San Jose, affectionately known to its residents as 'Chepe', lies in the heart of Costa Rica and is home to almost two-thirds of the country’s population. With few buildings over 100 years old, the mountainous capital is relatively modern compared to its Latin American counterparts, but still has a significant amount of culture, art and history for visitors to discover. With a number of theatres full of Costa Rican culture, museums that include the largest collection of American jade in the world, and streets full of bright murals and painted buses, San Jose is an eclectic city waiting to be experienced.
Located less than two hours from the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, Jacó is famed for its sparkling nightlife, tropical beaches and world-class waves. This small resort destination is a magnet for surfers, backpackers and party-loving travellers, and a popular getaway for San Jose locals looking to escape urban living for a spell. The town offers excellent shopping, wining and dining, as well as lovely beaches and an array of outdoor activities. Don’t miss a visit to the renowned Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls, where you can see a spectacular display of plants and flowers from all over the world. The village’s rainforest surrounds provide the opportunities for excellent adventure and nature activities, including trekking, canopy tours, golf, sport fishing, paragliding, sea kayaking and bungee jumping.
Located just 2-hours drive northwest of San Jose, the little Costa Rican town of La Fortuna rests at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano. La Fortuna provides an excellent base for visitors to explore the beautiful surrounding area, most notably the scenic Arenal Volcano National Park. Photographers will delight in the spectacular views provided by several lookout points along sublime hiking trails, which wind through lush rainforests and past idyllic natural hot springs. The glistening Arenal Lake, which is the largest lake in the country, offers fantastic opportunities to practice water sports. Don’t miss the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall and natural pool. Visitors can also look forward to wildlife tours, coffee plantation tours, and cacao farm tours, as well as an array of excellent restaurants and shops in the town centre.
Situated close to the capital of San Jose, the Central Pacific Coast is an easily accessible area popular with tourists. It is known for its excellent surfing, pristine beaches, and quaint seaside resort towns. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of wonderful activities such as: visiting the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park, featuring lush forests and a remarkably beautiful coastline; discovering the town of Jaco which serves as an excellent base from which to explore the beautiful western coast; and enjoy the picture-perfect beaches of Playa Blanca, Jaco Beach, and Playa Hermosa. Other popular activities include: swimming, surfing, hiking, fishing, bird watching, canyoneering, ziplining, or simply relaxing at the beach.
The horseshoe bay of Tamarindo, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, offers three and a half kilometres of white sand and azure waters. Five-star resorts are strung along the beachfront with charming restaurants, bars and shops clustered further back from the beach under the lush vegetation that blankets this laid-back town. Surfing, diving, estuary trips, fishing and a weekly farmers market are just some of the activities on offer in Tamarindo. For a rare opportunity to witness turtles nesting, travel to National Park Las Baulas just outside town.
