Where are the best places to visit in Costa Rica if I have two weeks to spend there?

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lucanorica

I'm from there so I know what I'm talking about.
It's a small country so 2 weeks is good, just make sure you have some variety. I would recommend visiting both costs, go to Puerto Viejo for the Caribbean side, and to Playa Grande for the Pacific side. Both are very central locations from which you can drive to other beautiful beaches like Manzanillo in the Caribbean or Avellanas and Playa Negra in the Pacific. Go whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River. Go to the hot springs at Tabacon and then see the Arenal Volcano. If you're going in the next two weeks, Don't miss the turtles laying their eggs at Ostional beach, it's amazing, the beach is completely filled with turtles- you can't even walk because you bump into them. Monteverde is good if you like hiking and rain forest walks. Tortuguero is also beautiful and more off the beaten path, its full of canals and you can only get around in Little boats. Don't spend too much time in San Jose, be care full when walking around the city, lots of crime. I would suggest visiting the Poas volcano and then the La Paz waterfalls if you're in San Jose, instead of spending your day around the center. hope this helps!n

Tico Roots.

From the center San Jose you can see a lot of turist info offices all over the place and they offer 1 day same day tours to volcanoes, water rafting, snorcoling, scupadiving. YOu can also go to Monte Verde or the beaches. The fastest way to get aroud in CR is on Nature Air. natureair.com They offer 17 different destinations in CR and fast rides.

lovetotravel

I hear Tamarindo, Costa Rica is a beautiful place and great to travel to. Have fun.
suerte

luna

OK, you need to go to San Jose, the capital city, but don't stay around to much, the best places are the small towns, the the mountians or the coast.
If you go to Costa Rica you NEED to go to: one volcanoe, two national Parks, one valley and the rain forest.
Volcanoe: Arenal in Alajuela, Irazu in Cartago, Poas in Alajuela (either one beautiful!)
National Parks: Manuel Antonio in Puntarenas (beach) and Braulio Carrillo in San Jose (rain forest)
Valley: Valle de Orosi in Cartago (stunning views)
Rain Forest: Monteverde (go cannopying!!!!! is the best!!!!)
As to where to stay, there are lots of places, cheap ones, and expensive ones, B&B, chain hotels, guest houses... I suggest you visit this website:www.visitcostarica.com, that's the official wesite.
I hope this helps! have a great trip!

Johnny T

I would definitely think twice about an all inclusive as the best vacay is to tour the whole country.

Must do's no matter who u are: Arenal or one of the other volcanoes, Monte Verde Cloud forest is also nearby. Beaches and more Beaches!

depending on what ur into...

Surfing - Witches rock is great for advanced surfers, Tamarindo for begginers, and as you go south towards montezuma the waves get bigger...

hiking - Manuel Antonio National Park, Monte Verde Cloud Forest (short hike),

Driving Off road (4x4ing) - monkey trail from coco beach to tamarindo, endless trails all over

R & R - any resort will do, but Arenal Volcano are has great spas/day resorts. Tabacon takes the cake, but Baldi is almost as good and way cheaper (they both have awesome hot springs u can sit in and watch the lava flow, especially at night)

Fishing - Go cheap with a local guide, or if ur a serious sport fisher book with Traflagar as ur guarenteed the most knowledgable guides.

hardcore partying & women - try liberia or san jose, otherwise get to the coasts or back country!

But all in all, my favourite thing to do in costa rica is simply cruise around on dirt bike (or even scooter) and just tour the beautiful coast lines hopping beach to beach with some cervacas.

28andclueless

We spent a week there a few years back! FABULOUS country! You must see Tortuga Island and Arenal Volcano. There is a great spa/hot springs at the base of the volcano - so wonderful. Really, the whole country is great - see as much as you can!

Christine G

Here are some best places to visit that is popular for you to look at when you are there. But the site is http://www.costarica.com/ and there is also things to do when you look on the site
Beaches
Pacific Beaches
Caribbean Beaches

Costa Rica is a paradise of exceptionally beautiful beaches. It is blessed with more than 800 miles of seashore divided between two coastlines, the Caribbean and the Pacific. With so much coastline, it is easy to find un-crowded beaches and lots of sunshine. Tropical forests teeming with birds and other wildlife snuggle up to the coast offering... Read More

Museums & Gardens
Alajuela Museums

Cartago Museums

Guanacaste Museums

Heredia Museums

Limon Museums

Puntarenas Museums

San Jose Museums

Botanical Gardens

Butterfly Gardens

Tired of trees? You were enchanted by the natural beauty of Costa Rica, now allow yourself to be transported by another sort of beauty; that is, by the array of art and artifacts displayed in the thirty plus museums scattered across Costa Rica. Spend a lazy afternoon, strolling through these galleries. You'll enjoy it. And you won't get sand in your shoes. Read More ...

Parks & Reserves
National Parks

Wildlife Refuges

Biological Reserves

Protected Zones

Wetlands & Mangroves

Other Protected Areas

The 11 Conservation Areas

Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world. More than a quarter of Costa Rica is under some category of protection including the 11 conservation areas made up of a total of 161(or more) national parks, wildlife refuges, biological reserves,protected zones, forest reserves and wetlands. With so many natural wonders to explore, the most difficult thing is choosing which to visit first. Read More...

Volcanoes
A Summary of the Active Volcanoes

In a country as small as Costa Rica itâ€™s a good thing that only five out of more than 200 volcanic formations are considered active: Arenal, PoÃ¡s, RincÃ³n de la Vieja, IrazÃº, and Turrialba. Most of these are located in the central highlands where people whizzing by in their cars mistake them for regular mountains. Read More...

Active Volcanoes Other Volcanoes
Arenal Volcano Barva Volcano
IrazÃº Volcano Cacao Volcano
PoÃ¡s Volcano Cacho Negro Volcano
RincÃ³n de la Vieja Volcano
Chato Volcano
Turrialba Volcano Congo Volcano
El Viejo Volcano
La Platanar Volcano
Miravalles Volcano
OrosÃ Volcano
Porvenir Volcano
Tenorio Volcano

furtherforever21

Arenal is great. A bunch of people go to Manuel Antonio but it's a small park and isn't that great in the summer. San Jose is nice, they have 50 cent beer nights on wed. nights if that is your thing. I hear isla tortuga is amazing, but i missed out on that. Carribean coast has cahuita which is really nice.

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