Liberia
With whitewashed walls and twin pillars flanking the front door, La Agonía typifies the Spanish colonial architecture that earned Liberia its 'White City'…
Must-see attractions in Costa Rica
Monteverde & Santa Elena
The Bat Jungle in Monteverde is a small but informative exhibit, with good bilingual educational displays and a habitat housing almost 100 free-flying…
Estación del Ferrocarril de Costa Rica
San José
Less than a block east of Parque Nacional is San José's historical train station to the Atlantic, built in 1908. Nowadays offering weekday train service…
San José
On the north side of Parque Central is this theatre, which was built in 1928 in a beaux-arts style. It is named after the well-known Costa Rican tenor…
Ecomuseo de las Minas de Abangares
Northwestern Costa Rica
It’s not often you see the terms ‘eco’ and ‘mining’ so close together. Set on 38 hectares, this little museum has photographs and models depicting the old…
Liberia
The somewhat shady but not particularly picturesque Parque Central frames Iglesia Inmaculada Concepción de María. The park is also the seasonal hangout of…
Puntarenas
This retro marine park has seen better days, but it will certainly keep the kids entertained for a while. There's an aquarium showcasing many tropical…
Central Pacific Coast
This local butterfly farm run by American expat Dan is set on 1.2 hectares with 70 kinds of fruit tree and 15 species of butterfly, including the enormous…
Copetillo Birdwatching/Donde Cope
Caribbean Coast
Guapileño artist-photographer Cope (co-pay) has converted this former tilapia farm into a paradise of hummingbirds, tanagers and other birds, with a…
Museo Comunitario Indígena de Boruca
Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa
Marked by an enormous stone sphere out front, this tiny museum has interpretive exhibits explaining Boruca legends, and displays tools and materials used…
San José
The Mercado Borbón is a true sensory experience of sights and smells, and you might catch the daily hand-truck race among the workers. The focus is on…
Puerto Limón
The sea wall offers pleasant views of the rocky headland and the mesmerizing waves crashing against the concrete jetty. After dark this is a popular make…
Montezuma
This pretty little beach is the centerpiece of Montezuma, as fishers, ferries and tourists come and go. Unfortunately, it's not really recommended for…
San José
The city’s central park is more of a run-down plaza than a park. At its center is a grandiose bandstand that looks as if it was designed by Mussolini:…
La Fortuna
This prominent landmark oversees the central plaza of La Fortuna. The landscaped green is often dotted with outdoor art exhibits and souvenir stands, and…
Northwestern Costa Rica
On the road to Playa Naranjo, and about 8km from shore, you’ll pass a trailhead for the Mirador Valle Naranjo. It’s a short 600m hump to this viewpoint…
Puerto Limón
The city’s waterfront centerpiece won't ever win best in show, but its decrepit bandstand, paths and greenery are surprisingly appealing, all shaded by…
Puntarenas
Casa de la Cultura has an art gallery with occasional exhibits as well as a performance space offering seasonal cultural events. Outside there's a…
Museo Histórico Marino de la Ciudad de Puntarenas
Puntarenas
This dusty museum describes the once-proud history of Puntarenas through audiovisual presentations, old photos and artifacts. At the time of research it…
San José
A lovely little space of former farmland, bordered by a French cafe and French-Spanish bookstore, as well as some restaurants. Shade trees and plenty of…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
Visitors may visit a lookout over this gorgeous horseshoe-shaped beach, but the access point via the Sendero Puerto Escondido was closed indefinitely in…
Northwestern Costa Rica
With the addition of Parque Nacional Guanacaste (345 sq km) in 1989, the Area de Conservación Guanacaste became part of a protected nature corridor…
Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Peñas Blancas
Northwestern Costa Rica
This 24 sq km refuge, not to be confused with the Nicaraguan border crossing of the same name, runs along the steep southern arm of the Cordillera de…
San José
On Parque España’s northeast corner, this elegant colonial-style yellow mansion (closed to the public) houses the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The ceiba tree…
Liberia
The wheels of development grind slowly here in Liberia. The intention is that this historic building will no longer be just the former city jail or…
Liberia
Near the entrance of town, this statue of a steely-eyed sabanero (cowboy), complete with an evocative poem by Rodolfo Salazar Solórzano, stands watch over…
San José
One of downtown San José's most striking buildings, this century-old two-story metal edifice on Parque España's western edge was prefabricated in Belgium,…
San José
Costa Rica's congress meets in this grand structure – known as the 'blue castle' – in the center of San José. It's scheduled to be replaced by a…
Liberia
This old municipal building is little more than a landmark in the center of town, but it occasionally hosts interesting exhibitions or live music…
San José
This bronze statue of the 1930s Costa Rican president stands regally at the eastern entrance to La Sabana park.
Iglesia Inmaculada Concepción de María
Liberia
There’s not much to see here, but the big white church is a useful landmark. It's opposite Parque Central.
Monteverde & Santa Elena
A local landmark in the center of Santa Elena. The adjacent roasted-chicken shack apparently has no religious affiliation.
San José
The Alliance has French classes, a small library and rotating art exhibits in a Barrio Amón home. There are also cinematic and musical events. The classes…
