What to see in Costa Rica: the essential places
The top 3 according to 8 votes from people: Arenal Volcano · Manuel Antonio National Park · Tortuguero. (Updated Jul 3, 2026.)
Volcanoes, rainforest, turtles and two oceans: the Costa Rica destinations on every itinerary.
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 10
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1
Arenal Volcano
Conical volcano with hot springs and hanging bridges in La Fortuna.
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2
Manuel Antonio National Park
White-sand beaches with monkeys and sloths.
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3
Tortuguero
Jungle canals and nesting green turtles.
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4
Poás Volcano
Active crater near San José.
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5
Tabacón hot springs
Thermal rivers at the foot of Arenal.
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6
Rincón de la Vieja
Volcano with mud pots and waterfalls in Guanacaste.
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7
Tamarindo
Guanacaste's liveliest beach town.
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8
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Hanging bridges and quetzals in the mist.
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9
Río Celeste (Tenorio Volcano National Park)
River and waterfall of intense turquoise blue.
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10
Corcovado National Park
One of the planet's most biodiverse places, on the Osa Peninsula.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Cahuita and Puerto Viejo
Caribbean coast, reef and Afro-Caribbean culture.
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12
Santa Teresa
Surf beach on the Nicoya Peninsula.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (8)
Río Celeste, ese azul no parece real.
Pura vida 🇨🇷
Manuel Antonio con los perezosos y los monos capuchinos 🦥
Corcovado es el lugar más biodiverso del planeta según National Geographic.
Santa Teresa para surfear y ver atardeceres.
Monteverde y los puentes colgantes en el bosque nuboso.
Tortuguero para ver las tortugas desovar, de julio a octubre.
El volcán Arenal y las termas, el mejor día de mi vida.