Curator’s statement
When I visited Costa Rica for the first time in 2023, its unique charm captivated me. Having explored over 10 countries and experienced a range of climates and cultures, Costa Rica stood out for its remarkable blend of natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Dominical, with its unspoiled beaches and verdant jungles, offered an immersive retreat into nature’s tranquility. Tamarindo has a famous surf culture and sophisticated yet laid-back atmosphere. It perfectly balances adventure and luxury, making it an experience I’ll never forget, and always strive to share with others.
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Where to stay in Costa Rica
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Things to do in Costa Rica
Surfing
Costa Rica is known for its stunning beaches and world-renowned surfing. This activity is affordable, exciting and fun for any age.
Hiking
Costa Rica has endless hikes with the most exquisite waterfalls and natural scenery. Snorkeling: Costa Rica has some beautiful underwater scenery with coral, colorful fish and unique animals. Manuel Antonio: A National park known for its gorgeous views and abundance of animals, most commonly monkeys!
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is nestled at the base of the Arenal Volcano. This offers a variety of activities including hiking through lush rainforests, soaking in natural hot springs and exploring stunning waterfalls like La Fortuna Falls, all while enjoying breathtaking volcanic views.
Places to eat & drink in Costa Rica
Waffle Monkey: Local breakfast and coffee shop in Tamarindo.
Tama Onda: Local Beachfront restaurant in Tamarindo with great drinks.
Coco's: Located in Dominical, housing the best drinks with great deals.
El Fuego: The best meals I had in Costa Rica were at this restaurant. They have amazing meat cuts, good drinks, and brew their own coffee!
One Love: Located in Dominical, this is an easy and local place to stop for coffee and some snacks!
Need to know
If you are going to visit Manuel Antonio, make sure to book tickets in advance, they sell out quickly!
The weather is very unpredictable at times, but usually rain only lasts about 10 minutes.
The local gyms are fun and very welcoming.
Food and activities tend to be on the lower-cost side!
Bring bug spray if you are going to be outside at night.
The night life in tourism areas like Tamarindo is very fun.
If you are going to surf, renting a board on the beach or nearby for a few hours at a time is the way to go.
If you are trying to decide between cities, Dominical and Manuel Antonio are the smaller and more local options with more nature to explore. The Tamarindo area is larger with more appeal to visitors.
If you want to see multiple areas, renting a car is a great way to do that and it made our trip so much better. However, the commutes are long, and traffic laws are not enforced.
Travel Advisor
Isabella Gregory
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Costa Rica page.