Located in Central America, Costa Rica is known for its wildlife and beautifully preserved ecosystem. Waterfalls, beaches, sloths… it truly as it all!
I absolutely loved exploring Costa Rica as a tour leader and today I thought I’d share with you my best photos of Costa Rica so you can have an idea of what to expect when visiting.
During my trip, I did a big loop starting in San José and visited places like Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, La Fortuna, Sarapiqui, Tortuga Island, Uvita, Manuel Antonio and more.
1. Caño Island
Caño Island is located on the Pacific side. You can book a snorkelling tour from Uvita or Jaco and go there for a day.
The snorkelling spots are amazing and you get to see so much! This includes sea turtles like this one (I took the photo with my GoPro and it was such an incredible experience.
2. Uvita
Uvita is a small town located on the Pacific side. It’s home to Parque Nacional Marino Ballena which is known as ‘the whale tail’.
You have to pay a small entrance fee to enter the national park but the sunset on the beach is out of this world! The colours were so pretty!
3. Zip line in Monteverde
These were taken at 100% Aventura in Monteverde. Costa Rica is famous for its numerous zip-lines and it was such a great experience.
There even was a Tarzan swing at the end which, although scary, was amazing.
4. Arenal Volcano
This is Arenal Volcano near La Fortuna. It’s the most famous volcano in Costa Rica and you can go on a hike there.
I personally went with a guide which was great because he told us a lot about the plants but also helped us spot animals like toucans.
5. San José
These were taken in San José, the capital. While this is not the most beautiful place you’ll see in Costa Rica, it’s still interesting to visit for a day.
The first photo was taken in el Escalante neighbourhood and the second was with the San José sign in downtown San José.
6. Hot Springs in La Fortuna
La Fortuna is also famous for its hot springs (due to the volcanic activity). There are a couple of free and natural ones you can visit but you’ll also find a lot of hotels with amenities.
These were taken at Termalitas del Arenal.
7. La Fortuna Waterfall
This is the most Instagrammable waterfall near the town of La Fortuna. You can visit it on the same day than Arenal volcano. There is an entrance fee and it’s a bit of a hike down but totally worth it.
8. Tortuguero National Park Canals
Exploring the canals of Tortuguero National Park is a must do. It’s incredibly beautiful and such a peaceful place.
I opted for a guided tour and we saw loads of animals including monkeys, toucans and caymans.
9. Farmer’s Market in San José
Located next to Central Market in Downtown San José, the farmer’s market is smaller but it has more of a local feel and you can find all sorts of fruit and vegetable.
I particularly liked that banana stand (second photo).
10. Beach in Cahuita National Park
Located near Puerto Viejo, Cahuita National Park is not as famous as Manuel Antonio but it’s such a beautiful place.
The beach here was incredible. The sand was quite thin, the water was warm and the colours were stunning.
11. Beach on Tortuguero
Tortuguero is famous for its turtles (hence the name) and if you go to the beach during the nesting or hatching season, you can see the turtles in their natural habitat.
That’s truly the experience of a lifetime.
Also, if you go just before the sunset, the colours are so pretty!
Please note that you can’t swim here though.
12. Playa Cocles, Puerto Viejo
These were both taken in Puerto Viejo, near the Panama border. They are Playa Cocles, which is one of the best beaches in the area.
It’s located on the southern side of Puerto Viejo.
13. BriBri Village
Visiting the BriBri village near Puerto Viejo is a must do. You learn plenty about the local culture and get to see how they make chocolate.
It’s very interesting!
You can see on the first photo a cacao tree and the second was taken in their frog enclosure.
14. Boat trip to Tortuguero
To get to Tortuguero, you need to take one of the local boats. It takes between 1 and 3 hours depending on the pier you depart from.
This is one of the coolest part of the trip because it’s very scenic and you get to see a lot.
PRO TIP: Be careful though because there aren’t toilets on the boat.
15. Cerro Arenal
This green lake is called Cerro Arenal and you can see it when you do the Arenal hike. It’s very pretty and there are a lot of birds.
Make sure to take your binoculars with you.
16. White-water Rafting in Sarapiqui
There are a few places where you can go white-water rafting in Costa Rica but Sarapiqui is one of the best.
I absolutely loved it! The guides were incredible and it was so much fun.
The tour lasts about 3 hours and includes the descent as well as a stop for some jumps in the water.
17. Crocodile Bridge at the Tarcoles River
This is quite a cool spot if you are driving from San José or Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. It’s called the crocodile bridge and it’s above the Tarcoles River.
As the name suggests, there are loads of crocodiles so you can stop and have a look. There are also a few restaurants and souvenir shops around.
18. Blue Falls
The Blue Falls are located in Bajos del Toro. This area is full of waterfalls so you will be spoiled for choice but I really liked these because they have a very unique blue colour.
Also, you pay $15 for the entrance but then you get access to several waterfalls which makes it good value for money.
19. Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park is both the smallest and most visited national park in Costa Rica.
It’s incredibly beautiful and the wildlife here is amazing. It’s literally everywhere!
I personally opted for a guided tour because I didn’t want to miss out on the animals but you can also explore on your own, you need to make sure you book your tickets in advance though.
The beach is also beautiful and the water is calm so it’s a great place to spend the afternoon.
20. Tortuga Island
Tortuga Island is located on the Pacific side, in the province of Puntarenas. It’s an easy day trip from San José or Jaco and a great place to go and relax.
You take a boat to the island, go snorkelling and can then chill on the beach or go on a hike.
The first photo was actually taken at the top of the island trail.
21. Irazu Volcano
Located near Cartago, Irazu Volcano is the highest volcano in Costa Rica and a good day trip from San José.
It is a national park so you will need to pay the entrance fee. The walk is very easy and it’s pretty much entirely flat.
PRO TIP: Go early in the morning to avoid the cloud.
22. Cartago
Cartago is a city near San José. You can easily get there with the train or bus and walk around.
The first photo features Our Lady of the Angels Basilica which is a stunning catholic basilica.
The second photo was taken on a walk from Tierra Blanca to Cartago. There are a lot of farms around.
23. Food in San José
I particularly loved the food in San José because there were so many options available. You can eat traditional Costa Rican food but will also find a lot of international cuisine and street food.
The first photo is a churros from a local café near the National Theatre (I bought it while waiting for the bus to Irazu) and the second is a caldosa (ceviche in crisps) from Central Market.
24. Tortuguero Island at sunset
I took these photos on Tortuguero while I was walking to the pier for the kayak tour at 5AM. It was so beautiful. The colours were very pretty and the streets were empty which was lovely.
25. Crocodile in Tortuguero
These photos were taken during the boat trip to Tortuguero. The captain spotted a crocodile on the side and he stopped so we could have a look.
I hope you enjoyed these Costa Rica photos and that it has given you a good idea of what to expect. If you are planning a trip, then don’t hesitate to check my guides:
- The Ultimate Costa Rica Bucket List: Top 16 Must Do Activities in Costa Rica
- The Ultimate Costa Rica 14-Day Itinerary: Exactly how to spend 2 weeks in Costa Rica
- 26 Costa Rica Travel Tips That You Need to Know
- How to Go on a Tortuga Island Day Trip in Costa Rica: Everything you need to know about the Isla Tortuga Tours
