Quick answer: In Costa Rica, the highlights are the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde cloud forest, Manuel Antonio National Park, and world-class wildlife and zip-lining.
Costa Rica is the home of “pura vida” — rainforests, volcanoes, two coastlines and astonishing biodiversity. Here’s what to build your trip around.
Top things to do in Costa Rica
| Attraction | Why go |
|---|---|
| Arenal Volcano | La Fortuna’s cone, hot springs and hanging bridges. |
| Monteverde | Misty cloud forest with canopy walkways and zip-lines. |
| Manuel Antonio NP | Rainforest meeting white-sand beaches, full of monkeys and sloths. |
| Tortuguero | “Costa Rica’s Amazon” — canals and nesting sea turtles. |
| Corcovado NP | The wildest, most biodiverse park on the Osa Peninsula. |
| Río Celeste | Surreal turquoise river and waterfall in Tenorio NP. |
| Tamarindo / Nosara | Pacific surf towns and yoga retreats. |
| Zip-lining | Costa Rica invented the canopy tour — best in Monteverde. |
How to plan your Costa Rica trip
A classic loop links Arenal → Monteverde → Manuel Antonio, ending on a beach. Roads are slow; a 4×4 helps. Book wildlife guides — they spot what you’d walk past.
Best time to visit
Continue planning your Costa Rica trip
The dry season (December–April) is best; the green season is lush, cheaper and quieter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Costa Rica?
Ten days lets you combine Arenal, Monteverde, a national park and the coast without rushing.
What wildlife can you see in Costa Rica?
Sloths, monkeys, toucans, scarlet macaws, sea turtles and (in Corcovado) tapirs and big cats.
Is Costa Rica good for first-time travellers?
Yes — it’s safe, well set up for tourism, and packs huge variety into short distances.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.