Exploring the Endless Allure of Costa Rica

Condé Nast Traveler

10-07-2025

Adventure Seekers: Dominical and Osa Peninsula
For travelers with an adventurous spirit, Costa Rica's South Pacific is a dream come true. Start in Dominical, a low-key beach town bordered by the Baru River. You can reach Dominical from San José via a four-hour self-drive or a shared shuttle. Spend your first day or two embracing the laid-back spirit of pura vida with beach walks or an easy surf lesson at Dominicalito Beach. Once settled, visit Nauyaca Waterfalls, a two-tiered waterfall that looks like a scene straight out of a jungle fairy tale. The falls are accessible via an easy hike, a shuttled 4x4 pickup, or a guided horseback ride.
Next up is the heart and soul of the trip, the Osa Peninsula. The journey is a true adventure that includes moderate to challenging hikes, but the reward is a wild, unspoiled jungle with magnificent wildlife encounters—Osa Peninsula hosts approximately 50% of all of the species found in Costa Rica. Begin with a night in Drake Bay, the remote gateway town to Corcovado National Park. The next morning, embark on an hour-long boat ride to Sirena Ranger Station in Corcovado National Park. Those prone to seasickness should prepare for a potentially bumpy, albeit quick, ride. Possible dolphin sightings along the way often provide a welcome distraction.
Corcovado can only be explored with a certified guide. While day trips from Drake Bay or Sierpe are an option, a multi-night guided tour offers the richest experience. The first night is typically spent at Sirena Ranger Station, a dorm-style accommodation with hearty meals. From Sirena, your guide will lead you along trails through the secondary forest, tailoring the route to get a glimpse of the wildlife. Sightings of white-faced capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, sloths, tapirs, toucans, owls, and snakes are all possible.
On select tours, a day-two agenda ventures deeper into the primary forest. The further in you get, the denser and darker the canopy. This is Costa Rica's wild heart where you might see puma and jaguar in their natural habitat. Hikes to your overnight at San Pedrillo Station are longer and slower, and you'll be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime immersion in the pristine jungle. From there, a short hike back to Drake Bay and a well-deserved lunch at a local soda—a casual restaurant serving traditional Costa Rican cuisine—concludes the journey.
Multigenerational Explorers: La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
For those traveling with kids, teens, or grandparents, La Fortuna is the natural choice. It takes just under three hours to reach La Fortuna from San José by car or shared shuttle. Begin with a guided night hike through the El Silencio Reserve, listening as the rainforest hums to life at dusk. Nearly half the species in this stretch of forest are nocturnal, offering a rare chance to encounter species like red-eyed tree frogs and bats in their natural environments. Round out your animal spotting the following day with a guided morning walk through a designated wildlife sanctuary, where smiling sloths often steal the show.
Wherever you are in La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano looms on the horizon like a silent, scenic watchdog. Though it hasn't erupted in more than a decade, the active volcano still heats water deep underground, forming mineral-rich hot springs. Spend an afternoon at one of the area's renowned hot springs resorts—ideally, one that features a water park for the kids and spa-like serenity for the adults. For a soft adventure, hike the paved 500-step trail down to La Fortuna Waterfall, where a stunning cascade and swimming hole await.
To experience an entirely different side of Costa Rica, take a four- to five-hour drive to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. In the Old Port of Talamanca, a rich, Afro-Caribbean culture imbues the laid-back beach town with joy, color, and flavor. Dishes like jerk chicken and rice and beans cooked in coconut milk reflect the region's deep Jamaican and British colonial influences that are distinctive from other parts of Costa Rica. Visit the Indigenous Bribri community, which has inhabited Talamanca for thousands of years. Take a guided tour of the Bribri cacao farm to gain an understanding of how the community cultivates this ancestral crop with such care, fostering a deep connection with the land. If you have more time, stay in a traditional Bribri-style lodge—partake in a traditional cacao ceremony and embrace the beauty of living in close communion with nature. Afterward, spend a day riding bikes around jungle-fringed roads, dip in the warm waters at Playa Cocles, or catch a wave if you're a seasoned surfer. Also be sure to keep an eye out for wild sloth viewings all the while, as this region is full of them.
Golden-Year Travelers: Monteverde and Nicoya Peninsula
For those golden-year travelers seeking a budget-friendly way to explore Costa Rica, begin in Monteverde. Translating to 'green mountain,' this verdant mountain region is perched 4,662 feet above sea level, though it is only a three-hour drive from San José. Much like the Pacific Northwest, Monteverde is evergreen thanks to the mist-laden clouds that cast a dreamy haze over its horizon.
Start with a visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve. While many visitors choose to explore independently, a naturalist guide can help you seek out elusive wildlife—sloths and quetzals among them. Stroll across hanging bridges under a canopy of green, and keep an eye out for more than 400 species of wild orchids lining the well-marked trails. Stop by the hummingbird garden, where 14 species of petite, fairylike birds dart from plant to plant, sipping nectar from native blooms.
After exploring the wonders of the cloud forest, head to the Nicoya Peninsula. The journey takes about five hours of self-driving, including a scenic ferry ride. Shared shuttles are also available. Stay in Montezuma, a charming old fishing village with a bohemian heart. Visit the Saturday farmers market, explore the handful of local shops, and take an easy hike to the Montezuma waterfall for a refreshing dip in its natural pool. Wake early to catch the spectacle of sunrise before driving 30 minutes to the neighboring Santa Teresa. Spend the day on its wide, sandy beaches, stopping at Playa Hermosa's tide pools during low tide. Have an early dinner at a local soda and end your day with a breathtaking, candy-colored sunset.