Because it's a popular spot on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, you have plenty of foodie options to keep you going throughout your stay in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. As a coastal beach town, the restaurant scene includes the expected staples, such as incredible seafood dishes and traditional Costa Rican grub. But you'll also find lively and colorful beach bars, plus trendy cafes serving international breakfast dishes.
Enjoy the incredible scenery of Costa Rica's Gulf of Papagayo, a large stretch of coastline offering some of the best beaches in the country. Set along the Guanacaste region, you can enjoy water sports, including sailing, paddling, and snorkeling, or watch the famous Pacific green turtles nest on the beach at night. Explore natural parks with adventures like hiking, horseback riding, and soaking in hot springs, or view some of Costa Rica's most beloved wildlife, such as monkeys and sloths.
With epic surf, rainforest eco-adventures, romantic getaways, and more, only one question remains: when should you go to Costa Rica? The dry months are certainly popular with tourists, but the rainy season can be a great time to go—think beaches all to yourself, cooler temps, brilliant vegetation, and lower prices. Maximize your travels with these tips on where and when to go during Costa Rica's "green season."
As a result of Costa Rica’s volcanoes and their geothermal activity, the country has a plethora of natural hot springs. These healing pools are a relaxing place to soak after a day’s worth of adventure activities, but not all of Costa Rica’s volcanoes hold the same praise. We’ve put together a list of the best hot springs near Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, and lesser-known Miravalles.
Set your sights on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast, where you'll find coral reefs, white-sand beaches, rainforests, and agricultural lands. From active excursions to cultural experiences, you can snorkel in the sea, hike through jungles, spot wildlife, trek to waterfalls, explore the history of cacao, and learn how to surf at one of the world's most legendary wave breaks, all in one compact area.
As a world leader in eco-tourism and wildlife conservation, Costa Rica is known for its abundance of wildlife. With half of the country covered in forests, an intricate network of waterways, and nearly endless coastline, wildlife spotting alone draws travelers to Costa Rica. You can spot beloved sloths, monkeys, and frogs in the rainforest, watch turtles nest on the beaches, go birding in national parks, explore the jungles by night, and visit wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Packing for your trip to Costa Rica is an exciting part of the adventure but can be challenging. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with various weather patterns and activities, so creating a packing list is essential in the planning process. Whether you're going north or south, to the Pacific or the Caribbean, we've compiled the ultimate packing list for Costa Rica so that you'll know what to bring and what to leave behind.
Twelve to 14 days is the most popular trip length for Costa Rica travelers combining Arenal, Tortuguero, and Gulf of Papagayo with Monteverde. Without Monteverde, you can enjoy a comfortably-paced trip in 9 to 10 days. Even travelers with limited time can see the highlights in as few as 7 or 8 days. Check out our favorite trips including Arenal, Tortuguero, and Gulf of Papagayo below.
La Fortuna is a famous mountain town that needs no introduction for those familiar with the cone-shaped Arenal Volcano and its surrounding rainforests, hot springs, and waterfalls. Indeed, this is one of Costa Rica's top destinations, with dozens of accommodations. So, how to skip hordes of tourists? We sought advice from our local specialists and kimkim staff to round up the most luxurious hotels in La Fortuna.
Monteverde is known for its stunning cloud forest, but there's also plenty of incredible dining options to fill you up after those long sky walks and zip-line adventures . The central mountain village in this nature reserve offers a diverse array of great food served everywhere from five-star hotels to rustic mountain lodges. Diverse options include local dishes, seafood, crepes, wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta, and so much more.