North Pacific Region
The North Pacific Tourism Region stretches from Costa Rica’s northwestern border with Nicaragua south to the coastal city of Puntarenas, and includes the picturesque Nicoya Peninsula. The area is known for its exquisite beaches, tropical dry forests, gurgling volcanoes and diverse wildlife, in addition to Costa Rica’s most extensive cave system and an important nesting habitat for Olive Ridley turtles. Visitors enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, nature hiking, horseback riding, sport fishing and other exciting activities.

Guanacaste’s Gold Coast: Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo
Southern Nicoya Peninsula: Montezuma, Mal Pais and Santa Teresa and Curu Wildlife Refuge
Northern Nicoya Peninsula: Nosara and Samara
Northern Guanacaste: Gulf of Papagayo, Playa del Coco and Rincon de la Vieja National Park

For more information, visit our North Pacific Travel Blogs.

Central Pacific Region
Stretching out along the central Pacific coast from Puntarenas south to the Baru River mouth, just north of Dominical, this scenic region is home to several of Costa Rica’s most popular and beautiful beaches. Jaco, to the north, offers fantastic surfing and a lively party scene, while Manuel Antonio to the south promises picturesque beaches and active wildlife. In addition to beachside lounging and water sports, the Central Pacific offers adventure activities such as canopy tours and canyoneering.

Central Pacific Highlights: Puntarenas, Jaco and Playa Hermosa and Quepos and Manuel Antonio

For more information, see our Central Pacific Travel Blogs.

South Pacific Region
Covering the southwest coast of Costa Rica, from Playa Dominical south to Panama, and the mountainous Cerro de la Muerte, this region boasts the highest percentage of protected land in the country. On the coast, visitors enjoy dolphin and whale watching, incredible scuba diving and snorkeling and myriad other water sports. For nature lovers, hiking and wildlife watching are best in Corcovado National Park, home to 2/3 of the world’s plant species. And for challenging hikes, adventure lovers climb Chirripo which, at 12,530 feet, is the country’s tallest mountain.

Osa Peninsula: Corcovado National Park, Cano Island, Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez
Cerro de la Muerte: Chirripo National Park, San Isidro del General and San Gerardo de Dota
South Pacific: Dominical, Pavones and Ballena National Park

For more information, visit our South Pacific Travel Blogs.

Northern Region
The northern-most tourism region in Costa Rica, this area stretches from the Nicaraguan border south to Arenal, La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. While visiting this unique region, visitors hike the thrilling Arenal Volcano, white water raft down the Sarapiqui river, hike through virgin rain forest, rappel down cascading waterfalls and enjoy countless other adventure activities. Not to worry, though: there’s no better way to soothe sore muscles than at Arenal Volcano’s numerous hot springs!

Northern Highlights: Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna, Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

For more information, visit our Northern Travel Blogs.

Monteverde Region
Tucked into the Tilaran Mountain Range and flanked by the awesome Arenal Volcano, this region includes the towns of Santa Elena, Cerro Plano and Monteverde, extending north to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and east into the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Statuesque mountains, verdant landscape and Gulf of Nicoya views showcase Monteverde’s beauty, while area activities include night walks, day hikes, diverse wildlife and bird watching, quetzal (pictured left) spotting and several of the most thrilling canopy tours in the country.

Monteverde Highlights: Monteverde and Santa Elena, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena Cloud Forest

For more information, visit our Monteverde Travel Blogs.

Central Valley Region
Though most Costa Rican vacations begin and end in San Jose, the area is usually overlooked by travelers headed onward to beautiful beaches, vibrant rainforests or white-water rapids. However, visitors that stay for awhile soon learn that the Central Valley Tourism Region is incredibly diverse, offering both dormant and active volcanoes, the country’s second-largest national park, incredible gardens and museums, in addition to affordable souvenir shops, mouthwatering cuisine, cultural offerings and other big city amenities.

Cities and Towns: Alajuela, Atenas, Grecia, Heredia, San Jose and Sarchi
Volcanoes and National Parks: Barva Volcano, Braulio Carrillo National Park, Irazu Volcano, Poas Volcano

For more information, visit our Central Valley Travel Blogs.

North Caribbean Region
The North Caribbean’s 90 miles of coastline are best known for nesting sea turtles and world-class sport fishing, of which both reputations are well deserved. Tortuguero National Park, home to 22 miles of protected beach, is the largest green sea turtle nesting site in the world. In addition, more than 400 species of trees, 2200 species of plants, 375 species of birds, 125 mammal species and 124 species of reptiles make their home at Tortuguero National Park. Further south, Barra del Colorado is considered one of the top ten fishing spots in the entire world, and 100+ pound tarpon are the area’s specialty.

North Caribbean Highlights: Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero and Tortuguero National Park

For more information, visit our Northern Caribbean Travel Blogs.

South Caribbean Region
Snuggled between the towering Talamanca Mountains and the warm Caribbean Sea, the South Caribbean region is incredibly diverse. Here, visitors choose among coffee tours, chocolate tours, indigenous reserve tours, surfing, nature hiking and many other exciting activities. In addition to its many activities, the area is home to varied scenery, including the only two living coral reefs in Costa Rica, rushing rivers, statuesque mountains and impossibly beautiful white and black sand beaches.

Cities and Towns: Cahuita, Manzanillo and Puerto Viejo
Parks and Wildlife Refuges: Cahuita National Park, Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve and The Sloth Rescue Center

For more information, visit our Southern Caribbean Travel Blogs.