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San José Province, Costa Rica
Located only 75 miles from Nicaragua, San José is often ignored as a
destination by first-time Costa Ricans. However, I’ve found it to be an
excellent introduction for first-timers. The city offers convenient public
transportation and numerous cultural opportunities at a fraction of other
popular tourist destinations. For example, two of my favorite museums–the Museo
de Jade Marco Fidel Calvo and the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica–are located
within walking distance of each other in San José but would require much more
logistical planning in more remote parts of Costa Rica like Cahuita or
Monteverde.
- San Jose: Food and Sightseeing Tour
- San Jose: Guided Nature Walk With Biologists Seeking Sloths
- Manuel Antonio National Park Combo Tour from San Jose
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Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Originally named Punta Catedral, Manuel Antonio is a small town that boasts some
of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches. While it may not be a well-known beach
destination, it’s quickly gaining popularity amongst backpackers and budget
travelers.
- Manuel Antonio National Park: 3-Hour Guided Tour
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch
- From Manuel Antonio: 4-Hour Mangrove Boat Tour
- Manuel Antonio: Naranjo River Rafting
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Tárcoles River, Costa Rica
In Tarcóles, you can find some great beaches with perfect turquoise-blue water
and beautiful white sand.
- Costa Rica: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience and Plantation Tour
- Costa Rica: Pacific Aerial Tram at Rainforest Adventures
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Monteverde, Costa Rica
Known for its cloud forest, Monteverde is home to both animals and birds found
nowhere else on Earth. Here you can see several species of endangered monkeys as
well as huge number of brightly colored butterflies. It's also a perfect
location for hiking and viewing waterfalls (there are hundreds!). You can easily
make a day trip from San Jose. We recommend spending at least two nights here so
you have time to explore trails at your own pace.
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Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
The Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes; it has two
cones that were formed by two eruptions about 200 years ago. If you take a tour
of Arenal National Park, you will learn about all three ecosystems of Costa Rica
– tropical rainforest, cloud forest and mangrove.
- Hanging Bridges Arenal
- Rio Fortuna Waterfall viewpoint
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Tenorio, Costa Rica
How much time are you willing to spend? Are you looking for quick trips or
multi-day adventures? Tenorio Volcano National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most
popular destinations and is easily accessible from San Jose. The park boasts a
wide range of ecosystems, including cloud forests, rainforests, dry tropical
forests and savannas. There are a number of trails open for hiking as well as
lush vegetation ripe for photographing.
- Park Entrance Rio Celeste
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Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
This area is great for exploring everything from national parks and beaches to
coffee plantations. If you’re only going to Costa Rica for a short period of
time, it might be best not to include Guanacaste—it’s huge and getting around
can be difficult. I recommend just including a few key areas here instead of
trying to do too much. Some popular places are Tamarindo, Santa Cruz, Coco
Beach, and Manzanillo.
- Playa Tamarindo: Sunset Sailing and Snorkeling Tour
- Playa Ventanas