5 Must-See Attractions in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is truly a magical country. There are endless amounts of activities, sightseeing, hiking, waterfalls, wildlife, and so much more. I would highly recommend taking a trip to Costa Rica if you love adventure, the outdoors, and scenic views. 

During our travels through Costa Rica, we were able to experience a few really amazing things. Although the list goes on of fun things to see and do, I have managed to narrow it down to the top 5 attractions in Costa Rica. Any of these attractions will guarantee unforgettable memories for you and your loved ones. 

1. The Ponderosa Safari

If you’re an animal lover and want to spend a fun day outdoors, then you’ve got to take a tour of the Ponderosa Safari. There were so many exotic animals we got to see and interact with up close. While aboard the safari trucks, the tour guides provided us with a ton of information on each of the animals. Feeding the animals was the best part of this experience. While we were there, we got to pet and feed cows, bulls, donkeys, gazelles, zebras, and giraffes. I have to say, the giraffes were my favorite animal to interact with. They swarmed our car looking for carrots when they saw us coming. This is an attraction the whole family will love, and I highly recommend checking it out. 

2. The La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park

Okay, this next spot is for all my nature lovers. The La Paz Waterfall Gardens is one of the most popular, privately-owned attractions in Costa Rica. And, for good reason. This park is full of famous waterfalls, the largest animal sanctuary, and 3.5 kilometers of hiking trails. When you’re hiking through the park, you’re higher than the trees and literally walking in the clouds. It’s so magical that it’s hard to put into words. The best part about it is that it’s also an animal sanctuary for butterflies, hummingbirds, monkeys, snakes, lions, bobcats, and leopards. It’s the home to over 100 species of animals, which is so cool! There is a lot of exercise involved, so bring some comfortable walking shoes, however, it’s so worth it!

3. Jungle Hike at Night

Another adventure, which was so fun, was hiking in the jungle at night. There are a ton of different tours you can book to experience this. We hiked for about a mile into the jungle at ten at night and then the tour guide had us turn off our flashlights. That was a little scary, I’m not going to lie. But it also felt very freeing to be immersed in the unknown. We obviously couldn’t see anything, but we heard all sorts of noises surrounding us. We looked up through the trees into the sky and saw an ocean full of stars. It was a beautiful sight and something I’ll never forget. 

4. Boat Ride

This is also an excursion with a lot of tour options. We went out on a boat and experienced the crystal blue ocean, where we saw dozens of stingrays gliding and belly-flopping on the water! We got to ride from the ocean to a river, which was stunning. There were mangroves and trees growing over each other and tons of pretty birds. The wildlife is absolutely incredible. Everywhere you turn, you are surrounded by tons of exotic animals. I would definitely recommend seeing Costa Rica from the water, as there is so much beautiful scenery and luscious landscape. 

5. The Tenorio Volcano National Park

The Tenorio Volcanic National Park is one of the most amazing places I’ve seen. It’s so biodiverse that even though it’s less than 0.1% of the world’s landmass, it provides more than 7% of the oxygen for the entire planet. It consists of a tropical rainforest that protects certain species of animals. It is also the home to the Rio Celeste Waterfall and the Blue Lagoon. As you explore the park, you’ll see so many animals, including sloths, snakes, monkeys, and frogs. The animals and the plants are unusually colorful as well because of the minerals in the volcano. If you love nature, animals, and the outdoors, then you will love this attraction. 

Costa Rica was so fun to explore. It’s inspiring how much the people love the environment and make it a priority to take care of it. And, it’s obvious once you visit Costa Rica how much they do take care of it because it’s absolutely stunning. There is so much to see and do in this amazing country, but I highly recommend checking out my top 5 attractions listed above. I promise you won’t be disappointed!