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Costa Rica is a land of tropical rainforests, pristine beaches, and abundant wildlife, beckoning adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts alike to its lush jungles and sun kissed shores. With incredible, world class national parks, this Central American gem offers everything from volcanoes, waterfalls, and hot springs to epic trails filled with monkeys, sloths, and colorful birds. As you plan your Costa Rican adventure, here’s a guide to help you navigate this captivating destination and make the most of your journey.
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
Timing is a key factor to consider when planning a trip to Costa Rica. The country enjoys a tropical climate, which includes distinct wet and dry seasons that may impact your plans. The dry season, from December to April, is widely regarded as the best time to visit. During these months, you’ll encounter sunny days, warm temperatures, and minimal rainfall, making it ideal for exploring national parks, lounging on beaches, and indulging in outdoor activities.
During the wet season, from May to November, you’ll find lush landscapes – and fewer crowds. While there might be occasional rain showers, the rainforests burst with vibrant foliage, and waterfalls cascade at their fullest. This period is excellent for wildlife enthusiasts, as many animals are more active during the wet season. Whichever season you choose, our small group tours are expertly designed to maximize your experiences, whether you’re seeking sunny adventures or rainforest escapades.
Which national parks should I visit in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is renowned for its extensive system of national parks and protected areas that showcase the country’s extraordinary biodiversity, lush landscapes, and vibrant ecosystems. With a commitment to conservation, these national parks, wildlife refuges, biological reserves, and other protected regions that cater to both ecotourism and environmental preservation while providing habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna.
Nestled on the northeastern coast, Tortuguero National Park is a great example of why Costa Rica’s national parks are ecological havens and must-visit destinations for nature lovers. This unique and biodiverse park includes an expansive network of canals, lagoons, wetlands, and rainforests that can be explored by boat. As you glide through Tortuguero National Park’s waterways, you’ll be surrounded by vibrant greenery and have the opportunity to spot wildlife including howler monkeys, caimans, river otters, toucans, parrots, and more.
On the opposite coast, Manuel Antonio National Park is made up of a vast marine reserve, mangrove swamp, and rainforests, as well as expansive sandy beaches, forested islands, and dramatic rocky headlands. With plenty to do for both beach goers and nature enthusiasts alike, this is one of Costa Rica’s best national parks for a reason.
If the sun-soaked beaches of Manuel Antonio aren’t your thing, consider the misty cloud forests of Monteverde. Its unique ecosystem is characterized by its constant mist, which results from the warm air of the Caribbean meeting the cooler air of the Pacific. This makes for the perfect conditions for orchids to thrive, as evidenced by the more than 500 species of this beautiful flower that grow here. With skywalk bridges and ziplines through the forest canopy, Monteverde is full of opportunities for adventure.
If you’re looking for adventure, the Arenal Volcano National Park is another ideal destination. Until recently, Arenal was Costa Rica’s most active volcano, erupting from 1968 to 2010, and although it is currently dormant, the geothermal activity in the area offers an unforgettable experience for adventurers. The volcano’s iconic cone shape towers over the lush tropical landscape of the park, which was shaped by the volcano’s frequent eruptions. With hot springs to soak in, nearly 850 species of birds to spot, and adrenaline activities including canyoning, canopy tours, and horseback riding, Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most awe-inspiring national parks.
Where are the best places to spot wildlife in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is renowned for its incredible biodiversity and offers numerous opportunities to spot a wide variety of wildlife. A great place to start is in the national parks, which act as natural reserves dedicated to wildlife conservation.
In Tortuguero National Park, you’ll find four species of sea turtles who return to its shores to lay their eggs, making it one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world. Witnessing hatchlings make their journey to the sea is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that few places on Earth can offer, and if you time your trip to Costa Rica’s Coastal Secrets during a nesting season (April to May or July to October), you might even get a chance to experience it for yourself.
Wandering the many trails of Manuel Antonio National Park, you’ll be able to spot monkeys swinging through the treetops while sloths cling lazily to the branches, while in Monteverde National Park, one of the most unique and diverse habitats on Earth, you’ll encounter a remarkable array of plant and animal species, many of which are endangered, including the beautiful Quetzal bird.
Beyond the national parks, Carrillo Beach in Costa Rica’s northwest is a great spot to experience the playful animals and colorful underwater world of Costa Rica’s coast. Here, you’ll catch glimpses of dolphins, including spotted dolphins, Central American spinners, and bottlenose, and be able to enjoy a white-sand beach full of hermit crabs and iguanas. If you venture out for a snorkel, you’ll be able to discover a lively world of marine diversity.
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is another incredible option for those seeking Costa Rican wildlife encounters. Located near the Nicaraguan border, this reserve harbors resident and migratory birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, caimans, and even the endangered jabiru, Central America’s largest bird. A cruise along the reserve’s Frío River passes through marshlands, tropical rainforest, and pastures, immersing visitors in the remarkable environment.
What are the benefits of joining a small group tour to Costa Rica?
By embarking on a small group tour you’ll have access to a wealth of local expertise about the area’s attractions, history, geography, wildlife, language, roads, and more. On a small-group tour, you can say goodbye to the overwhelming burden of planning travel itineraries and logistics, and explore without having to worry about the details. You’ll know that you are experiencing the very best Costa Rica has to offer, in a tried and tested itinerary, with a tour guide dedicated to making sure that everything runs smoothly.
Unlike large tours that herd big groups of travelers around with a megaphone, loading and unloading buses full of tourists at each destination, small group tours are close-knit communities where everyone’s voices are heard. With groups as small as five and no bigger than sixteen, small group travel offers all the good parts of a tour while still letting you visit off-the-beaten-path villages and destinations that would be overwhelmed by massive tours. This is especially important in Costa Rica, where the delicate ecosystem requires a dedication to sustainable tourism.
Alongside the expert guide, you’ll also be surrounded by like-minded travelers who are just as excited about their Costa Rican adventure as you are. Whether you are joining a tour alone, with a partner, or with friends, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to really get to know both your fellow travelers and your expert guide, fostering connections and maybe even making new lifelong friends along the way.
The best Costa Rica tours
With so much to see, choosing a tour of Costa Rica that matches your travel preferences and aligns with your must-do list. Whether you’re looking to explore on two wheels, seeking a more restful retreat in the rainforest, or even looking to bring your family along for a wild adventure, there is a perfectly curated tour for you.
Hoping to see three of Costa Rica’s legendary national parks on one epic trip? On the Essential Costa Rica tour, you’ll explore Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio as well as the capital city of San José and so much more. A great sampling of everything this incredible country has to offer, this trip is perfect for wildlife seekers and cultural explorers alike.
Adventurous travelers will love embracing their wild sides on the Costa Rica Active Escape tour. On this tour, you get the chance to conquer the Balsa River’s rapids on an invigorating white-water rafting excursion and surround yourself with the Monteverde cloud forest’s nocturnal wildlife on a captivating night walk before heading to the Pacific coast to soak up the sun from sandy beaches. With volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests, beaches, mountains, rapids, hanging bridges, and even butterfly gardens, this tour immerses you in Costa Rica’s dynamic scenery as you embark on adventure after adventure.
However you choose to discover the wonders of Costa Rica, there’s a trip for you. From swimming in waterfalls to exploring the rainforest, our Costa Rica tours are crafted to offer you the very best of this breathtaking region.
Ready to book your own Costa Rica trip? Check out all of our tours here.
