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Travel guide in Costa Rica: the best places and cities of the country.

Costa Rica

Holidays in Costa Rica will completely immerse you in nature, transporting you to the best beaches and surf of the Pacific Ocean or for a secluded beach holiday on the turquoise waters of its Caribbean coast. The country attracts visitors to see its incredible natural parks and unique ecosystem and wildlife. Here, high picturesque volcanoes (from the still-active Arenal volcano, to Poas, Irazu, Rincón de la Vieja, and Turrialba) sit adjacent to the cloud-covered rainforests of Monteverde.
Costa Rica boasts stunning nature reserves, with as many as 26 in the country. You will be amazed at the variety of species of plants, birds and animals- like no other place in the world. A quarter of the country's territory is nature reserves, with the Corcovado National Park and its semi-wild trekking trails, or the pristine and remote Osa Peninsula. Not to be missed are the whale watching in the Ballena Marine Park, the Barra Honda limestone cavern systems, the Cahuita Park with Costa Rica’s largest coral reef system, or the amazing remote Tortuguero, an important sea turtle nesting site where you can go kayaking or rafting along its jungle canals filled with wildlife. And the uninhabited island-reserve of Cocos, included in the UNESCO list, is a real paradise of the underwater world, especially for SCUBA divers hoping to catch a glimpse of giant manta rays, whale sharks, or hammerheads.
The resorts and hotels of Costa Rica are very diverse, including very affordable and charming hostels, sustainable eco-lodges and sporty surf camps; there are also all-inclusive and luxury hotels. The small resort towns of Manuel Antonio, Liman, Playa Tamarindo, Heredia, Guanacaste, Nicoya, Liberia, Montezuma, and Jaco are the highlights for tourists. The climate of Costa Rica allows you to travel around the country, except the height of the rainy season (May-Dec) is not recommended. This country is highly acclaimed by lovers of nature, ecological tourism, beach holidays and exciting motorcycle tours, especially for enduro dirt bikers.
Costa Rica offers “spa tours” for those who want to soak up the natural benefits of its therapeutic hot springs- thermal springs emerge right at the foot of the active Arenal volcano. Fans of diving, surfing, fishing and enduro tours will be able to "retreat" in the country to the fullest- a variety of environments provides an excess of flora, fauna and natural landscapes.
Tortuguero
Tortuguero
Guanacaste and Liberia
Guanacaste and Liberia
La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano
La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Península de Osa
Península de Osa
Playa Tamarindo
Playa Tamarindo
Puerto Limón
Puerto Limón
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Rincon de la Vieja
Rincon de la Vieja
San José
San José

Tours to Costa Rica: choose a tour according to the parameters.

Tours to Costa Rica

Choose the country, route duration, budget, type and subject of your future tour. Pay attention to our regular combined programs for several countries

Costa Rica has more than 25 big cities.

The places of Costa Rica

The most famous tourist places of Costa Rica are the capital San Jose, the resort of Manuel Antonio, the Arenal and La Fortuna volcano, Monteverde, Tamarindo, Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero, Cocos, Jaco

Tortuguero
Tortuguero
Guanacaste and Liberia
Guanacaste and Liberia
La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano
La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Península de Osa
Península de Osa
Playa Tamarindo
Playa Tamarindo
Puerto Limón
Puerto Limón
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Rincon de la Vieja
Rincon de la Vieja
San José
San José

Sightseeing tours of Costa Rica with a licensed English guide

Excursions

We know the most interesting places of Costa Rica - from thermal resorts at the foot of the Arenal volcano, VIP resorts on the Pacific Ocean to hidden eco-lodges in the impenetrable jungle. We will develop for you an original route on any of your requests!

Reminder of Costa Rica for travellers

It;s useful to know


The beautiful beaches of Nicoya and Puerto Viejo with the opportunity to surf

The incredible Arenal Volcano with its rich rainforest around

-Peninsula de Osa with the largest remaining piece of rainforest
Costa Rica borders both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, with a total of 1,290 kilometres of coastline of the Caribbean coast and the Pacific. Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south-southeast.

The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó which is the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano and the largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.

Costa Rica has several islands: for example Cocos Island and Calero Island.
Costa Rica protects over 25% of its national territory within national parks. It also possesses the greatest density of species in the world.
Costa Ricans speak standard American Spanish, but they have developed distinct patterns in their language. Costa Ricans usually utilize the respectful "Usted" form when addressing one another, this is somewhat formal and surprises some Spanish-speaking foreigners when they arrive.
The local currency is the Costa Rican Colon, 1 USD is about 605.6 Costa Rican Colons (March 2019).
The best time to visit Costa Rica is December through April, this is the dry season. The rainy season, which lasts from May to November, usually has sunny mornings, with rain showers in late afternoon and evening. Overall, the climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 22°C. It can be much hotter along the coastal areas of the country, and much cooler in the mountains.
When you are in Costa Rica, of course you have to taste some delicious local cuisine. It is a combination of Spanish, Mexican, American, Caribbean and Southern American influences.

The national dish is "Gallo Pinto" ("spotted rooster"). It is mainly a combination of black beans and white rice and it is spiced with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt and a local condiment called Salsa Lizano. Another typical dish is "Arroz con pollo" ("rice with chicken"). This dish basically consists of bite size chicken chunks mixed with rice and diced vegetables that include carrots, peas, corn and garbanzo beans.

A nice refreshment after a long day discovering the country are called "refrescos," "frescos," "naturales," or "batidos". They are made with either water or milk and come in an endless variety.
Costa Rica was populated with African slaves in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, although most Caribbean Costa Ricans of African descent originate from Jamaican workers brought in during the nineteenth century to work in the construction of railways. These Africans left behind their unmistakable cultural heritage.

During the nineteenth century, Italian and Chinese immigrants came to the country to work on the construction of the railroad system as well, but unlike the slaves, these newcomers did so for monetary gain and skills acquirement. Their cultures are reflected in the Costa Rican culture as well.
Catholicism is recognized as the official religion in Costa Rica but even though many Costa Ricans claim they are Catholic, devotion varies among the population.
Costa Ricans refer to themselves as tico (masculine) or tica (feminine). The tico ideal is that of a very friendly, helpful, laid back, unhurried, educated and environmentally aware people. The phrase "Pura Vida" (literally "Pure Life") is the motto in Costa Rica. It means living in a peace, calm manner, appreciating a life surrounded by nature and family and friends.
Most music and the most representative folklore comes from the north of the country where the Mayan’s influence is large, including the Nicoya Peninsula, and the Atlantic coast. During your visit to this amazing country you will definitely come across various types of local folklore.
For the nature lover, this country is a must. Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. Over 25% of Costa Rica is composed of protected forests and reserves. The Corcovado National Park is the place to be for ecologists, it has a large biodiversity and you can see an abundance of wildlife.

Tortuguero National Park is home to spiders, howlers, white-throated Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, 320 species of birds and a variety of reptiles. But it is mostly known for the endangered green turtle.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve hosts two thousand plant species, including numerous orchids. Over four hundred types of birds can be found here, and over one hundred species of mammals.

Vacation in Costa Rica

Discover Costa Rica with Ada Tours DMC!

Ada Tours DMC travel agency would be happy to organize your dream vacation through the still pristine and exotic Costa Rica, waiting to immerse you in nature! We will create your unforgettable experience, as well as excursions to the best sites in the country: beautiful beaches, eco-tours, trekking tours in the mountains, climbing volcanoes or their calderas- perfect for adventure and nature lovers, as well as tours for observing unique wild animals like sloths or howler monkeys, or the vast number of bird species, and fascinating insects. Romantic tours, beach tours, family tours- for lovers of a leisurely vacation, you will have the difficult decision to choose between the Pacific Ocean side, or the Caribbean Sea, or just do both!