How can we help?
Click and read long-form guides
Behold nature's emeralds when you explore Costa Rica rainforests. Tropical rainforests in Costa Rica are often referred to as “the jewels of the Earth,” and it is easy to see why. Arenal volcano looms over the luscious foliage of La Fortuna's neighbouring forests. Tortuguero is a nesting sanctuary for the delicate eggs of turtles. Adventurous travellers can peer through the verdant trees and bushes lining the banks of the Caño Negro wetlands during a floating safari.
Whether your Costa Rica rainforest tour has you zip lining through a canopy, getting a bird's-eye view from a suspension bridge, or carefully navigating on the ground there will be plenty for you to see. Costa Rica's rainforest animals make up two-thirds of all living animal and plant species on the planet. If you go on a tour with a local naturalist guide, your Costa Rica rainforest excursions will be even more informative, as your guide will be able to teach you about the plants you’re seeing and help you find the hiding spots of the forest’s animals.
If you just can't get enough of nature, you can top off your experience by staying at one of Costa Rica's rainforest lodges, making your getaway a true ecotour. Discover all of the beauty and magic of nature when you book your one of a kind rainforest vacation with the help of this list.
Destinations
Costa Rica highlights: Costa Rica Rainforests
Not sure where you want to go yet? Get inspired and browse the best places to visit in Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna
The charming and welcoming town of La Fortuna is a perfect getaway for families, couples, and friends. The only requisite is that you love outdoor adventure! So if you can’t wait to spend your vacation in the fresh air, biking, kayaking, hiking, and more, then discover why the Arenal region is just what you need. Best of all, you can enjoy luxe accommodations that boast volcanic views, and pamper yourself with a luxurious soak in a hot spring. Nature is waiting for you, and she’s easy to find when you book your Arenal adventure with Anywhere.
Explore DestinationManuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is home to a namesake national park full of unspoilt beaches and world-class views. Enjoy adventures as diverse as snorkeling and jungle hikes. A great destination for families, there’s something for everyone whether you have young children or college-bound teens. See a variety of Costa Rica’s animals when you peek into tide pools and hike through forests; experience the subtle thrill of birding when you cross a variety of species off of your ‘seen’ list. The best part? This is just the beginning of all of the beauty, excitement, and adventure awaiting you in Manuel Antonio.
Explore DestinationDrake Bay
Resting on the northern side of the Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay (Bahía Drake) is an adventure-seeker's paradise. It is named after Sir Francis Drake, who is believed to have ventured here in the late 16th century. Travelers here take on some of his adventurous spirit on treks through the primary rainforest.
Explore DestinationPuerto Viejo de Limon
Known for its laidback attitude and famous for it's surfing, Puerto Viejo de Limon beckons visitors to come experience Costa Rica’s eccentric side. The village’s cultural influences are interesting to be sure: a mix of Afro-Caribbean, Bribri Indian, tico and hippyesque counterculture, this small port town is an anthropological study in itself. A mere 11 miles (18 km) from Cahuita, Puerto Viejo is accessible via Highway 36 or by simply walking south, along the beach.
Explore DestinationTortuguero
The Caribbean Coast is home to the beautiful town of Tortuguero and it's National Park. This sun drenched zone with its sparsely spaced coastal villages offers a completely laid back and relaxed atmosphere. The culture is vastly different on this coast compared to the rest of the country with its prominent Afro-Caribbean influence notable as well in the delicious cuisine found here.
Explore DestinationPuerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Surrounded by lush green forests and banana plantations, this main city was once just a small port town. Located at the junction of the Puerto Viejo River (Rio Puerto Viejo) and Sarapiqui River (Rio Sarapiqui), this growing area is quickly becoming a main destination for adventure-seeking tourists and nature enthusiasts. And for good reason as this area has soo much to offer.
Explore DestinationTenorio Volcano Area
The Tenorio Volcano area is located in the northern highlands along Guanacaste's eastern border within the Alajuela Province. With many rivers, waterfalls, dense and dry tropical forests, rainforests, and primary cloud forests, the area hosts an abundance of wildlife.
Explore DestinationPuerto Jimenez
Puerto Jiménez might be the best town from which to access Corcovado National Park. Located on the eastern coast of the Osa Peninsula, on the Dulce Gulf, this small town has plenty of hotels and activities to offer as well as being favorably located. From Puerto Jiménez, you can explore just about everything there is to offer, even take a ferry across the gulf to the colorful city of Golfito. Exploring the history of this small unhurried city may give you the impression of the Wild Wild West.
Explore DestinationOjochal, Playas Tortuga & Ventana
The town of Ojochal and its surrounding beaches provide solitude and the ideal setting for some rest and relaxation. Lush tropical forests melt into the sandy shores of the Pacific for tropical postcard scenery. Due to their location, these beaches are far less developed and visited than the more popular destinations.
Explore DestinationDominical
About 27 mi (44 km) south of Quepos is the quaint and growing beach town of Dominical. Along the coast, before arriving in this popular surf town, the cascading cliffs converge with the deep-blue ocean, producing a scenic landscape full of small coves for truly precious views. The laid back beach town is surrounded by plantations, estuaries, mangroves and marshes. Birder beware, you may not want to leave!
Explore DestinationRincon de la Vieja
Encompassed by the scenic Guanacaste Mountain Range, the Rincon de la Vieja cinder volcano sits amid 34,800 acres of national park territory. It is a great place to escape from Guanacaste's sun-splashed beaches and to enjoy cool air, refreshing waterfalls, beautiful birds, and fantastic hiking. Its unique environment offers a different kind of Guanacaste vacation experience.
Explore DestinationCahuita
Cahuita is a laid back and vibrant little village in the setting of Costa Rica’s unique Creole culture, brought about by its Afro-Caribbean heritage. Only 27 miles (43 km) south of Puerto Limón, Cahuita is an easy drive down Highway 36 along the Caribbean coast, despite a few potholes here and there. It is assuredly a must-see destination for visitors already in the Limón Province. This village is a hit amongst the young and free-spirited, or those simply seeking the easy life for a few days.
Explore DestinationMontezuma
A favorite for young travelers and surfers, the bohemian town of Montezuma is a laidback beach town. While you're here, you can explore some of the mangroves and estuaries, as well as surfing beaches like Playa Grande.
Explore DestinationBoca Tapada
Boca Tapada Costa Rica is located in the northern lowlands nearby the mouth of the San Carlos River. This off-the-beaten-path part of Costa Rica is home to hundreds of pineapple and sugar cane plantations as well as a rich biodiversity of plants and animals.
Explore DestinationCabo Matapalo
Situated on the tip of the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica, the small town of Cabo Matapalo provides visitors with backdoor access into some of the country's most beautiful and least visited places: Corcovado National Park, Golfo Dulce, and Isla del Cano
Explore DestinationManzanillo
The mellow village of Manzanillo is set along the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. It’s located within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife and Marine Refuge and is known for its pristine white sand beaches.
Explore DestinationCaño Negro
The fascinating wetlands of Caño Negro are found in the Northern Zone, near the town of Los Chiles which is just kilometers from the border of Nicaragua. This zone is best known for being home to the Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica's most active volcano. In recent years the region just north of the Volcano has been gaining in popularity amongst bird watchers and anglers who explore in the wetlands and rolling green pastures.
Explore DestinationTurrialba
Discover the rural country side of Turrialba, in the lush and beautiful Central Highlands. The region is noted for being verdant and green, rich in natural beauty and raging rivers. The surroundings will bring you back in time with sites of ancient ruins, old adobe houses and aged buildings accompanied by colorful wood.
Explore DestinationCarate
Carate is situated along Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast in the wonderfully isolated Osa Peninsula. Lying about 31 miles (50 km) south of Drake Bay, right next to the lush Corcovado National Park, Carate is off the grid for most tourists, and as such is one of the country's most pristine natural areas.
Explore DestinationGolfo Dulce
Wild, scenic and incredibly bio-diverse, Golfo Dulce is not on most tourists itineraries. The name, says it all, Golfo Dulce or sweet gulf, in English. After a well justified visit to the Golfo Dulce, located in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica, and adjacent to the Osa Peninsula, visitors will be delighted and perplexed, wondering why they would ever leave this wonderland.
Explore DestinationGolfito
Opposite Puerto Jiménez, and across the Dulce Gulf, is the small town of Golfito, Costa Rica's only city situated within a declared protection area. Originally a banana port, 90% of the country’s banana exports came from Golfito during the 1950’s. Since then however, operations have shut down, dramatically affecting the local economy. In turn, the town has turned to the Duty-Free Shopping Center (Déposito Libre Comercial de Golfito) as its economic strength. The center sits at the north end of town and draws bargain shoppers from all over the country. Golfito is now a quiet port better known for being a gateway to the surrounding destinations, rather than a destination in and of itself.
Explore DestinationPacuare
People visit Pacuare to see a remote area of Costa Rica’s rainforest. This tropical coast has hot and humid weather, and teems with diversity in the forest and just off the coast. Pacuare’s beach serves as an important nesting site for several varieties of sea turtle.
Explore DestinationNuevo Arenal
Nuevo Arenal is located just thirty minutes from the popular town of Tilaran and is near the base of the world famous Arenal Volcano. This area is completely surrounded by amazing natural beauty. The picturesque and quaint town of Nuevo Arenal offers a selection of restaurants, bars, shops, and great nightlife.
Explore DestinationCorcovado
Located on the wild and untamed Osa Peninsula, the Corcovado National Park embodies Costa Rica's most truly splendid wonders. Breathtaking rainforests, rugged natural beauty, secluded and untouched beaches await the arrival of eco adventurers and wildlife admirers, alike. Prepare to be touched, moved and inspired by the unforgettable beauty of this area.
Explore DestinationBarra del Colorado
Barra del Colorado is located in the north eastern corner of Costa Rica. This remote region is only accessible by plane or boat and is surrounded by the 400,000 acre Barra del Colorado nature Reserve. The region is a combination of rivers, canals, mangroves and rainforest that teems with wildlife. One of the biggest draws to the area is the giant Tarpon fish that lurk in the waters around Barra del Colorado.
Explore DestinationGuapiles
Located in the heart of Costa Rica's banana growing region, Guapiles is the nations gateway between the central highlands and the Caribbean coast. It is the first town of any significance along Highway 32 (the Guapiles highway) when coming from San Jose in route to Puerto Limon.
Explore DestinationSiquirres
Further east down Highway 32 from Guapiles is rural municipal center of Siquirres, the last large town of any notoriety before arriving to Puerto Limon, some 37 miles (60 km) further west. Originally a railroad junction on the old line from San Jose to Puerto Limon, Siquierres is a regional transport hub for bananas and other agricultural goods.
Explore DestinationPlaya Palo Seco
This is the beach on the central coast, located about a 45-minute drive west of Quepos and about a 3-hour drive from San José.
Explore DestinationCerros de Turrubares
Cerros de Turrubares, which means Turrubares Hills in Spanish, is a rural area in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region. Cerros de Turrubares is definitely off-the-beaten-path, but it provides easy access to the Carara National Park and the central Pacific coastline.
Explore DestinationVeragua Rainforest
The Veragua Rainforest borders La Amistad National Park, just 30 minutes west of the town of Limón on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. This rainforest reserve covers 4,000 acres (1,618 ha), and has exhibits where visitors can observe native plants and animals.
Explore DestinationAguas Zarcas de San Carlos
The small town of Aguas Zarcas is in the province of Alajuela, just to the east of the Aguas Zarcas River. Alajuela is known for its green mountainsides and coffee plantations. Volcanoes feature prominently in the surrounding landscape.
Explore DestinationSixaola
Sixaola lies on the Caribbean Coast in the largest banana producing region of the country, the Province of Limon. This wild and beautiful region is a complete Caribbean Paradise of breathtaking beaches mixed with incredible rainforest that kisses to the coastline. This part of the country is distinct and unique because of its blend of Latin, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures.
Explore DestinationCaño Blanco
The town of Caño Blanco offers visitor services near national parks on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. Parasmina River runs through the town, bringing visitors to the area by boat. This river has a busy dock where boaters drop anchor so they can visit the local hotels, shops, bars, and restaurants.
Explore DestinationLimon
Puerto Limón, or simply Limón, is the heart and soul of the Caribbean coastal province of Limón. This is the region's largest city, with a population of approximately 85,000, including the surrounding districts. The inhabitants are mostly comprised of Afro-Caribbean ancestry, giving the city a completely unique appeal in a country that is over 90 percent mestizo. Although not considered a very touristy city, Puerto Limón is not without its charm.
Explore DestinationPlaya Cocles
Playa Cocles is a small village on the Atlantic Coast south of Puerto Viejo, Limon in the Caribbean lowland Zone. Strikingly beautiful beaches, lush greenery and a relaxed atmosphere is what you'll experience in this region. This culturally rich area is a unique blend of Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures living side by side.
Explore DestinationPenas Blancas
Tucked away in the foothills of the Tilarán Mountain Range, the tiny community of Peñas Blancas provides easy access to Peñas Blancas National Park. The national park, with a "mosaic of habitats" encompasses the largest area of wetlands in Costa Rica. This park is considered to be one of the country's best bird watching locations.
Explore DestinationRainforest Tram Alantic, Costa Rica
The Caribbean Rainforest Aerial Tram is located at the eastern edge of Braulio Carillo National Park just 50 minutes from San Jose. The forest shares a 10-kilometer border with the park. Visitors can experience a 2 level, 1 hour and 10minute open-air gondola ride in the forest canopy with a naturalist guide.
Explore Destination
Anywhere Costa Rica
Insider-led Costa Rica Design & Concierge
Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.
Get StartedPrivate drivers; English-speaking available.
Avoid the crowds in private day tours.
Better stays, better pacing, better reservations.
Insider-only experiences and exclusive local partners.
24/7 in-country support by phone, text, and WhatsApp.
Anywhere Costa Rica
Insider-led Costa Rica Design & Concierge
Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.
Belong Anywhere
Real Voices, Real Benefits
We believe travel is more than ticking destinations off a list – it's about discovering new places deeply, feeling connected wherever you go, and knowing you have a trusted team of local experts behind you every step of the way.
