the most diverse places on earth in terms of flora and fauna, and a paradise for anyone who loves wildlife and nature.

Getting to Corcovado National Park is no piece of cake. You will have to take a fast boat from either Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez; but you also have the option of hiking from Carare, which is about 1.5 hours drive from Puerto Jimenez.

Let me not sugar coat it for you: this is one of the hardest hikes you can do in your life (and let me add that I have hiked the Inca Trail!). While there is virtually no elevation gain, you will be walking for 20 km (12.4 miles), of which 7 (4.3 miles) will be along the beach.

That wouldn’t be so bad were it not for the fact that you have to carry your backpack the entire way, plus it is terribly hot and humid, and you constantly have to cross creeks and rivers. By the time we made it to La Sirena station, where we spent 2 nights and which we used as a base to further explore the park) we were exhausted!

You can visit Corcovado National Park on day trips from Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez, but to make the most of it I recommend spending at least a night there.

You can’t visit Corcovado National Park independently. You will need a permit and a guide (for this reason, it’s simply easier to book with a local tour company), and depending on when you are visiting you will have to book well in advance since the no more than 400 visitors are allowed daily. We went with Osa Wild and departed from Puerto Jimenez: our guide was Fraser and we couldn’t recommend him more!

If your starting point is Puerto Jimenez, you also have the option of booking this excellent 3-day- 2-night tour of Corcovado that includes admission fees to the park, all transportation, meals, accommodation, and obviously a guide.

If you are leaving from Drake Bay, you may want to consider this well-reviewed 2-day / 1-night tour or this other more comprehensive tour. Both of them are excellent options, but of course the 2-day tour allows you to visit the park a bit more in depth.

Make sure to wear and pack the appropriate gear for your Corcovado trip. Wear long sleeves and pants, and apply mosquito repellent. I suggest reading my post on what to pack for the jungle to have an idea of what to bring to Corcovado.

Admire wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica, and for a good reason. It’s significantly more accessible than Corcovado National Park, or Tortuguero National Park, and there is a great amount of wildlife, beaches and viewpoints that you can actually reach independently.

The main downside of Manuel Antonio is that may get crowded, so I recommend going in as soon as it opens. You can walk on the main trail to spot all the wildlife – even if you are alone, there are so many people on guided tours around that you won’t miss a thing.

Once done, you can hang out at the beach. There are two you can access easily. One is Playa Manuel Antonio, which tends to get more crowded; the other is Espadilla Beach, which is not as crowded but where the ocean currents are stronger.

Before you head out of the park, you can take the short trail that goes to a lovely small waterfall: this part of the park is not crowded at all, and very pleasant.

As the most popular park in Costa Rica, you need to plan your visit to Manuel Antonio and get tickets in advance. You can do that directly on the SINAC website – the site of National Parks in Costa Rica.

As I have explained, you can visit this park independently. A guide will definitely help you spot more wildlife and get a better of it. I recommend this 3-hour nature walk in Manuel Antonio. It does not include tickets to the park but you can specify in your booking whether you want the company to book them for you.

For more information, make sure to read my post A Complete Guide To Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica.

See turtles hatching in Tortuguero National Park

One of the top places to visit in Costa Rica is Tortuguero National Park, which is famous for turtle nesting and hatching. Green turtles nest along the beach of Tortuguero from July to October.

When we visited at the end of October, we were able to see the last few hatching and getting in the Caribbean Sea waters and it was a truly wonderful experience.

The National Park can be accessed on food from Tortuguero village, which on the other hand can only be accessed by boat from La Pavona. It can be a but of an ordeal getting there from San Jose, but definitely worth the effort.

I recommend joining this 3-day organized tour of Tortuguero from San Jose which takes away the hassle of planning your transportation, and includes accommodation and activities in Tortuguero, as well as all meals.

Once in Tortuguero, I recommend joining a boat tour – several depart early in the morning and are a great way to spot all sorts of wildlife. We saw various species of monkeys, birds and even sloths, crocodiles and much more during our tour.

If you are up for the workout, you may want to go kayaking to explore the area – it’s one of the nicest things to do in Costa Rica, especially in Tortuguero.

I recommend this highly-rated boat tour of Tortuguero. You will have a local guide with you on the boat who will help you spot all the wildlife in the area.

For more information on activities in Tortuguero, read out my post A Complete Guide To Tortuguero, Costa Rica.

Go on a night walk in Manuel Antonio (or other national parks)

A night tour is easily one of the top things to do in Costa Rica. We actually did two during our trip – one in Monteverde and one in Manuel Antonio, and each time we had a wonderful experience.

While you surely get to see a lot of animals during the day, many are night creatures and go out of their nests or are significantly more active after sunset. This is a great time to spot frogs, snakes, spiders, scorpions, and – for the lucky ones – even jaguars.

The great thing about night walks in Costa Rica is that it gets darks really early (between 5:30 and 6:00 pm) so you can do your night tour and still get back relatively early to have dinner.

Night walks are offered in many places in Costa Rica so you will be spoiled for choice. You will need a guide for this activity – first so that you don’t get lost, and secondly because unless you are an expert, you’ll need someone pointing the animals to you, and following their tracks.

For our night walk in Monteverde we went with a company called Kinkajou Night Walk and had a good experience. The tour lasted 2 hours and we saw lots of animals, including a kinkajou.

Our night walk in Manuel Antonio was led by Bernie of Nature Walks Costa Rica and it was simply outstanding. We had a reserve all to ourselves and we saw many varieties of frogs.

You could also consider this night walk in Manuel Antonio led by Jade Tours Costa Rica that comes highly recommended.

Go on a mangrove tour in Manuel Antonio

Mangrove forests are found in many places in Costa Rica. They are an essential part of this country’s natural environment. The best way to experience this intense habitat is on a kayak tour, during which you move around slowly and get to admire all sorts of wildlife too.

The best mangrove tours in Costa Rica are said to be in the Osa Peninsula. We did our tour in Isla Damas, near Quepos (the main town close to Manuel Antonio) with William Mangrove Tours, and truly enjoyed our experience.

You can review and book your mangrove kayak tour with William Mangrove Tours directly online. It’s the tour we took and we completely enjoyed the experience.

You can also try this mangrove kayaking tour that also includes transportation, snacks and lunch or dinner. It’s another highly reviewed option.

If you don’t feel like kayaking, you can also consider this boat tour in the mangrove forest. You will go through the mangroves at a nice, leisurely pace and the only thing you’ll need to worry about is taking photos!

Walk on the whale’s tail in Marino Ballena National Park

One of the coolest places to visit in Costa Rica is Marino Ballena National Park. Most people visit Uvita, where the national park is located – to go whale watching – the name of the park is a clear reference to that after all.

However, this is a seasonal activity: whale season goes from July to October and then again from December to April.

We visited in mid-November, and while we could not go whale watching, we still decided to explore Marino Ballena National Park. After visiting, I highly recommend it! The park is generally a great place to admire wildlife – for example, monkeys, bats, and much more.

You can also walk on Marino Ballena’s whale tail: it’s a rock and sand formation that, seen from the sky during low tide, looks like the tail of a whale. We got there as the tide was starting to change and it was still fun to explore.

Keep in mind the park – for which you can get tickets at the door – is made of various sectors. The most famous one is the one in Uvita, but you can also visit the others on the same day with the same ticket (provided you have a car).

For more detailed information you should read my post How To Visit Marino Ballena National Park. My post The Best Things To Do In Uvita will guide you to more activities in the area.

Snorkel or dive in Caño Island

Located in the northern part of the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica (the same area where Corcovado National Park is), and accessible from both Uvita and Drake Bay, Caño Island sits around 13 miles off the coast and is a wonderland for nature lovers, explorers, and adventurers.

Caño Island is a protected marine park, with fishing prohibited for three miles around it. The harvesting of marine life and collection of shells is also against the law. As such, the waters are full of coral, fish, and other sea creatures such as reef sharks, sting rays, turtles, and eels.

The area is highly protected and offers unique snorkeling and diving experiences, during which you get to see a variety of marine life including sting rays, moraines, various species of fish, and two different kinds of marine turtles – it’s one of the best things to do in Costa Rica.

There only is a rangers’ station on the island and a small trail that leads to two flush toilets and a panoramic spot. There also is an indigenous cemetery, but only researchers can visit, after having acquired permission from the local authorities.

We went to Caño Island on a snorkeling tour that departed from Uvita and was operated by Pacific Expeditions, one of the most reputable local tour companies. The tour includes pick up, snorkeling equipment, a group of extremely professional guides who will also take photos and share them with you at the end of the tour, snacks and lunch once back in Uvita.

There’s also the option of this snorkeling tour departing from Drake Bay, which again includes snorkeling gear, transportation and lunch, or this other snorkeling expedition departing from Rancho Quemado.

If you would rather go diving, you can consider this overnight tour departing from Drake Bay. You will be able to enjoy several dives on the island and experience it’s pristine beauty.

If you are into diving, there are more places to visit in Costa Rica: Tortuga Islands for shipwrecks; Cocos Islands for hammerhead sharks; Manuel Antonio for ease of access and dives accessible for all levels of expertise; Catalina Islands for cave diving.

Go dolphin and whale watching

There are two whale seasons on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, during which you get to see humpback and even pilot whales.

The season is from July to October, or from December to April. The highest chances of seeing whales are in the middle of the whale season. If you go towards the end of October, the chances of seeing whales become slimmer.

The best places to see whales are Drake Bay, Marino Ballena National Park (you can access it from Uvita) and the Osa Peninsula (lately there is a push for Puerto Jimenez and the Gulfo Dulce as a great starting point for whale watching boat tours).

Unfortunately, we were in the area in mid-November, and all the companies we enquired told us that we’d have a 40% chance to see whales and that with such slim chances, they’d not be running tours.

The good news is that you can however see dolphins no matter the season.

If you are basing yourself in Uvita, you could consider this whale whale-watching tour that has excellent reviews. It lasts 3 hours.

There’s also this whale and dolphin-watching tour that departs from Drake Bay. Again, it lasts 3 hours and you will also have the chance to snorkel (snorkeling equipment is available)

Relax at the beach

Costa Rica is packed with gorgeous beaches for any taste and needs.

All beaches are public – so extremely budget-friendly, and in most of them you will be able to find some sort of equipment such as umbrellas, sunbeds etc for an even better day.

The most popular beaches in Costa Rica are Dominical, not far from Uvita; and Tamarindo, which is a surfers’ hub. There are some great beaches in the Gulf of Nicoya too – especially Manzanillo and Santa Teresa.

We also loved the beaches in Manuel Antonio: there are a few public beaches that are accessed directly from the village. These are very well organized with all sorts of services. A popular thing to do at the beach in Manuel Antonio is getting a massage. You will see there are gazebos scattered along the beach with people offering massages

We loved the beaches inside Manuel Antonio National Park because they are a bit wilder, and the ones immediately north of Uvita, in particular Playa Hermosa and Playa Colonia.

Sip a pipa fria

You will see “pipa fria” (fresh coconut) sold everywhere in Costa Rica: at the beach, at the entrance of a national park, along the street in any small town or village. It’s a very popular drink, and it’s incredibly refreshing, and healthy as it has lots of good sugars and helps you keep hydrated.

For a couple of dollars, you can get a fresh coconut and a (paper) straw to sip it. Once you are done sipping your coconut you can go back where you bought it and ask them to open the shell for you, so that you can eat the delicious pulp.

Learn how to surf or SUP

Surfing is one of the most popular things to do in Costa Rica – this country gets some of the best waves in the world!

My friends who regularly go surfing in Sardinia will tell you that nothing beats the waves of Playa Tamarindo, Playa Negra, and Playa Hermosa (between Dominical and Uvita), but there are more surfing spots.

If you want to try out this sport for the first time, you can enroll in classes. Popular places for beginners include Uvita and Manuel Antonio. Remember that surfing is connected to tides so you will have to be a bit flexible if you want to take classes to learn.

You can book your surfing class on the spot – ask around locally for the best options. Otherwise, you can look for options online. Amigos del Sol Costa Rica offers surfing lessons in various locations along the Pacific Coast.

Another thing you can try is SUP (stand-up paddle). It’s offered in many places around the country, but one of the most popular ones is Lake Arenal, near La Fortuna. You can enquire locally for classes, tours and even to simply rent a board.

Try zip-lining

If you love zip-lining as much as my sister and I do (we have tried it in many countries, including Argentina and Cambodia) you will be happy to try it in Costa Rica, even if you are only spending one week in Costa Rica. It’s certainly one of the top things to do in Costa Rica.

Zip-lining is offered in many places, but in our experience, the best options are in La Fortuna, which probably is the best adventure destination in the country, and in Monteverde.

We tried it ziplining in Monteverde with a company called 100% Aventura, and had a real blast. We did ten zip lines around the cloud forest, with gorgeous mountain and forest views.

The first and second one are mostly just warm-up, but then there is one that is a whopping 1,580 meters long (that’s almost a mile) that will pump up your adrenaline. On that one, you will be entirely strapped and the staff on the ground will be activating the breaks for you, so it is super safe.

At the end of the tour, you also have the option of jumping from the Tarzan swing. I must admit i chickened out from that one!

I wholeheartedly recommend booking your zip-lining experience with 100% Aventura. They also run sky bridge experiences and are truly professional. For a small additional fee, you can also get photos of the zip line!

Take in the views of Arenal Volcano

Without a doubt, Arenal Volcano is one of the top places to visit in Costa Rica.

Up until 2010, this volcano was one of the most active in the whole world, but its eruptive cycle has paused and it’s currently in a resting phase. Arenal Volcano looms large over the hillsides surrounding it and reaches an elevation of 1,657 meters (more than 5,436 feet).

The volcano can be easily seen from La Fortuna, but naturally for the best views you should go on a hike. We hiked to the Mirador El Silencio (literally “silence’ viewpoint) and the view was impressive – but you need to keep in mind there may be clouds covering the volcano.

The trail to the Mirador El Silencio is classified as moderate, but we found it quite easy – though the terrain is mostly rocky, there are lots of high steps and the heat makes it a bit more challenging.

If you don’t have a car, the best option to reach El Silencio Park, from where you can hike up to the Mirador El Silencio is to go on a guided tour. I recommend this tour that departs from La Fortuna and includes transportation from your hotel too.

Enjoy the hot springs in La Fortuna

The geothermal activity beneath Arenal Volcano creates a series of hot springs that are absolutely perfect for relaxing at the end of a day of adventures. In most places you will also have the additional bonus of unobstructed views of the volcano too.

There are many hot springs near La Fortuna.

We went to Los Lagos and found it was great value for money. There are many pools to choose from, at various temperatures (the higher the pool, the hotter the water), and also a large pool with slides that are meant to be for children but that adults (like ourselves!) enjoy too.

There’s a pool bar where you can enjoy some snacks and drinks (the cocktails are very expensive but delicious).

You will also find showers, changing rooms and lockers and you can rent a towel a towel for a small deposit.

You also have the option of booking this full-day tour that goes to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfalls and includes a stop at the hot springs.

Look down the crater of Poas Volcano

Hiking volcanoes is one of the top things to do in Costa Rica, and the good news is that you have plenty of choice in this department: Arenal obviously isn’t the only volcano in Costa Rica.

If you are looking for something a bit closer to San Jose, you may want to plan a visit to Irazu Volcano, which is only a half hour out of town. You can drive pretty much to the top. The flip side of the coin is that it can get quite crowded. 

We opted to visit Poas Volcano, which is a bit further away but still an easy day trip from San Jose. We got to see the crater of the volcano, learn about the local flora and fauna, as we also visited the lagoon.

We joined this guided day trip to Poas Volcano which also stops in Alsacia to visit a coffee farm. The tour does not include lunch, but if the group agrees the guide will arrange a stop at a local restaurant for lunch so that you can try some local specialties. We found the tour to be excellent, with a great guide and good value for money.

Go canyoning

Canyoning – that is, going down waterfalls on a rappel – is one of the most fun things to do in Costa Rica. This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and a great way to appreciate all the incredible nature this country has to offer.

Being the adventure capital of Costa Rica, La Fortuna is the best place where you can scout for canyoning experiences. However, there are more places in the country where you can try it, including Jaco.

You could consider this waterfall jumping and extreme canyoning experience in Arenal that comes highly recommended. It’s a full day of adventure and the tour includes lunch too.

Go whitewater rafting

Few things are as fun as whitewater rafting. I have done it in many places. There are several places to go rafting in Costa Rica. The most popular place for that is Rio Pacuare, not far from Puerto Viejo, where there are class 3, 4, and even 5 rapids.

If you aren’t planning to visit Puerto Viejo, you can go rafting in (you guessed it) La Fortuna, where you have the option of picking among the Balsa River (which has mostly class 3 and some class 4 rapids) and the Sarapiqui River (which has class 3 and mostly class 4 rapids).

We went rafting on the Sarapiqui River (class 3 and 4 rapids) with a company called Arenal Rafting, and it was an incredible experience – we recommend them! The company has a strong focus on safety, so the rafts only carry up to 3 passengers plus the (English-speaking) guide, who will make sure you have the best time possible.

You will also be able to admire local flora and wildlife too.

You can book your rafting experience with Arenal Rafting online. The tour includes pick up from your hotel in La Fortuna, safety equipment, a tour of about 3 hours and lunch back in La Fortuna at the end of the tour. There will be a guide taking photos too, which you can get for an additional fee.

Try river tubing

River tubing is one of the most fun things to do in Costa Rica. There are several places to do it, including near La Fortuna and near Rio Celeste Waterfall. We went near Rio Celeste.

For this experience you will be sitting on a tube and going down a river, at times at a fast pace, all the while being able to admire the surrounding nature and local wildlife – we saw lots of capuchin monkeys!

It’s a completely safe thing to do: you will be wearing a lifejacket, and a helmet, and a guide will be with you all the time to maneuver the tube. You will be able to stop in various spots to rest, swim, and have more fun.

I recommend this river tubing experience in La Fortuna that includes pick up and drop off. You will receive a safety training and the guides will be with you throughout the experience.

One thing to keep in mind when river tubing is that you may get motion sickness! If you are prone to it, you may want to avoid it. It happened to me about half way throughout the experience and I spent the rest of my time just wishing to be done. In this case, it’s best to be led by a guide who will make sure you avoid spinning too much.

Walk the suspended bridges of Monteverde

To better appreciate nature and wildlife, one of the most unique things to do in Costa Rica is to walk the hanging bridges of cloud forest near Monteverde. There are bridges of different length and height, and while most go through the thick forest, in some cases you will enjoy lovely views.

During the walk you will be accompanied by a local guide who will help identify the many species in the area – we saw mammals including various kinds of monkeys and sloths, snakes, spiders, and several bird species. Guides usually carry a telescope which is great to take a closer look to the animals and birds that live high up on the trees.

We walked the sky bridges the same day we went zip-lining so everything was managed by 100% Aventura. Otherwise, you could consider this suspension bridge guided hike that includes pick-up from Monteverde.

Go on a road trip around the Central Valley

Most people who visit Costa Rica head straight to the coast – either the Pacific or the Caribbean. Yet, one of the nicest things to do in Costa Rica is exploring the Central Valley. I recommend doing it on a road trip – so pick up a car from San Jose and head out!

There are many nice places to visit, most of them completely off the beaten path. I truly enjoyed Sarchi – where we must have been the only tourist the locals had seen in a while, and Tucurrique, near Pejibaye.

One of the nicest cities in the area however is Cartago, Costa Rica’s capital before the center of administration was moved to San José in 1823. Located in the center of Cartago you will find Our Lady of the Angels Basilica, probably the most important church in the country.

The Central Valley is also where the Alajuela province is located. This one in particular is famous for its coffee plantations. World-known companies such as Starbucks for example source some of their coffee here, in the Hacienda Alsacia on the slopes of Poas Volcano.

Make sure to read my posts A Guide To Driving In Costa Rica and A Guide To Renting A Can In Costa Rica.

Admire the varied wildlife

If you love spotting animals in their natural environment, you will be glad: one of the best things to do in Costa Rica is wildlife watching. Many beautiful species can be seen in various regions.

One of the most famous mammals that can be seen in Costa Rica is the sloth. These can be seen in many parts of the country. I saw one in the proximity of Puerto Viejo during my first trip to Costa Rica, and we literally saw one on our first day in the country on my second trip – we were driving towards Poas and he was peacefully resting on a tree.

Sloths are also found in Manuel Antonio National Park, which is also great for monkeys – we saw multitudes of capuchin monkeys there. We also saw spider monkeys, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and capuchin monkeys in Corcovado National Park, where we also saw ant-eaters, crocodiles (also seen in Tortuguero), tapirs, various kinds of snakes and frogs.

Costa Rica is a great place for seeing turtles – nesting and hatching. The best place to see them is Tortuguero National Park, where they can be spotted between July and October.

Regardless of the place, make sure that watching the turtles has no impact on them. Things such as intense light and touching are extremely bad for these animals – if you opt for a guided tour to see turtles, make sure this is 100% responsible!

Finally, you may be lucky enough to spot pumas and jaguars. Pumas live across the country: we knew we were close to one and its cub on a hike to San Carlos waterfall as we saw fresh prints on the trail, but we were unable to see it.

We were also not lucky to see jaguars, who apparently abound (and elude visitors) in Tortuguero (where we saw tracks) and Corcovado National Park.

Finally, Costa Rica is one of the best birding destinations in the world and indeed one of the top things to do in Costa Rica is birdwatching. Due to its diverse ecosystems and geography, the country is home to a wide variety of avian life, including endangered and elusive birds like the scarlet macaw, quetzal, warbling cuckoos, jewel-toned tanagers, and more.

One of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for birdwatching is Carara National Park, north of Jaco. The park is a crucial sanctuary for wildlife and serves as a bridge between the Northwest’s dry, tropical forest, and the wet rainforest of the southern Pacific.

As such, it supports a wide variety of waterfowl and other species, including woodpeckers, toucans, manakins, jacamars, and hundreds of other birds.

Even the scarlet macaw can be found here, with an estimated 450 birds living within the park. This makes it the only area in the north Pacific to be home to a significant population of the endangered bird.

Carara extends for close to 13,000 acres and apart from so many bird species, it is also home to a diverse array of other wildlife to keep an eye out for. This list includes sloths, monkeys, deer, armadillos, peccaries, and even big cats and crocodiles.

We also saw a fantastic variety of birds (including macaws and ospreys) during our boat tour in Tortuguero, and Corcovado National Park, where we were able to spot toucans and a beautiful pair of owls.

Chase all the waterfalls in Costa Rica

Among the best places to visit in Costa Rica, there are hundreds of amazing waterfalls, many of which can be reached via a short hike or horseback riding.

El Chorro Waterfall is one of Costa Rica’s most famous tumbling water attractions, and it is just a few miles from Montezuma.

While it’s located near Playa Cocolito’s gorgeous white sand beach, which can be a distraction in itself, don’t miss out on watching El Chorro tumble into the Pacific Ocean (it’s one of a select number of waterfalls around the world that drops into the ocean): it is one of the top things to do in Costa Rica.

You can hike to the waterfall or get there on horseback. Either way, it’s best to leave early in the morning to make the most of it.

Another popular waterfall is the otherworldly Rio Celeste Waterfall. It’s situated in Tenorio Volcano National Park, in the northern region of Alajuela. The waterfall occurs where the Celeste River spills over a cliff and down into a natural pool below.

The freshwater river is an amazing blue color because of a chemical combination of sulfur and calcium carbonate, and as a result, sometimes the waterfall glows blue too as it tumbles down.

To get to the waterfall you will have to pay for the admission ticket to Tenorio Volcano National Park. Once inside, follow the easy trail to the waterfall and then to other places of interest in the park. It’s a short hike but you’ll have to go down (and then back up) a flight of stairs to see the waterfall.

If you don’t have a car, the best way to reach Tenorio Volcano National Park and visit Rio Celeste is on a guided tour that includes transportation. You may want to consider this tour of Rio Celeste that departs from La Fortuna and includes a guided hike as well as lunch.

For more information, you should read my post An Epic Guide To Rio Celeste Waterfall.

My post The Prettiest Waterfalls In Costa Rica highlights the ones you should visit during your trip.

Another waterfall you can’t miss is Nauyaca. You can get to the ticket office by car from Manuel Antonio or Uvita (it’s about 30-minute drive). Once there, you have the option of hiking, hopping on a jeep or riding a horse to the waterfall, where contrary to other waterfalls it is allowed to swim.

For more information, make sure to read my post A Useful Guide To Nauyaca Waterfalls.

There are also plenty of lesser-known waterfalls in the country, where chances are you will only meet locals or simply absolutely nobody.

We took a short hike in San Carlos, where we visited a local community, to get to reach the lovely San Carlos Waterfall which we had all to ourselves, much like Pozo Azul, which is a small detour on the way from Manuel Antonio to Uvita, and Oro Verde, which is just outside Uvita.

Visit a coffee plantation

To be fair, Costa Rica isn’t the most famous country for coffee. Some people we met during our visit complained of weak coffee, but I don’t remember having a bad cup of coffee there!

If you are a coffee fan as much as I am, one of the best things to do in Costa Rica is a tour of a coffee plantation. You will learn all the secrets of growing coffee, picking it, and then toasting the beans and grounding it to finally prepare the perfect cup of coffee.

Needless to say, you can taste a cup of freshly brewed one and even buy some of it to make it at home.

Coffee plantation tours are offered in various areas in Costa Rica. I did a tour in Turrialba, in the Central Highlands, the first time I visited, but there are plenty of other good places to do a coffee tour.

A popular place for coffee tours is Monteverde, where you can visit the Monteverde Coffee Farm and Roastery. If you are not up for a full tour, just visit their café in downtown Monteverde and you can have a mini coffee-tasting experience – we actually did that and enjoyed it (and I bought some coffee to bring home).

You may want to consider this coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane day trip in Monteverde which comes highly rated. The tour lasts 2 hours.

Go on a chocolate tour

Wherever there is coffee, more often than not there also is chocolate. Cacao is a plant that grows well in tropical climates and you will find it in Costa Rica too. A chocolate tour is definitely one of the most delicious things to do in Costa Rica.

The best chocolate tours are in the area of Puerto Viejo, where you can visit the indigenous Bribri communities who have a tradition of making chocolate, and in La Fortuna.

We stopped at Finca Kobo on our way to Puerto Jimenez in the Osa Peninsula and had a lovely experience there.

We explored the farm, saw the chocolate plants (and the rest of the gorgeous garden), learned about the chocolate-making process, and had a few tastings (and bought some chocolate to bring back home).

You can also stay at Finca Kobo – there are some lovely bungalows and rooms and you can have your meals there, in a nice natural setting.

Hang out in Puerto Viejo

You’d imagine otherwise, but in Costa Rica it is the Pacific Coast beaches that get more crowded – I guess it’s because they are easier to access and get perfect waves.

If you want a bit more of a private experience, head to the Caribbean Coast, where beaches such as Manzanillo (not far from Puerto Viejo) and Uva (a large beach also close to Puerto Viejo) are perfect for a relaxing day. 

The ideal base to explore the beaches is Puerto Viejo, one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica. This small, laidback town on the Caribbean Coast also offers surfing and diving opportunities, and allows you to also access chocolate plantations, visit nature reserves, and animal rescue centers.

Visit an animal sanctuary

With so many amazing creatures being found in Costa Rica, no visit to the nation is complete without some time spent at one or more animal sanctuaries. The Jaguar Rescue Center, in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean Coast, is among the best.

While I do not support the use of animals in tourist attractions and will always advocate for responsible tourism, I am all in favor of sanctuaries that rescue ill-treated animals with a view to rehabilitating them.

The Jaguar Rescue Center was created by a biological and herpetologist couple who decided it was time to make a difference after witnessing years of others mistreating and killing native wildlife.

The name is a bit misleading: the center’s name is a dedication to the memory of an abandoned baby jaguar whose mother was killed by farmers, but there are no jaguars.

Yet, the sanctuary has wildcats, ant-eaters, owls, marsupials, sloths, monkeys, deer, macaws, toucans, snakes, and frogs, which make it worth supporting, and visiting is one of the nicest things to do in Costa Rica.

Visit San Jose

Most will tell you that San Jose isn’t worth visiting, and in all honesty, this isn’t one of the most beautiful places to visit in Costa Rica. But if you are landing in the afternoon or evening, you may as well spend a night there and explore the city for a few hours before heading to your next destination. 

In the center of San Jose you will find a few interesting museums (such as the Jade Museum and the National Museum of Costa Rica), a nice cathedral which is located just in front of the main square (known as Parque Central), Costa Rica’s national theater and a couple of markets.

We explored the main market and the souvenir market with a local friend, but if you don’t have anyone to show you around I recommend joining a guided tour of the San Jose market to take in all the flavors of Costa Rica and get to know the local culture too.

Get a taste of local food

Who said food in Costa Rica is boring? Here are a few basic things to know about local food. 

You can expect to have gallo pinto (rice and beans) for about each and every meal in Costa Rica.

Casado – a large dish with a selection of beef, pork, chicken, or even fish, accompanied by rice, beans, and a small salad – is the most complete meal you can get. The best place to eat a casado is a soda – it’s a local eatery that is also very budget-friendly. 

On the Caribbean Coast, the use of coconut oil or coconut milk in the cooking is more common and food is in general more flavorful. If you are on this side of the country, make sure to try rice and beans – you’d think it’s the same thing as gallo pinto, but it actually has coconut milk in it so it’s more flavorful.

Make sure to try rondon, a soup with all sorts of fish and seafood, beautifully spicy and just delicious. Another dish we loved is the pollo a la caribeña – Caribbean-style chicken that is stewed with all sorts of spices and simply mouthwatering.

If you want to sample something very local, try chifrio. Served in a bowl you will have a mix of pico de gallo, rice, beans, and chicharrones (pork scratchings). It’s served with tortilla chips. Best tried with an Imperial or Pilsener beer!

Discover the indigenous cultures of Costa Rica

Since I focused most of my research on the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples during my PhD, I find that learning about the indigenous peoples that still live in the country is one of the best things to do in Costa Rica. 

Despite many difficulties, there still are some groups that have managed to retain their culture and their language.

During our trip we got to meet with the Maleku community, which only counts 600 members. We were able to talk to the leader who told us how difficult it is to retain a traditional culture when there is a push for modernity and with so little funding.

Another community you can visit is the BriBri, which lives on the Caribbean Coast.

Make sure that you plan your visit carefully and with a really responsible local operator so that the experience is as insightful for you as it it is for the indigenous community. The whole point should be to learn about them in a way that helps them to preserve their identity without turning the experience into a circus.

Meet the locals

People in Costa Rica are probably the warmest, kindest, and most generous in the world (or at least, of all the places I have visited). Their motto in life is “pura vida” (pure life) – an expression they use to say that everything is great. And they really mean it!

Costa Ricans will always greet you with a smile and look forward to talking to you, whether or not you speak Spanish. I speak Spanish, so I had many interesting conversations with locals I met during tours, restaurants or business owners, etc.

If you don’t speak Spanish, this is a great place to learn as the accent is quite clean and locals are eager to talk to you.

But don’t worry: everyone in Costa Rica speaks a bit of English and even when their English is limited, they will do their best to communicate.

Have you ever been to Costa Rica? What are the things to do in Costa Rica that you enjoyed the most?

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