Costa Rica · Independent guide

Costa Rica destinations.

13 areas from north to south with their places counted: how many there are, how many are open and what remains closed or restricted.

13 destinations450 places6 zones

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Arenal Volcano with a cloud over its summit, framed by rainforest.
Aerial view of Punta Catedral and the rainforest-fringed beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park.
Aerial view of a forested coastline beside turquoise waters.

13 destinations · 450 places

01 · Costa Rica

Northern Zone

3 destinations · 102 places

Arenal Volcano with a cloud over its summit, framed by rainforest.

Northern Zone

La Fortuna & Arenal

A volcano, waterfalls and hot springs

57 places

  • 52 open
  • 3 closed
  • 1 restricted
  • 1 seasonal
A suspension bridge at Selvatura amid Monteverde’s cloud forest vegetation.

Tilarán Range

Monteverde

Cloud forest in the mist

40 places

  • 38 open
  • 1 closed
  • 1 restricted
Stream between rocks and dense vegetation in the Sarapiquí rainforest.

Northern Zone

Sarapiquí

Tropical wet forest and a biological station

5 places

  • 1 open
  • 4 unconfirmed

02 · Costa Rica

Guanacaste and Nicoya

3 destinations · 96 places

Aerial view of a curved beach below wooded hills in Guanacaste.

North Pacific

Guanacaste

Sun, surf and long sunsets

40 places

  • 33 open
  • 1 closed
  • 4 restricted
  • 2 seasonal
People on rocks beside breaking waves at sunset in Santa Teresa.

Nicoya Peninsula

Nosara & Santa Teresa

Surf, yoga and dirt roads

36 places

  • 31 open
  • 1 closed
  • 3 restricted
  • 1 seasonal
The summit and slopes of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano beneath sunlit clouds.

Guanacaste

Rincón de la Vieja

Fumaroles, rivers and an active volcano

20 places

  • 17 open
  • 1 closed
  • 2 restricted

03 · Costa Rica

Central Pacific

1 destination · 39 places

Aerial view of Punta Catedral and the rainforest-fringed beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park.

Central Pacific

Manuel Antonio

Rainforest meets the beach

39 places

  • 34 open
  • 1 closed
  • 1 restricted
  • 3 seasonal

04 · Costa Rica

South Pacific

2 destinations · 65 places

A large tree with exposed roots on a pebble beach on the Osa Peninsula.

Southern Zone

Osa & Corcovado

The most remote rainforest in the country

34 places

  • 21 open
  • 1 closed
  • 7 restricted
  • 5 seasonal
Aerial view of the Punta Uvita sandbar and its two bays.

South Pacific

Uvita & Ballena

A beach shaped like a whale’s tail

31 places

  • 26 open
  • 2 restricted
  • 3 seasonal

05 · Costa Rica

Caribbean

2 destinations · 65 places

Aerial view of a forested coastline beside turquoise waters.

South Caribbean

Puerto Viejo & Cahuita

Caribbean, culture and cacao

37 places

  • 33 open
  • 1 closed
  • 1 restricted
  • 2 seasonal
Waterway among treetops and mist-covered forest.

North Caribbean

Tortuguero

Canals, turtles and rainforest

28 places

  • 23 open
  • 2 closed
  • 3 seasonal

06 · Costa Rica

Central Valley

2 destinations · 83 places

Lake at the bottom of a volcanic crater surrounded by rocky walls.

Central Valley

Poás & Irazú

Craters within reach of the capital

36 places

  • 31 open
  • 1 closed
  • 3 restricted
  • 1 unconfirmed
City lights in San José beneath a pink and purple sky.

Central Valley

San José

Museums, markets and good coffee

47 places

  • 40 open
  • 2 closed
  • 5 restricted