San José, Costa Rica

OutsideMay 28

Why Life Is Just Better In Costa Rica

This tiny Central American country serves up a special blend of wellness, adventure, and nature—and it all adds up to “pura vida” for locals and visitors alike

Offers markets, restaurants, museums, music

16 things in this story

The RetreatHotelOffers packages for food and sleep transformation
Arenal Nayara GardensHotelProvides cacao ceremonies and treetop yoga
Arenal VolcanoSightVolcano at the base of Arenal Nayara Gardens
Monteverde Cloud Forest ReservePlaceMisty ridgelines with orchids
Santa Elena Forest ReservePlaceForest reserve with monkeys and sloths
Tortuguero National ParkPlacePark with canals, monkeys, caimans, turtles
San JoséSightOffers markets, restaurants, museums, music
Pre-Columbian Gold MuseumMuseumMuseum to visit in San José
Restaurante SilvestreRestaurantRestaurant for dinner in San José
Arenal Volcano National ParkSightPark with ziplines through primary forest
Nayara Hot SpringsSightHot springs near Arenal Volcano
Poás VolcanoSightVolcano with one of world's largest craters
Pacuare RiverSightRiver for Class III-IV whitewater rafting
Talamanca MountainsSightMountains for hiking with Indigenous guides
guanábanasRestaurant
cloud forest canopySight

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San José

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Why Life Is Just Better In Costa Rica

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