Don’t waste a single day off sitting at home or at work when you could spend your time in a place like Costa Rica. But when you come you don’t have to visit the same places as everyone else.

Here we introduce some of the least-visited destinations in Costa Rica that deserve more attention:

1. Montezuma

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Montezuma used to be just a fishing village; these days have already gone down in history. Its beaches are now home to the hippie / bohemian scene with locals and foreigners.

The city’s location on the southeastern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula means that orientation is only half as fun. You can take a bus to Jacó, but from there it’s an hour’s ride on a water taxi that goes straight to Montezuma Beach (the boat goes from Herradura, north of Jacó).

You can also drive two hours from San José to Puntarenas and its ferry terminal where you can take the ferry to Paquera. Once in Paquera, drive another hour via Playa Tambor, Cóbano and finally on a gravel road to Montezuma. (Yes, there is also an inexpensive 25-minute flight from San José to Playa Tambor, but that option leaves the adventure aside.)

Miles of rugged coastline borders Montezuma, which also has wonderful nightlife – the fun doesn’t stop when you put your surfboard away. Just outside of the city center is a gorgeous 80 foot waterfall with excellent pools for bathing. There are also hot springs nearby. The only problem with Montezuma is getting down from the heights to see what else Costa Rica has to offer.

2. San Gerardo de Dota

With nearly 1,000 miles of coastline touched by 2 seas, Costa Rica attracts many people who want to take advantage of its beaches and waves. But not everyone comes to Costa Rica to surf. Saint Gerhard of Dota, for example, located in the Savegre Valley of the Cordillera de Talamanca, is perfect for bird watching. While the location in the south and center of the country facilitates access to the Los Quetzales National Park, mass tourism has not yet arrived here.

Nearly 200 species of birds have been identified in the cloud forests of this region – including a variety of hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and tanagers – but the undisputed star of the place is the quetzal, which usually hangs around the San Gerardo de Dota region year-round.

From luxury villas to mountain huts, most accommodations here have Instagram-worthy views of rolling mountains and orchards. If you land in San Gerardo de Dota and you don’t like the birds much, you can fish for trout in the Savegre River, take coffee farm tours, and visit Naranjo Waterfall.

3. Chirripó National Park

Cerro Chirripó is the highest peak in Costa Rica (12,533 feet). This national park was created for hikers and mountaineers. On a cloudless day, you can see both seas, the Caribbean and the Pacific, from the summit.

In addition to the challenge of climbing the Chirripó, there are numerous path systems that lead through more ecological zones than in most other countries. Climb from the grasslands near San Gerardo de Rivas (don’t miss the hot springs there, a 15-minute walk north of the ranger station) into the rainforest and from 50-foot tall ancient oak forests to the tundra ecosystem that is already in place near the . is to the top … All this wealth of diversity keeps armies of biologists on their toes for a lifetime.

The climb to the summit is 11 miles with an elevation gain of nearly 10,000 feet. 500 meters before the summit there is a refuge where you can spend the night and start the descent the next day. Camping is not allowed and you have to reserve the refuge in advance with the national park system. Although there are many people around Easter and some dry season weekends, there are not many tourists the rest of the year.

4. Turrialba and Pacuare

There is no better way to see the splendor of the mountains, canyons, and waterfalls of the Pacuare River than on a white water raft. National Geographic magazine named this river one of the top 10 rivers in the world for rafting, and there are tour operators and river sections for all skill levels. While you will likely be busy riding the rapids, you can also spot numerous birds and monkeys during the excursion.

If you don’t like rafting, Turrialba town is a good place to visit. You can also plan a tour of the Guayabo ruins there. This place is one of the few pre-Columbian sites open to the public and it gives you an idea of ​​what life was like in this place between 1000 BC. BC and AD 1400.

5. Manzanillo

For those who are really looking for something secluded, the town of Manzanillo will definitely be satisfied. This city marks the end of the road that runs parallel to the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and was paved for the first time in 2003.

But you don’t have to stop there. There are 10 miles of pristine coastline between the end of the road and the Panamanian border. For a true adventure, let a local guide on the town take you along the coast to the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. A half day walk will take you to the beautiful Punta Mona.

Further to the southeast, deep inside the reserve, you can visit the town of Gandoca, which can be reached from the main road by 4×4 or by boat. This small town is closely associated with Afro-Caribbean culture. Though you won’t find fancy hotels here, there are friendly Costa Ricans throwing parties in the local bar and new friends you might want to snorkel or kayak over. It is one of those under the radar journeys that will give you a new understanding of the ethical spirit and its pura vida.

Response Costa Rica

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