Nature's chorus of exotic bird, animal, reptile, and insect noises resonates with lush green mountains and tropical jungle cloaked in clouds. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has an amazing setting. This reserve, located along with the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range in central Costa Rica, is one of the country's most sought-after tourist destinations due to its breathtaking natural beauty, exceptional biodiversity, and diverse range of activities.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is accessible by bus from Monteverde, features a modest lodge, a café, and a gift shop. Hiking among the numerous trails, admiring beautiful waterfalls and exotic flowers and plants in search of wildlife such as tapirs, agoutis, frogs, wild pigs, monkeys, porcupines, butterflies, and the rare resplendent quetzel, the bird once regarded sacred by the Mayans, is one of the most popular things to do here. Horseback riding, canopy tours above the treetops, Sky Walks over suspension bridges, and zipline excursions through the jungle trees are all ways to explore the cloud forest and its plethora of species.

Location: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Puntarenas, Monteverde, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: You can visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve year-round, though heavy rains in September and October make animal spotting difficult and road navigation problematic.

Arenal Volcano, soaring high above the verdant hills and pastures of Costa Rica's northern lowlands in a flawlessly symmetrical shape, is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until recently, and its frequent, minor eruptions used to give spectacular displays of lava spouting. Arenal's cycle, however, reached a resting phase in 2010, putting an indefinite halt to the eruptions. Despite this, the area surrounding Arenal still has a lot of interesting views and activities to offer.

Arenal Volcano National Park protects the area surrounding Arenal Volcano as well as the dormant Chato volcano. Fishing, whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, canopy tours, caving, and waterfall rappelling are all available inside the national park's scenic landscapes of lakes, rivers, mountains, and rainforests. With its various varieties of exotic flowers, mammals like howler monkeys, deer, and jaguars, and birds such as parrots and resplendent quetzals, the Arenal Volcano area is a heaven for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.

Location: Arenal Volcano, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Arenal Volcano: If you want to see the volcano, you should go to the Arenal Volcano area in September or October. May, June, July, August, and November are other good months to visit. Besides, the rainy season lasts from December to April.

Manuel Antonio National Park is the next name on the list of the best places to visit in Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica's smallest national park, but it is also the country's most visited due to its proximity to San Jose. Visitors will be amazed by the park's extraordinary beauty and diversity of landscapes, wildlife, and activities. Manuel Antonio, near Quepos on Costa Rica's mid-Pacific coast, has a broad range of ecosystems, including lush jungles, white-sand beaches, and magnificent coral reefs, making it a popular destination for families, travelers, surfers, snorkelers, birders, and ecotourists.

Swimming, surfing, snorkeling, diving, sea kayaking, whale-watching, sport fishing, whitewater rafting, and mountain biking are just a few of the outdoor activities and adventures available at Manuel Antonio National Park. Hiking routes lead to stunning landscapes, waterfalls, and sightings of wildlife including howler monkeys, iguanas, parrots, and perhaps endangered titi monkeys.

Location: Manuel Antonio National Park, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Manuel Antonio National Park: Manuel Antonio National Park's Dry Season runs from December to March when tourism is at its peak, and the Green Season is from April to November. During the dry season, however, it is not uncommon for it to rain in Manuel Antonio due to the tropical environment. The park is fairly humid all year, with temperatures averaging approximately 30°C.

Playa Jaco, located less than two hours from San Jose, is a popular tourist destination because it offers the best of Costa Rica, from beautiful beaches to wildlife, outdoor activities, and vibrant nightlife. Playa Jaco is a vibrant beach town noted for its laid-back party vibes and great surfing waves.

Despite the fact that Playa Jaco attracts a large number of tourists, it remains a clean, tranquil beach where visitors may enjoy sunbathing, swimming, surfing, and sport fishing. Local surfing schools and classes are also available for individuals interested in learning to surf. In addition, because of its popularity with tourists, Playa Jaco has a wide range of restaurants serving both international and traditional Costa Rican food. Furthermore, Playa Jaco has one of Costa Rica's most vibrant nightlife scenes, with hundreds of options ranging from casinos to pubs, discos, nightclubs, and dive bars.

Location: Playa Jaco, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Playa Jaco: From late December to early April, when the environment is reasonably dry and humidity is at an all-time low, is the greatest time to visit Playa Jaco. In March, the highest temperature in Jaco was 91.4°F. In March, September, October, and December, the lowest temperature in Jaco was 62.6°F.

Tortuguero National Park is one of Costa Rica's most visited national parks, despite its isolated location in northeastern Costa Rica, and only accessible by boat or airplane. The park's main feature is the sea turtles that nest and hatch on the beach, making it one of the most important turtle sanctuaries in the western Caribbean.

Tortuguero National Park, with its wet, tropical climate, nurtures a diverse habitat of rainforest, wetlands, mangroves, beaches, canals, and lagoons, all of which are rich in plant and wildlife species, making it a nature lover's heaven. A guided beach walk to see mother turtles nesting and hatchlings dashing to the sea is the most popular activity here. The turtles, however, are not the park's main draw. Visitors can take boat rides or paddle canoes through the mangroves and canals to see a variety of wildlife, including manatees, sloths, river otters, tapirs, and monkeys; birds such as green macaws, toucans, parrots, and herons; and reptiles such as giant iguanas, basilisk lizards, and crocodiles.

Location: Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Tortuguero National Park: For turtle nesting, July through October is the optimum time to visit Tortuguero. Tortuguero is best visited in September and October for the best weather. December, July, and August are the busiest months in Tortuguero.

Many consider the Corcovado National Park to be the crown jewel of Costa Rica's national park system, with so many outstanding wildlife possibilities that it is one area that can guarantee plenty of sightings. Corcovado National Park, located on the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, is home to numerous primary ecosystems, including mangrove swamps, rainforest, palm forest, and cloud forest, as well as beaches and coastal habitats.

With multiple hiking paths meandering through the park, tourists have a higher chance of sighting some of Costa Rica's more elusive and uncommon species, such as red-backed squirrel monkeys, jaguars, harpy eagles, white-lipped peccaries, and Baird's tapirs, than they would anyplace else in the country. Visitors can reach Corcovado National Park via the nearest town, Puerto Jimenez, where they can book tours, rent bikes, horses, 4WD vehicles, or take a bus. There are four ranger stations on Corcovado that offer housing, food, and camping.

Location: Corcovado National Park, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Corcovado National Park: The best time to visit Corcovado National Park is during the dry season in Costa Rica, which runs from December to April. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until the beginning of December. The rainiest months are September and October.

The Rincon de la Vieja National Park is located in Costa Rica's North Pacific region and is named after its major attraction, a massive steaming volcano. Natural wonders such as craters, vapor vents, bubbling mud pits, and hot springs, as well as an abundance of plants, make this national park a popular tourist destination.

Numerous acres of hiking routes surround the volcano, leading through woodland foliage and cloud forest to amazing sights such as gorgeous waterfalls, volcanic craters, mud cauldrons, and grasslands carpeted with purple orchids. The most popular hike, Las Pailas, is a short circuit trail that leads to hot fumaroles and boiling mud pots and is suitable for all levels of experience. Hikers can also access the park's most renowned cascades, the Hidden Waterfalls, which drop into magnificent lagoons and natural swimming pools, via the Sendero Cangreja. The eight-hour roundtrip trek to the crater at the volcano's peak is recommended for more experienced hikers looking for a greater challenge.

Location: Rincon de la Vieja, Guanacaste, ‎Costa Rica
Best time to visit Rincon de la Vieja: Rincón de la Vieja is stunning all year, but it is especially lovely during the start of the dry season (from December to February). The rains have faded to excellent weather over these months, yet the scenery is still lush and the waterfalls are still flowing.

The Chirripo National Park, which spans the three provinces of Limón, Cartago, and San Jose in southern Costa Rica, protects a diverse range of habitats and wildlife species, making it a haven for ecotourists and nature lovers. The national park, named after the country's tallest peak, Cerro Chirripó, has treeless alpine plateaus, fern forests, marshlands, lush rainforests, and glacial lakes, all of which are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.

The La Amistad International Park Cloudforest, Rabbit Valley, Monte Sin Fe, and Cerro Terbi, all-natural gems with stunning vistas, are some of the most renowned attractions in the national park. Chirripo National Park is also one of the few areas in Costa Rica where technical rock climbing is permissible. Ranger stations are located around the park and provide camping, rustic lodging, and visitor information.

Location: Chirripo National Park, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Chirripo National Park: The wet season lasts from May to November in terms of precipitation. The dry season, which spans from December to April, is the best time to visit.

San Jose, Costa Rica's capital and largest city, is a contemporary city surrounded by lush green valleys and mountains, with accommodations, shopping, dining, nightlife, and arts and culture. The dynamic city sits on a plateau in the country's geographic center, giving it an ideal base for exploring other Costa Rican sites. It is easily accessible by strolling, taxis, and buses. The city's lively downtown district is home to landmarks, government buildings, cultural institutions, and heavy traffic. It is an attractive combination of ancient Spanish and modern-day architecture. A variety of museums in San Jose provide an insight into the country's history, culture, art, and wildlife.

San Jose is also home to a variety of performing arts facilities and theaters that host concerts, dances, and dramas throughout the year, including the National Theater, which is regarded as one of the country's most remarkable architectural landmarks. Tourists may also enjoy shopping for souvenirs at San Jose's colorful marketplaces and the San Pedro Mall, one of Central America's largest malls. The city's lovely plazas, green spaces, and public parks, which include gardens, lakes, sports grounds, and artistic works, provide opportunities for relaxation and outdoor leisure.

Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Best time to visit San Jose: The dry months of May through September are the finest time to explore San Jose. The climate in San Jose is typically the Mediterranean, with dry summers and wet winters. Temperatures, on the other hand, rarely, if ever, fall below freezing. July and August are the busiest months in the city.

Tamarindo is a popular family vacation and eco-adventure destination due to its year-round sunlight, spectacular views, laid-back ambiance, and closeness to national parks. Tamarindo, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, is one of the region's most developed and accessible beach communities, with paved roads and a plethora of tourist amenities. Tamarindo is a little tropical paradise located less than an hour from Liberia and easily accessible by foot, taxis, rental cars, and scooters. Tamarindo's main draw is its expansive beach, which offers a variety of activities such as swimming, surfing, kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, and boat trips.

In addition, Tamarindo is a sports fishing paradise with first-rate fleets and abundant operations, with deep-sea seas overflowing with snapper, marlin, grouper, and tuna, as well as other trophy fish. Tamarindo's world-class golf courses will please golfers. Besides, visitors may enjoy jungle trekking, ATV trips, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting because they are so close to the rainforest. The neighboring Marino Las Baulas National Park, which is home to one of the country's most important breeding leatherback sea turtle sanctuaries, is also an excellent area for trekking, bird watching, and wildlife viewing.

Location: Tamarindo
Best time to visit Tamarindo: Weather-wise, mid-November to August is the greatest time to visit Tamarindo. If you want to observe the Leatherback turtles, the months of September to March are ideal for visiting Tamarindo. The months of June through October offer excellent surfing conditions.