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Costa Rica has made a name for itself as a popular tourist destination and is considered the premier destination in Central America.
It currently tops the list of the fastest growing destinations in the world, attracting visitors with its stunning natural beauty and biodiversity.
Costa Rica is also the safest country in Latin America and a great destination for solo travelers.
These are the top destinations in Costa Rica to visit this winter:
Pro tip: For the perfect Costa Rica trip, I recommend choosing one beach destination (on the Pacific or Caribbean coast) and also visiting the two inland destinations listed below. This gives you the perfect overview of Costa Rica, and is easily doable on a week-long itinerary.
1. Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s most popular national park. It is located on the country’s central Pacific coast, in the seaside town of Quepos.
Some of Costa Rica’s most pristine beaches can be found in Manuel Antonio National Park. There are also hiking trails that take you into the nearby jungle.
Costa Rica’s biodiversity is on spectacular display in this national park, and you may encounter monkeys, sloths, toucans and other wildlife as you explore.
2. Tamarindo
Another one of the best beach destinations in Costa Rica is Tamarindo. This is an extremely popular spot on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast.
It is a highly developed area with many hotels and resorts, restaurants, bars and shops. Tamarindo is also a great destination for surfing in Costa Rica.
Instead of flying to Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, which is more than 4.5 hours from Tamarindo, you can fly to Liberia, which offers nonstop flights from 15 US cities and just 1.5 hours from Tamarindo is. The fares to Liberia are often cheaper than the fares to San Jose.
3. Fortune
Away from the beaches, La Fortuna is another must-visit destination in Costa Rica if you want a taste of volcanoes, rainforests, waterfalls, and natural hot springs. This is also a place where adrenaline junkies will thrive thanks to all the adventure activities you can try.
La Fortuna is known as the gateway to the Arenal Volcano National Park, a hiker’s paradise. There are many beautiful waterfalls near La Fortuna, the most popular and accessible being La Fortuna Waterfall.
This is a great place to spend a few days and enjoy all the outdoor activities La Fortuna has to offer, including hiking, horseback riding, ziplining through the rainforest, waterfall rappelling, whitewater rafting and much more.
4. Monteverde
Another incredible destination to visit in Costa Rica is Monteverde. This is another destination in Costa Rica’s interior, and is best known as a cloud forest.
Cloud forests are a unique type of rainforest with high humidity and condensation. Despite the humidity, Monteverde often experiences cool, windy weather due to its higher elevation.
Monteverde is one of the most popular ecotourism destinations in Costa Rica. Some of the best things to do include spotting wildlife, hiking Monteverde’s hanging bridges through the cloud forest, or ziplining.
5. Puerto Viejo
Finally, Puerto Viejo is one of the top destinations in Costa Rica. This beach town is located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, which is less developed than the Pacific side of the country.
This is a great alternative to the Pacific coast if you’re looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. It’s a great place to visit for yoga, surfing and beach hopping.
There are quite a few great beaches in Puerto Viejo with crystal clear Caribbean water and white sand. The town of Puerto Viejo is also full of restaurants, cafes and boutiques.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
