Americas · 13 cities
Things to Do in Costa Rica
Thirteen Costa Rican destinations in one place: which parks now cap their visitors, why the two coasts have opposite weather, and how long the drives really take.
5,304 tours listed by Viator 13 cities we cover Free cancellation
Where to go
Cities of Costa Rica
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under Costa Rica.
Practical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
The big parks cap entry and some need booking
Manuel Antonio sells timed tickets and closes one day a week; Poás and Irazú volcanoes are reservation-only with a fixed slot. None of this is expensive and all of it sells out in the dry season. Book before you drive.
The drives are longer than the distances
San José to La Fortuna is around three hours, to Manuel Antonio about the same, and stretches of road are unpaved or single-lane through the mountains. Shared shuttles and short domestic flights are the normal way to move here, not self-drive marathons.
The two coasts have opposite seasons
The Pacific side is dry from December to April and wet from May to November. The Caribbean side around Limón runs the other way: its driest, clearest weeks are September and October, exactly when the Pacific is at its wettest.
A guide with a scope changes what you see
Sloths, quetzals and eyelash vipers are invisible to an untrained eye and obvious to a local naturalist. This is the one country where paying for a guided walk instead of walking the same trail alone genuinely changes the day.
Arenal to Monteverde goes across the lake
The standard transfer is jeep, boat across Lake Arenal, then jeep again — about three hours and far better than the long road around. It is a scheduled shared service, not a tour, and it is the usual way between the country’s two biggest inland destinations.
Dollars work, colones are the change
The currency is the colón and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere for tours and hotels, with change given in colones at the operator’s rate. Costa Rica is not a cheap Central American country — park fees and guided activities price like a developed destination.
When to visit
Costa Rica through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Dry season
Dec–Apr
- Best for
- Pacific beaches, reliable volcano views, every trail and road open.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Christmas and Easter are the two peaks — book parks, shuttles and hotels well ahead.
Green season
May–Aug
- Best for
- Lower prices, empty trails, turtle nesting starting, forests at their best.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Rain usually comes in the afternoon — mornings stay clear enough for most activities.
Wettest
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- The Caribbean coast, which is at its driest and sunniest exactly now.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pacific operators cut back or close; the Caribbean side is the move in these two months.
Shoulder
Nov
- Best for
- Rain easing, everything green, prices before the December jump.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The quiet month that most people skip — often the best value of the year.
Frequently asked
Costa Rica: common questions
How many days do you need in Costa Rica?
Ten days for the classic route: La Fortuna and Arenal, Monteverde cloud forest, then a Pacific beach. A week works if you drop one of the three. Fewer than that and you spend a disproportionate share of the trip in transit.
What does a tour in Costa Rica cost?
Costa Rica is not in our fifty-city price index, so we avoid quoting a median. In practice it is the most expensive country in Central America: guided park walks, zip-lines and rafting days are priced closer to North American levels than to its neighbours.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April for reliable dry weather on the Pacific side, at the highest prices. May, June and November are the value months with afternoon rain and far fewer people. September and October are the Caribbean coast’s best weeks and the Pacific’s worst.
Do you need to rent a car?
Not necessarily. Shared shuttles connect every major destination on a fixed schedule and cost little more than fuel. A four-wheel drive helps if you are going to remote beaches or the Osa peninsula; for the standard route it is optional.
Arenal or Monteverde?
Arenal for the volcano, hot springs and a wider choice of activities; Monteverde for the cloud forest, hanging bridges and the best wildlife guiding in the country. They are three hours apart by the lake crossing, so most itineraries include both.