Where to stay in Costa Rica?

Staying in San José, in the capital

The country'scapital and largest city, San José is often the destination by which you arrive in Costa Rica. Situated on a plateau in the center of the country, between volcanoes and mountains, it's an ideal city for discovering Costa Rican culture and history. With so much to do, it's well worth staying at least one night.

Among the must-sees are a stroll through the old quarters to discover the colonial buildings, a stroll through the Sabana park, or a visit to the central market, the ideal place to discover the country's local produce. You can also visit one of its many museums, including :

• Pre-Columbian Gold Museum: an archaeological museum dedicated to pre-Columbian gold objects, one of the 3 most important in Latin America.
• Jade Museum: houses the world's largest collection of jade, preserves pre-Columbian art and showcases contemporary artists.
• National Museum of Costa Rica: traces the ancestral Costa Rican culture.

With its many bars and restaurants, this is where you'll find the best restaurants in Costa Rica, allowing you to sample a variety of local specialties. However, be careful with your budget, as this is the capital and prices are often quite high.

Finally, as far as accommodation is concerned, San José is a city where you'll find a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. You can stay for as little as $20 a night. However, whatever your budget, it's best to stay in the center of town, close to the central market.

La fortuna: lodging at the foot of the Arenal volcano

Known for its hot springs due to its proximity to the Arenal volcano, La Fortuna is one of Costa Rica's most popular tourist regions. Located in the center of the country, north of San José, it is home to the Arenal Volcano National Park, a famous volcano that is still active. It is also famous for the La Fortuna waterfall, a 70-metre-high waterfall that can be reached by hiking.

A variety of activities are available to discover these sites. As a result, this is an area where it may be worthwhile to stay for 2 or 3 nights during a stay in Costa Rica. In fact, among the many activities available, you can go rafting and hiking, take advantage of the thermal springs or go zip-lining.

La Fortuna is home to all types of accommodation, from youth hostels to large luxury hotel complexes. So it's possible to accommodate both small and large budgets. However, if your budget allows, opt for a hotel with hot springs to get the most out of the La Fortuna experience. Within the town, you'll find numerous restaurants offering a variety of cuisines.

And if you're not traveling by car, you'll have no trouble visiting La Fortuna: for most excursions, shuttles can pick you up directly from your hotel.

Stay in Monteverde, the most popular biological reserve

In northwest Costa Rica, Monteverde is one of the country's most popular nature reserves. Along with the Cloud Forest, the most popular forest, and the Santa Elena Reserve, it's a region known for its many adventure parks, including the famous Selvatura Park. These are ideal playgrounds for unusual activities. You can walk on the famous suspension bridges, ride a buggy or fly over the forest on a SkyTram. In fact, Monteverde is home to the longest zip line in Central America.

Beyond these activities, it's an ideal place to discover Costa Rica's flora and fauna. There are numerous waterfalls to observe, as well as a butterfly garden and a sloth sanctuary. Staying at Monteverde gives you the chance to take a night hike in the jungle, a unique experience that allows you to observe species that are impossible to see during the day.

As there is no accommodation in these unspoilt parks, the ideal place to stay is in the village of Santa Elena. With its many restaurants, stores and, above all, excursion offices, this small, touristy village is the ideal place to stay if you want to get to the jungle quickly and enjoy the various activities.

Among all the accommodations in town, it's possible to find budget hotels. However, the best way to get the full experience is to stay in one of the lodges, which are often a little more out of the way, offering magnificent views of the jungle.

Finally, if you choose to stay in Santa Elena, there are many public buses linking the village to the reserve. If you book through a tour operator, they'll usually provide shuttle buses to pick you up directly at your hotel. So you'll have no trouble getting to the various sites and enjoying Monteverde!

Stay in Tortuguero, land of turtles

In the east of the country, Tortuguero is a vast area of beaches and jungle criss-crossed by rivers. As its name suggests, this nature reserve is home to turtles and is one of the best places to observe turtles nestingand hatching. During the right season, for those who decide to stay in Tortuguero, it is possible to take night excursions to witness the egg-laying of these sea turtles.

Although Tortuguero is best known for its turtles, it's an area with plenty to do. If you decide to spend one or more nights here, you'll find plenty to keep you busy. You can take a canoe trip, discover the species in Tortuguero Park and even stroll along its beaches, although swimming is strongly discouraged. For those who decide to stay in Tortuguero, it is possible to take guided night excursions into the park.

If you are staying in Tortuguero, you can visit the village of the same name in the evening. It's a lively place for locals after dark, with a variety of bars and restaurants. If you're on a budget, you can stay in the more out-of-the-way lodges in the heart of the jungle.

Finally, please note that Tortuguero is not accessible by car, so you'll have to take a boat. So, if you want to stay in Tortuguero and you're traveling to Costa Rica by rental car, you can leave your car in a parking lot near the pier for a few dollars a night.

Lodging on the Ota peninsula, near Corcovado

On Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast, the Osa Peninsula is one of the world's richest and most diverse forest destinations. From Drake Bay, the peninsula's central point, you can reach two major places of interest: Corcovado National Park and Cano Island Biological Reserve. Bahia Drake beach is an ideal place to watch turtles laying their eggs.

One of the main attractions on the Osa peninsula is the Corcovado, a famous tourist attraction. The Corcovado is home to the largest rainforest in Central America, which is home to numerous species.

Isla Cano is one of the country's best snorkeling and diving sites. It's not uncommon to spot dolphins and even whales.

Both of these sites, accessible from Drake Bay, are great for discovering Costa Rica's wildlife and marine life. Although the region isn't very large, there are plenty of activities on offer, including hiking, diving, boating and fishing. So, to make sure you don't miss out on anything, it's best tostay for 1 or 2 nights.

Finally, as far as accommodation is concerned, although this region is wilder than other parts of the country, it is no less touristy. While there is a wide range of accommodation on offer, jungle lodges, which are the best option for immersing yourself in these natural environments, are generally quite expensive.

Stay in the Quepos region, at the gateway to Manuel Antonio Park

South of San José, on Costa Rica's west coast, the Quepos region is famous for Manuel Antonio, the country's most popular national park. Combining tropical rainforest, coral reefs and stretches of white sand, it's the ideal place to admire the country's biodiversity.

Indeed, despite its small size, it's teeming with wildlife and boasts incredible flora, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations. One of its most emblematic spots is Punta Catedral, a whale-shaped peninsula offering magnificent views.

For those wishing to visit, it's essential to stay at least one night. Indeed, while half a day is enough to visit the park, it's best to get there very early in the morning, at daybreak, to increase your chances of seeing the various species, which don't come out much during the day because of the high temperatures.

As for accommodation, the best option is to stay either in Quepos or in the village of Manuel Antonio. If you choose to stay in Quepos and don't have a car, you can easily reach Manuel Antonio by bus or cab. But don't be surprised: whether you choose Quepos or Manuel Antonio, this is a very touristy area, and the accommodation available there is usually quite expensive.

Other sectors: Puerto Viejo and Guanacaste

In addition to all the regions mentioned below, Costa Rica also has many other places to discover. These include Puerto Viejo and the Guanacaste peninsula, which you can visit if your stay allows.

On the Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo is a typical village with colorful houses. It's the only place in Costa Rica where you'll find protected areas accessible free of charge: Cahuita National Park, home to a large number of sloths, and Manzanillo National Park, one of the last primary forests similar to that of Santa Elena.

In addition to these reserves, Puerto Viejo is one of the best spots for surfing and snorkeling. If you decide to stay a few nights, you'll find a variety of accommodation options. While there are a number of affordable guesthouses, this area is mainly home to resorts.

To the north-west, on the Pacific coast, the Guanacaste peninsula is known for its concentration of national parks and heavenly beaches, just like the rest of Costa Rica. If you're passing through Guanacaste, the main areas to stay are Liberia, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. These are the areas from which most excursions to the peninsula depart.

Guanacaste is mainly made up of resorts, so accommodation prices are rather high. However, if you plan ahead, you can find more affordable hostels and small hotels.