farpackerPlan

Backpacking Costa Rica: 10 best places to visit

The most rewarding stops for backpackers in Costa Rica, ranked and mapped. Tap any place to drop it into a free, day-by-day route built around how you actually travel.

Plan a Costa Rica trip
  1. 1

    La Fortuna

    Alajuela

    Arenal volcano and hot springs.

  2. Monteverde, Costa Rica2

    Monteverde

    Puntarenas

    Misty cloud-forest zip lines.

  3. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica3

    Manuel Antonio

    Puntarenas

    Rainforest meets beach.

  4. Tamarindo, Costa Rica4

    Tamarindo

    Guanacaste

    Laid-back surf town.

  5. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica5

    Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

    Limón

    Caribbean reggae beaches.

  6. 6

    Tortuguero

    Limón

    Canals and nesting turtles.

  7. 7

    Corcovado National Park

    Puntarenas

    Wildest rainforest in the country.

  8. San José, Costa Rica8

    San José

    San José

    Central capital and markets.

  9. 9

    Rio Celeste

    Alajuela

    Sky-blue jungle waterfall.

  10. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica10

    Santa Teresa

    Puntarenas

    Bohemian surf and yoga.

Ready to backpack Costa Rica?

Tell farpacker your route, budget and vibe — get a day-by-day plan through Costa Rica in seconds, drawn on a map, not a checklist of the same ten sights.

Start planning