Top 20 sightseeing the best attractions to see on your holiday

Top 20 Sightseeing Spots in Costa Rica

Are you in for the challenges and excitement that the outdoor activities like zip lining, surfing or snorkeling may offer? Well, it would be a great idea to spend at least a few days in Costa Rica. Whether you are an environmentalist, a beach bum or perhaps a natural born adventurer, you will surely find this special place on earth a worthwhile get-away destination.

Costa Rica, officially known as the Republic of Costa Rica, is located in Central America. It is known worldwide for being the home to more than 28 national parks, active volcanoes like the famous Arenal’s Volcanic Hot Springs, exotic wildlife, lush rain forests and pristine beaches. More to what you can see in this country that makes it a wonderful place to visit are its friendly and hospitable people, the Costa Ricans or Ticos, as well as its great sunny weather.

1. Manuel Antonio National Park – Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park is a biological peninsula that offers one of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes in the country. The park is known for housing a number of sparkling white sandy beaches like Puerto Escondido and Espadilla Sur as well as world-class views. Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most visited Costa Rica National Parks and Reserve Systems. Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park will surely make up your stress free day. Just imagine sitting in a rocking chair, savoring a cup of coffee with your loved ones while enjoying the breathtaking sceneries around you. Wouldn’t that be nice and stress-free?

2. La Fortuna Waterfall

La Fortuna Waterfall, also called the Catarata Fortuna, is a local non-profit association administered waterfall in the middle of dense jungle greenery in the town of La Fortuna, province of Alajuela. La Fortuna Waterfall can be found at the foot of the inactive volcano called the Cerro Chato or Chato volcano. The chilly waterfall plunges at around 70 to 75 meters and is fed by the Tenorio River. Apart from swimming in the stream, another exciting activity you can enjoy at the area is hiking. Hiking down to the waterfall can be short and will only take around 10 minutes but it’s truly arduous and toilsome.

3. Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is a museum in the clandestine building beneath the Plaza de la cultura museum in San José, Costa Rica. The museum, which is currently governed by the Banco Central de Costa Rica, houses an extensive collection of more than 1600 objects of Pre-Columbian gold that date back to AD 500. Among the significant collections displayed in the museum are the first coins of Costa Rica Media Escudo, figurines of animals, erotic statuettes and El Guerrero, earrings and earrings.

4. Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture

The Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture, locally known as the Centro Costarricense de la Ciencia y la Cultura, is Costa Rica’s museum complex for science and culture. It was launched in 1994. The Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture is situated in a building that looks like a fortress. In between1910 and 1979, this fortress-like building used to function as the central penitentiary. The Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture houses many other significant institutions like the Children’s Museum or Museo de los Niños, the National Auditorium, the Youth Complex or Complejo Juvenil and the National Gallery.

5. Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels or Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles is a Roman Catholic Church in the country that is dedicated to the Virgin of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles or Virgen de los Pardos, the patroness of Costa Rica. This basilica can be found in the city of Cartago. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels is one of the most patronized places of pilgrimage in Costa Rica. When both tourists and locals visit the basilica, they are also most likely to visit the Lankester Botanical Gardens that is located just nearby the basilica.

6. San José Costa Rica Temple

The San José Costa Rica Temple is the very first temple ever built in Costa Rica and the second in Central America, next to the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple which was built in 1984. It is likewise known as the 87th operational temple of the LDS Church or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple occupies a total area of 990 square meters and has a plot of 7,800 square meters. The San José Costa Rica Temple includes two sealing rooms and two ordinance rooms.

7. Iglesia de San Bartolomé de Barva

One other interesting church you can visit in Costa Rica is the Iglesia de San Bartolomé de Barva in the beautiful town of Barva, province of Heredia. This church was founded sometime between 1568 and 1575. The Iglesia de San Bartolomé de Barva was built in honor of Saint Bartholomew, one among the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. To best appreciate the beauty of the church and of the town, it is nice to visit on the 24th of August. It is during this day that both locals and tourists come together to celebrate a festivity that is dedicated to the saint.

8. Museum of Contemporary Art and Design

The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design or Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo, is a museum in Costa Rica that was established in 1994. The museum is known for its vast collection of items that are rather concentrated in modern Central American art and design, though the museum also exhibits some international work in the field. The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design is located in San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. It occupies an area of roughly 1,200 square meters. It is consists of an auditorium, an open-air space for various events and installations called the Pila de la Melaza, and four display rooms.

9. Uvita Island

Isla Uvita or Uvita Island, translated in English as the little grape island, is an islet in Costa Rica. It is officially known as Isla Quiribrí. Isla Uvita is popularly known as the first landing spot of the renowned Italian explorer, colonizer and navigator Christopher Columbus during his concluding expedition to America in 1502. Christopher Columbus was the one who gave the country its name.

10. Las Baulas National Marine Park

Las Baulas National Marine Park, also known as Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas in Spanish, is Costa Rica’s national park. It covers an area of around 175 square kilometers and is part of the country’s Tempisque Conservation Area. The marine park can be found in the northern side of Tamarindo town. Las Baulas National Marine Park supports and houses the greatest leatherback sea turtles nesting colony. Over half of the area occupied by the park is underwater. Although strictly protected, visitors may still enjoy a variety of recreational activities at the park like scuba diving. Aside from the 174 different species of birds and animals, the park is likewise popular for its white-sand pristine beaches, forests, numerous estuaries and mangroves.

11. Río Celeste

Río Celeste, also called Celeste River, is one of the most picturesque rivers in Costa Rica. It can be found in Tenorio Volcano National Park in the Northern Lowlands Region. Rio Celeste is known for its peculiar turquoise or light blue pigmentation. The river highlights a huge waterfall and a number of hot springs around. From the entrance of the national park, Rio Celeste can be reached through hiking for around an hour. Trekking to Rio Celeste will offer you a great opportunity to enjoy the most precious wonders of Costa Rica, including the dense rain forest and spectacular color of the water.

12. Cerro Chato

Cerro Chato, also often called as Chato Volcano or Mount Chato, is a dormant volcano on the north western part of Costa Rica, La Fortuna district, province of Alajuela. It is located southeast of the Arenal Volcano and north-west of San Jose. Cerro Chato is believed to have its first eruption during the Pleistocene era around 38,000 years ago. Its last eruption was recorded more or less 3,500 years ago. The volcano features two summits, namely; Espina and Chatito. The crater that the volcano created which measures around 500 meters wide is filled up with a lake, now known as the Laguna Cerro Chato.

13. Rincon de la Vieja Cinder Volcano – Guanacaste Region of Costa Rica

Resting in the middle of the 34,800 acres national park is the Rincon de la Vieja cinder volcano. This volcano is cuddled by the charming Guanacaste Mountain Range. It is located in the Guanacaste Region, just northwest of the region’s transportation hub. Visitors will enjoy a variety of outdoor activities that the region offers. Among the most interesting activities visitors may enjoy are mountain biking, horseback riding, waterfall swimming, tubing and trails hiking.

14. San Gerardo de Dota – South Central Region of Costa Rica

San Gerardo de Dota is a scenic town in the South Central Region of Costa Rica. Nestled up against the rumbling Talamanca Mountain Range, visitors will enjoy trails hiking, trout fishing and elusive bird watching. Among the interesting places you can visit while in the town are the Savegre River Valley, Los Quetzales National Park and Naranjo Waterfalls. The town also offers a great selection of affordable mountain lodges and buoyant villas for those who want to stay for more than a day. Nature lovers will surely love this place.

15. Chirripó National Park

Another striking national park in Costa Rica is the Chirripó National Park. This park is well known internationally for its most distinguishable feature, the Cerro Chirripó. Standing as high as 3,820 meters, Cerro Chirripó , is considered as the highest mountain in the country and listed as the world’s 38th prominent zenith. The Chirripó National Park was founded in 1975 and is currently encompassing the provinces of Cartago, Limon and San Jose. It is also known as among the wilder national parks in the country that can be pigeonholed into five ecosystems, namely; lower montane wet forest, lowland tropical wet forest, subalpine wet forest, premontane tropical wet forest and montane wet forest

16. Bajos del Toro – Central Highlands Region of Costa Rica

Situated in the Central Highlands, Bajos del Toro is the best destination for travellers who are seeking for the sweet smell of nature, sights and sounds. Located in the middle of a volcanic mountain range with lavish key forest, nature lovers, hikers and bird lovers will definitely love this place. Surrounding Bajos del Toro is a number of known tourist destinations like the Bosque de Paz Rain/Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Juan Castro Blanco National Park, Poas Volcano National Park and Poas Volcano.

17. National Theatre of Costa Rica

Located at the heart of San José province rests the National Theatre of Costa Rica. This national theater was constructed in 1891 and was opened for public visit on October 21, 1897. The National Theatre of Costa Rica is considered as the country’s cultural asset and the finest historical structure. The theater stages only world class and high quality performances. Aside from its extremely high artistic criteria, the theater is also known for its exquisite interior design and lavish furnishings.

18. Playa Jaco

If you are looking for a beach that is located just nearby San Jose in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Region, you can visit Playa Jaco. This renowned beach is the closest beach to San Jose and is one of the most visited coastal areas in the country. Playa Jaco is known worldwide for its outdoor activities like deep sea fishing, swimming, ATV tours, surfing, white-water rafting, horseback excursions, bicycling, boat and kayak excursions, crocodile safari and canopy tours. Playa Jaco is also one of the nicest destinations for people who are travelling on a budget. The place is surrounded by a wide selection of affordable yet elegant restaurants, hotels and surf shops.

19. Arenal Volcano

Volcán Arenal or Arenal Volcano, also known as Volcan Costa Rica, Pan de Azúcar, Volcan Río Frío, Guatusos Peak or Canaste, is the most active and the youngest andesitic stratovolcano in Costa Rica. It is located on the north-western part of the country, in Alajuela province, San Carlos canton, La Fortuna district. This conically shaped volcano stands 1,633 meters high and features a crater that measures 140 meters wide. According to the geologists and scientists, Arenal Volcano is considered just a young volcano with no less than 7,500 years old. It is listed as one among the seven historically active volcanoes in Costa Rica.

20. Cerros de Escazú

The Cerros de Escazú is a mountain range in the province of San Jose that borders the south area of the Costa Rican Central Valley. This mountain range is deemed the northernmost area of the Cordillera de Talamanca. The Cerros de Escazú is a popular destination for visitors who are into very technical rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking.

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