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Highlights

Costa Rica's dense rainforest, rugged mountains, and stunning beaches offer a range of land or sea activities to suit all travellers. Costa Ricans value the country's natural heritage and have created a world-reknowned national park system. Birdwatching is highly rewarding whilst other wildlife is ever-prevalent, from tiny tree-frogs to majestic jaguars.

Central Highlands

Poás Volcano dominates the landscape, with active fumaroles, viewing platforms, good geological displays, nature trails, and stunning views on clear days.
Included in the Costa Rica Explorer fly and drive package.

The Guayabo National Monument is the nation's only pre-Columbian archaeological site of significance.

Caribbean Coast

Tortuguero National Park is a coastal jungle with vast numbers of birds and animals easily seen on guided boat trips. Turtles come ashore to lay eggs here, and you'll find superb fishing in the area.
Included in the Magic of Costa Rica tour.

Cahuita National Park has pretty beaches, coral reefs, and nature trails leading into coastal rainforest.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is a remote lagoon surrounded by wetlands, containing vast quantities of birds and other other wildlife.

Central and Southwest Pacific

Manuel Antonio National Park is a popular small rainforest reserve with diverse wildlife, good nature trails, and beautiful beaches.
Included in the Magic of Costa Rica tour.

Corcovado National Park, a remote and pristine rainforest reserve, harbours jaguars, macaws, and other rare species.
Included in the Magic of Costa Rica tour.

Chirripó National Park surrounds Costa Rica's highest peak. The hike to the summit is superb but strenuous.

The Northwest

Monteverde National Park is one of the most popular cloud-forest reserves with many hiking trails, canopy tours, and horseriding options.
Included in the Magic of Costa Rica and Araçari tours.

La Casona, in Guanacaste Province, is Costa Rica's most important historic site. This rustic farmstead, now a museum, has been the setting of three major battles.

Lake Arenal is a favoured windsurfing spot, with smouldering Arenal Volcano as a backdrop. The area has quilted patchwork farmland and forest reaching to the lake.
Included in the Magic of Costa Rica and Araçari tours.

Nicoya Peninsula

Playa Grande is an important leatherback turtle nesting site and one of Costa Rica's prettiest beaches — great for surfing, too.

Playa Conchal, a supremely beautiful white-sand beach, is on the threshold of development. Playa Flamingo, immediately north, gives it a run for its money.

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge is one of two nesting sites featuring arribadas (mass nestings) of the Pacific ridley turtle.

Historic San José

The capital offers a wealth of sights including:

• The National Museum, an old fort housing historical displays from pre-Columbian times to the present
• The National Theatre, a landmark with a magnificent edifice with decorated murals
• The National Arts and Cultural Centre, a former distillery, which now houses cultural and artistic exhibitions
• The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, with a superb collection of gold figurines and ornaments

Included in the Magic of Costa Rica and Araçari tours, and the Costa Rica Explorer fly and drive package.