La Fortuna is located in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Fortuna is one of Costa Rica's most popular tourist destinations, offering a wide variety of activities to suit all tastes. Visitors can enjoy hot springs, suspension bridges, rafting, waterfalls, nature walks, zip lines, and its main attraction: Arenal Volcano (see the list of tours in Fortuna). In 1968, Arenal Volcano erupted and completely destroyed the town, then called Pueblo Nuevo. At that time, agriculture was the area's main source of income. After the main eruption, the volcano continued with small, constant eruptions. This is how Arenal Volcano became famous, as visitors could admire the lava flows.
Currently, tourism is the most important activity in the area. In Fortuna, visitors will find accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets: from bed and breakfasts and small cabins to mid-range and luxury hotels. There are countless activities to enjoy in Fortuna. It's worth spending at least two nights in this beautiful town. There are restaurants, banks, ATMs, travel agencies, car rental companies, and endless adventures to experience. If you arrive in Fortuna without an itinerary, you won't have enough time to enjoy the area's main attractions.
Once visitors leave Fortuna, most head to Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and the Guanacaste beaches.
Jacó Beach is a vibrant and exciting spot on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Located in the province of Puntarenas, it's one of the country's most popular destinations. In Jacó Beach, you'll find accommodations, restaurants, bars, tour operators, and facilities to suit all your needs. You can enjoy lunch at restaurants with spectacular views, spend a night dancing at a beachfront nightclub, or take a romantic stroll along its five kilometers of beach, famous for its water sports, surfing, and stunning sunsets.
The most breathtaking panoramic views stretch across the entire area, with palm trees, hammocks, and chairs where you can relax while sunbathing or unwinding with a good book. If you're looking for a bit more adrenaline and exercise, you'll find tennis courts, beach volleyball tournaments, or you can rent a bicycle or a horse and explore the area on your own. Sport fishing, surfing, and many other water sports await you. This place has become a major tourist destination and is considered one of the largest coastal communities in Central America. Some of the activities you can enjoy on Jacó Beach include ATV tours, zip-lining, a cable car, jet ski tours, kayaking, a sunset cruise, and many other activities available for your vacation on Jacó Beach, Costa Rica.
Malpaís is located on the Nicoya Peninsula. It's a small, quiet coastal community with houses and a few hotels scattered along five kilometers of road. This surf destination boasts charming hotels and vacation rentals ranging from luxurious to rustic, often overlooking a picturesque beach where waves crash against rugged rocks. At the southern tip of Malpaís is the small fishing port from which boat trips and fishing excursions depart around the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Malpaís means "bad land" in Spanish; it's a place where the beach stretches for miles and the waves can make even the most experienced surfers drool. Malpaís and its surroundings have become one of Costa Rica's most popular surfing destinations. The small town used to rely on a combination of agriculture and fishing. This has changed since national and international surfers learned about the excellent waves the area receives year-round. Now it's a surfer's paradise with consistent waves, good swells, and a long beach break. People were captivated by the waves and the beauty of nature.
Manuel Antonio is located in the province of Puntarenas. You could say that Manuel Antonio is a little corner of Costa Rica. Here, tourists can find the excitement and adventure of a rainforest vacation, surrounded by one of Costa Rica's most beautiful natural environments, while also enjoying modern amenities. Manuel Antonio is the natural habitat of species such as the squirrel monkey (endemic to the area), the white-faced capuchin monkey, raccoons, three-toed and two-toed sloths, white-nosed coatis, brown pelicans, black-collared hawks, and green kingfishers. They share the space with primary and secondary forests. There is also a mangrove forest covering approximately 44.5 acres, which contributes to the region's biodiversity. This is one of Costa Rica's most visited tourist destinations. Manuel Antonio is unique for its fusion of scenic mountain beauty and an active lifestyle, offering activities from hiking, rafting/kayaking, zip-lining, and birdwatching to sport fishing. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, offers something for everyone. Here you'll find a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants, and leisure activities, along with spectacular coastal scenery. Manuel Antonio boasts beaches, rainforest, wildlife, and entertainment. According to the Washington Times, Manuel Antonio offers "one of the best views of the Pacific Ocean in the world."
Montezuma is located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. It used to be a small, remote fishing village until the early 1980s, when people from all over the world came to discover the beauty and magic of this place, so different from other towns in Costa Rica. Some have stayed permanently, creating a thriving community of artists, conservationists, musicians, and chefs. This place is renowned for its stunning beauty and vibrant international culture and cuisine. It's an ideal escape from crowds, casinos, fast-food restaurants, shopping malls, and the hustle and bustle of modern life. Unlike many other areas of Costa Rica, Montezuma has remained largely untouched by commercial development. Montezuma has become a popular beach vacation destination thanks to its bohemian lifestyle; it's a great place to stay, with its lovely beaches, hotels, budget-friendly accommodations, and good restaurants.
Monteverde is a small town located in the province of Puntarenas. Monteverde, which means "Green Mountain" in Spanish, was founded by the Quaker community that migrated from North America to Costa Rica in the 1950s due to their pacifist values. Although not a town in the traditional sense, as many of the houses are spread over a large area, the area has developed to accommodate the large number of tourists. Monteverde, Costa Rica, is considered a major tourist destination, frequented mainly by nature lovers, drawn by the great biodiversity found there. Monteverde is famous for its rainforests, or rather, its "cloud forests," which are home to hundreds of mammal, bird, insect, and plant species. The biodiversity of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has attracted tourists and biologists for decades. They love this place for its enormous variety of flora and fauna. Monteverde is known as one of the most famous ecotourism destinations in Central America. We recommend staying at least a few days to explore this area. National Geographic has called Monteverde “the crown jewel of cloud forest reserves.” In Monteverde, visitors have a wide variety of activities to choose from, including hiking in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, hiking in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, zip-lining, crossing suspension bridges, visiting butterfly farms, ATV tours, insect exhibits, and night hikes, among others. Monteverde also offers other amenities to make your visit safer and more comfortable: banks, a pharmacy, a local hospital, a bookstore, a gas station, ATMs, restaurants, bars, and accommodations to suit all budgets and needs.
The Osa Peninsula is located in the province of Puntarenas. Here you'll find pristine rainforests and rugged natural beauty. Declared by National Geographic magazine as one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, the Osa Peninsula, along with Drake Bay, has become one of the country's premier ecotourism destinations. Accommodations in this region offer tourists everything from expert guides for rainforest hikes to whale and dolphin watching excursions, or simply relaxing on the beach under the sun. There's also a variety of charming, affordable accommodations for travelers who don't want to spend a fortune. With a wide range of adventure tours, both high-end and budget-friendly, this area allows you to experience a lifestyle completely different from the rest of the country. This area is a secluded natural paradise, home to many of the country's rare and endangered animal and bird species, including the puma, jaguar, harpy eagle, and scarlet macaw. Corcovado National Park is located on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. This area boasts the largest expanse of lowland rainforest in Central America and is one of the highest rainforests in the world. The best way to visit Corcovado National Park is through the town of Puerto Jiménez. It's an excellent starting point for hiking, as an extensive network of trails begins here. The town also has a ranger station with detailed information about hiking and camping in the park.
Puerto Viejo is located in the province of Limón; it's a coastal town on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. This place offers exotic flora and fauna, a vibrant atmosphere with magnificent beaches, crystal-clear waters, and an ideal environment for surfers. In the surfing community, it's world-renowned for Costa Rica's biggest and most powerful wave: Salsa Brava. Formerly a small, quiet fishing village, it has now become popular, especially among young and trendy people, and is among the best surfing destinations in the world. Here, you can find the perfect and unique blend of Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and indigenous Bribri cultures. In fact, most of the inhabitants are indigenous Bribri, but they tend to live outside the town and are not very visible. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, offers a wide variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants, as well as hotels to suit all tastes. Its golden sand beaches, tropical vegetation, and numerous interesting attractions make Puerto Viejo a must-see destination in Costa Rica. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, is not ideal for swimming due to its currents. Kayaking, surfing, snorkeling, horse riding, and hiking are some of the most popular activities you can find in this area.
Samara is located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. This tropical paradise on the Pacific coast is perfect for a family beach vacation. Samara is ideal thanks to its long stretch of white sand beach and calm, shallow waters. It's very popular with swimmers and surfers and is perfect for children. Here you'll find welcoming and attractive hotels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Unlike some other Costa Rican destinations, it's also a thriving fishing and farming community. The main activities in Samara are water sports, horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, and zip-lining. It's an ideal place for those seeking a relaxing vacation or a fun-filled family getaway.
Tamarindo Beach is located in the province of Guanacaste. Tamarindo, Costa Rica, is an ideal spot for honeymoons and weddings, couples, and families, and perfect for ecotourism. Here you can enjoy sport fishing, sailing, surfing, golf, ATV tours, turtle watching, scuba diving, horseback riding, zip-lining, jungle boat tours, spas, and pottery shops. Tamarindo is a multicultural community; people from all over the world have made Tamarindo their new home. With over 30 restaurants—vegetarian, Costa Rican, Italian, or seafood—you'll find it all! There's accommodation for every budget, from luxurious beachfront hotels to hostels. Tamarindo boasts a white-sand beach and warm, blue waters. In Tamarindo, you can observe leatherback turtles, howler monkeys, giant iguanas, and parakeets. This former fishing village has become Costa Rica's most popular vacation destination. Tamarindo, Costa Rica, is an ideal destination for everyone: for those seeking peace and quiet, there's a beach large enough to relax on; for those who enjoy sport fishing, marlin and tuna can be found here; for nature lovers, Tamarindo offers a wide variety of ecotourism activities; and for those looking for nightlife, Tamarindo boasts some of the best bars and clubs for a fun time. Visitors should be aware that Tamarindo has strong currents and some submerged rocks. Extra caution should be exercised when swimming in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Tamarindo, Costa Rica, gained worldwide recognition in the surfing world thanks to the classic film Endless Summer II, when Patrick and Wingnut stopped here to visit their friend Robert August (who still lives here).