Your ultimate Costa Rica Bucketlist – Top Places to visit
Costa Rica is a bucketlist destination itself for many travellers. For good reasons: The country is one of the most beautiful places, rich in nature and wildlife. Whatever you´re searching for in a good destination for your next trip, Costa Rica has it all. From deep green jungles, impressive volcanos, remote beaches and remarkable wildlife to witness. With that many experiences and things to do, it can be hard to choose what to actually put on your list. This ultimate Costa Rica bucketlist will help you find the top places to visit during your trip as well as the experiences which will make your stay unforgettable.
Check out the best route to travel Costa Rica in just 3 weeks.
Surfing in Santa Teresa
For surfers, Costa Rica is paradise on earth. The west coast of the country is known for its vibrant surfer villages, where people meet for a sunset surf each day. One of the most popular places is Santa Teresa. The village is small, but growing fastly due to more and more foreigners making the coastal area their home. If you are looking for a great place to learn surfing, this is your best choice. The nearby Playa Hermosa is beginner-friendly and with many surf teachers in the area, you will soon find your way out into the ocean.
If you´re already a pro on the board, Santa Teresa will not disappoint as well. The main beach just in front of the village has some of the best waves and also offers a stunning view over the sunset in the evening. And if you are looking for some action after surfing: Santa Teresa is full of bars and restaurants where you can go out for a fun night with your new surfer friends!
Jungle Hike in Monteverde
One of the best things about Costa Rica is the nature. And by this I mean not only the beaches but the bright green jungles and forest, which cover most of the country. You may not know how many different shades of green actually exist, until you visit Costa Rica.
One of the best places to experience the deep nature of the country is Monteverde. The El Tigre Waterfall Hike is a beautiful route leading you along different waterfalls through the wet forests. You will witness different plants and trees, colorful flowers next to the path and whenever you need a refreshment, jump into one of the cold waterfalls.
The route takes about three hours and you can choose either to walk back or take the shuttle back to the starting point once you finished the hike. Be aware that the El Tigre Waterfall Hike will cost you $30 entry fee (like most beautiful places in the country). But this is one of the few activities where the fee is more than worth its price.
Whale Watching in Uvita
Seeing whales is probably on everyone´s bucketlist and a trip to Uvita could be your chance to turn this dream into reality. Uvita is located in the South of the country and at first glance not more than a small village by the ocean. Compared to other destinations in Costa Rica it´s still quiet and not completely filled by tourists which allows you to get a more unique impression. One of the main reasons to put Uvita on your Costa Rica Bucketlist is the whale-shaped sandbank in the national park. During low tide you can walk a few hundred meters out into the ocean.
But besides that, Uvita is THE place for whale watching in Costa Rica. The best season is from December until March and from July until October.
Snorkeling and wildlife in Cahuita
Cahuita is located on the Carribean coast of Costa Rica and will welcome you with a completely different atmosphere than the rest of the country. A must-do on your ultimate Costa Rica Bucketlist is visiting the Cahuita national park. This is not only a fantastic place to witness wildlife (racoons, monkeys, crocodiles, sloths) but also amazing for beaches and snorkeling.
You can rent bicycles to drive to the national park and explore the beautiful path that leads 8km along the coast.
Zipline adventure in Monteverde
One of the most popular things to do when you are in Costa Rica and want to get some adrenaline in your veins is the ziplining. The best place for this bucketlist experience is definitely Monteverde (do not plan to do it in La Fortuna as the zipline is much shorter).
A personal recommendation is the Monteverde Extremo Park. The company offers a tarzan swing included in the price – an experience where others charge you an extra fee. Make sure to book your spot right upon arrival as all the ziplines in the area are quite popular and tend to sell out.
ATV Tour in Santa Teresa and Montezuma
The one and only way to get around in Santa Teresa is by ATV. As soon as you arrive in the coastal village you will see that there is only one mean of transport. An absolute must-do is to check out the area on your own and to do that you can rent and ATV for a day. The prices may vary depending on the season, but they mostly charge you around $80 for 24 hours.
With your own ATV you can drive all the way to the picturesque village of Montezuma, which will take you about 45 minutes. You can visit the Montezuma Waterfall, relax on the beach or simply enjoy driving through the beautiful landscapes.
Night walk through the jungle
One of the best things to do in Costa Rica to get to know the wildlife in the deep green forests is a guided night walk. You will enter the jungle in the complete darkness with an experienced guide who will tell you everything you want to know about the animals and the plants. If you are lucky, you will see frogs, ants, snakes and monkeys.
Make sure to bring good shoes. Some guides even provide you with rubber boots to ensure your safety.
One of the best places for this bucketlist experience is La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio.
Hike to the Arenal volcano
Costa Rica is home to six volcanos. The most popular volcano is the Arenal located just outside of La Fortuna. If you are lucky and the weather is clear you can see the mountain from the city center or while driving by. To get closer you can visit the Arenal Volcano National Park, where a hiking trail leads you to a stunning view point.
The trail takes about 90 minutes and leads through a beautiful jungle, offering breathtaking views. On the top, you are directly at the foot of the lava fields, which are now slowly being covered with green trees and bushes. Be aware that the volcano is quite shy and most of the time, all you will get to see is a cloud field in front of you. But maybe you´re lucky and if so, the view is definitely one to remember!
Get to know the culture of Costa Rica
A must-do on your Costa Rica Bucketlist is to dive deep into the culture of the country. Costa Rica is known for its delicious coffee and if you are a coffee lover yourself, put a visit to a plantation on your list. One of the most popular places for a coffee tasting is Monteverde, where you can learn more about the coffee business of the country.
Make sure to taste all the different kinds of foods, from the fried plantain bananas to Gallo Pinto for breakfast. A great way to learn more about the local cuisine is visiting the so-called sodas, small local restaurants which you will find in any place. They serve mostly local food for good prices and allow you to taste all the different dishes of the country.
Hike through the tree tops in Monteverde
When it comes to discovering the nature of Costa Rica, you may not expect to enjoy a walk in the tree tops of the deep green jungle. In the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve you will find more than 35,000 acres of lush trees. The best way to explore is via the hanging bridges in the Cloud Forest. Nothing will make you will closer to the stunning wildlife, the incredible flora and the countless shades of green.
It is recommended to visit early in the morning as it can get quite crowded these days.
Chase the sunsets you won´t forget
There is no doubt that Costa Rica does not disappoint with its sunsets. When you are staying in places such as Santa Teresa, Uvita, Manuel Antonio or Tamarindo, sunsets are a must every evening. When the sun kisses the ocean on the horizon, the most beautiful colors show up and change the whole world into this magical place for a few minutes. Normally, many people gather at the beach for sunset and it is the best place to enioy the atmosphere.
But not only the beach is ideal for admiring the daily sunsets. In Monteverde, there a a few places where you can watch the sun set in the distance, overlooking the green mountains in front of you.
