Costa Rica Attractions

San José

A few days in San José, home to over one third of all Ticos, will give you an insight into the true character of the nation. The city's markets are colorful and vibrant, and its nightlife is as sophisticated (or as debauched) as you want it to be.

San José is also home to a number of galleries and museums, and there are a few neighborhoods in the city still radiating colonial style. The assault on the senses that is Chepe is perhaps your best opportunity for understanding the complexities of modern-day Costa Rica.

Península de Nicoya

This area on the northwestern Pacific coast is difficult to traverse because of the lack of paved roads; however, it's well worth the effort because it contains some of the country's best and most remote beaches. There are also some small and rarely visited wildlife reserves and parks.

Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas de Guanacaste includes Playa Grande, an important nesting site for the massive baula (leatherback turtle). Playa del Coco is the most accessible beach on the peninsula, in an attractive setting and with a small village, which has some nightlife.

Monteverde & Santa Elena

The Tico village of Santa Elena and the Quaker settlement of Monteverde snuggle between two lovingly preserved cloud forests. This unique area, once billed as the place to view the resplendent quetzal bird, remains one of Costa Rica's premiere ecotourism destinations.

Monteverde is great place to get inspired about a world where organic farming and alternative energy sources help to replenish the planet. That said, it's also a place where you can marvel at the latest in eco-fashion. Clearly, the balance between eco-park and Eco-Disney remains fragile.