This guide to experiencing the best of Costa Rica, from waterfalls and cloud forests to white sand beaches, presents the top adventures, authentic can’t-miss experiences and local insight for making the most of your trip. Original. Illustrations. Maps.
From waterfalls and cloud forests to white sand beaches, a week of pura vida awaits with Moon Best of Costa Rica. Inside you’ll find:- Flexible, strategic itineraries: Choose the best home base for you with regional five-day itinerary options or combine shorter side trips for a week of exploring
- The top adventures: Discover the best wildlife and marine life experiences, waterfalls, beaches, rainforests and cloud forests, ziplines, surf spots, and more
- Authentic can’t-miss experiences: Swim under a waterfall, raft over rapids, and explore mysterious caves. Admire the forest floor from the middle of a hanging bridge, take an aerial tram with incredible views, or snorkel with sea turtles in warm turquoise water. Relax on a pristine beach, soak in a volcanic mineral pool, and watch the sunrise with a cup of flavorful local coffee
- Insight from Cartago local Nikki Solano on how to experience Costa Rica like an insider, support local and sustainable businesses, avoid crowds, and respectfully engage with the culture
- Helpful charts with travel times from San Jose or Liberia international airports
- Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout
- Background information on Costa Rica's wildlife, landscape, history, and cultural customs, plus travel essentials like a packing list and health and safety information
With Moon's selective coverage and strategic tips, you can experience the best of Costa Rica. Planning to stay more than a week? Check out
Moon Costa Rica.
About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.
For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
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11 years ago, Nikki Solano boarded a plane to Costa Rica for the first time. Immediately, she fell in love: with the consistently warm weather, the landscape lined with beaches and waterfalls, and the genuinely friendly people greeting each other with a smile. To her, Costa Rica is as close as it gets to paradise, and she's felt at home ever since. One of her favorite things about living in Costa Rica is the pura vida lifestyle that encourages her to notice the little things: the sweet trill of a marimba instrument, the comradery that comes from "fútbol fever," and the savory crunch of chicharrones. What she loves most, though, is how much Costa Ricans love Costa Rica, and how proud they are of their beautiful country.
With 11 years of exploring Costa Rica under her belt, Nikki has made a career out of guiding travelers to her adopted home. To date, she has developed (and currently operates) six independent initiatives that focus on Costa Rica travel: Pura Vida! Eh? Inc., the Costa Rica Travel Blog, DIY Costa Rica, the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course, Costa Rica Promotions, and the Reach Out Costa Rica Travel Philanthropy Project.
