Monteverde
Monteverde National Park is what jungle dreams are made of. Only 2% of the park is available to tourists but that small portion is pretty incredible. You have the option of doing a day or night hike…we did both. The night hike didn’t produce too many critters but during the day we enjoyed the sounds of birds, the lush green landscape and hiking up into the clouds along the continental divide. Also, pretty central in town there is this place called “Frog Pond” which is an exhibit of some of the most beautiful Costa Rican frogs. The tour was very cool and informative plus we saw a bunch of colorful frogs.
La Fortuna
The town of La Fortuna has such a good feeling to it and has so much to offer…horseback riding, ATVs, beautiful waterfalls, hikes, hot springs…you name it. There are tour places all throughout town as well as countless hotels and places to stay. The area is also known for Costa Rica’s most famous volcano which can be accessed inside the national park. This place was a gem!
Manuel Antonio National Park
Another place that makes you feel good. We stayed in the town of Manuel Antonio and enjoyed a beautiful dinner at the El Avion Restaurant (a restaurant centered around an old plane with incredible views). The next day we headed into Manuel Antonio National Park. Costa Rica has a ton of national parks and for tourists the cost can add up, but this one was worth the money. We loved hiking the different trails, exploring the beaches and watching all the wildlife (sloths, monkeys, iguanas, birds!).
Osa Penninsula
Costa Rica has two main peninsulas, Nicoya and Osa. Nicoya is more touristy, it is home to Tamarindo Beach which has bars, restaurants and a California beach town vibe. It’s definitely a hot spot for tourists but if you want to feel more “secluded”…head to the Osa Peninsula. Osa has the Corcovado National Park and Bahia Drake which offers less tourists and more lush green jungle vibes with all the animals. This area was beautiful and felt more “untouched.”