Costa Rica

Mountains and rainforests and beaches oh my! Costa Rica is an absolutely gorgeous country in Central America with so much to do that I’ve been there four times and still want to go back for a fifth. From the cloud forests of Monteverde to the beaches of Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo, Costa Rica is an incredible country. 

San Jose and the Central Valley

Most of the population of Costa Rica is centered in the central valley, a large region in the middle of the country that contains the capital of San Jose and other big cities like Heredia, Cartago, and Alejuela. San Jose is a vibrant city with tons to do during the day and at night, such as the Museo Nacional and the Teatro Nacional. In the surrounding area, be sure to visit one of the many volcanoes, like Irazu or Poas for incredible views and a nice escape from the city center.

Liberia and the Northwest Coast

This is where the tourists come for the beaches. Playa Hermosa and Tamarindo are world-renowned beaches with clear green water great for swimming and snorkeling. However, with the amazing sand and sun, comes big name resorts and crowds, especially during the holidays. To get here, fly into the large-ish city of Liberia, just a short drive away from the coast and a few hours from the Cloud Forest, making it a good place to start should you want to combine these two activities.

The Cloud Forest

The Costa Rican cloud forest might be the wildlife capital of the world. There is so much biodiversity and nature packed into such a small area it is incredible. Over 6% of the world’s biodiversity is packed into 0.002% of its area. Here, you can see all sorts of birds, from parrots to potoos, mammals, from sloths to monkeys, and almost any type of tropical flower you can name. The most exhilarating way to see it all is by zip line, where you zoom over the forest canopy and take everything in. A good place to see everything is Monteverde, a small town right in the middle of the forest.

Limon and the Caribbean Coast

The less-visited Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is arguably better than the Northwest because of its lack of crowds. The main city in eastern Costa Rica is Limon, a small shipping town; however, many of the famous beachside towns, like Puerto Viejo, are another two hours drive north or south of Limon. Because of its relative inaccessibility, these towns maintain their sleepy seaside charm and do not feel overrun by tourists. The nightlife is great here, the beaches are empty, what more could you ask for?