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Exploring Tourism in Costa Rica
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Costa Rica Popular Places to Visit

Top 10 Places To Visit In San Jose

San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Central Valley, within San José Canton. San Jose, Costa Rica is now the 6th most visited Latin American city – thanks mostly to visitors from the United

Reserva Santa Elena

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest is one of those destinations that make you feel like you just uncovered a secret spot, overlooked by others. While Monteverde Cloud Forest gets more attention (it is bigger after all), it is Santa Elena’s cloud forest that offers you a more personal view of this unique environment. Because one abuts the other, Santa Elena’s forest

Santa Maria De Dota, San José

Santa Maria sits along the mountainous highlands of south-central Costa Rica, and is about 40 miles south of San José. One of the community's biggest claims to fame is the shade-grown Tarrazu coffee that thrives in the volcanic soil of the area. Coopedota, a local cooperative, is the perfect day trip for any caffeine fanatic. Coopedota is one of the

Los Quetzales National Park

The park is a wealth of ecological resources. It sits along the Talamanca mountain range and has an elevation of 2000-3000 feet. It is part of Costa Rica’s famous cloud forest system. Researchers have identified three different types of rainforests and 14 distinct ecological zones each with their unique qualities in this national park. In all of Costa Rica there are

Bahía Ballena National Park

Ballena National Marine Park is one of the most unique reserves in Costa Rica. Located just offshore along the Central Pacific coast in South Puntarenas, the Ballena National Marine Park protects more than 13,000 acres of ocean and 9 miles of coastline. Comprised of mangrove forests, coral reefs and untouched beaches, the national park is one for travelers who want

Gandoca - Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

The Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is situated in one of the most stunningly beautiful regions of Costa Rica. Located just a few kilometers north of the Panama border in Talamanca County, this wildlife refuge protects some the region’s most endangered flora and fauna. Lying on the Caribbean coast of Limon province and bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east, this refuge

Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park is the backpacking experience of a lifetime. It encompasses the only remaining old growth wet forests on the Pacific coast of Central America, and 13 major ecosystems including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, and mangrove swamps, as well as coastal marine and beach habitats. There is a good chance of spotting some of Costa

Rincón De La Vieja National Park

The Rincón de la Vieja Volcano is the main attraction in this park. This active volcano last erupted in 2011 and as a result, hiking trails to the summit are no longer open, but there is still hiking in the area with trails leading to waterfalls and hot springs. This park is also home to a wide variety of wildlife,

Braulio Carrillo National Park

Braulio Carrillo National Park, only a 30-minute drive from bustling San Jose, encompasses rugged mountains, waterfalls, canyons, dormant volcanoes, and virgin rainforest. The park's proximity to the country's main gateway means it is an easy way to see some of Costa Rica's unique plants and wildlife. Many different habitats exist in the park due to the variety in elevation, which ranges

Irazu Volcano National Park

The Irazú Volcano is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica at 3,342 meters. The national park protects a 2,309 hectare area of land around the base of the volcano. The summit of the volcano is a lunar-like landscape with craters. Irazú's Principal Crater is 1,050 meters in diameter and 300 meters deep, and the Diego de la Haya Crater