Fraijanes

This enchanting corner of Costa Rica, blessed with a superb climate, provides visitors with a chance to experience an ideal rural setting. If you’d like some action with your relaxation, you’re well positioned to hit local sights like Poás Volcano, as well as try camping, horseback riding, and trout fishing. Fraijanes Lagoon, set amid grasslands, forests, and strawberry fields, is particularly idyllic. There’s another attraction you may not associate with a rural setting: Good restaurants abound. Get up early to enjoy the sunrise and a cup of delicious coffee alongside warm bread and natilla, the local sour cream.

Wonderful B&B! Anita has a magical place in the jungle. Wake to the sound of monkeys, birds and the ocean.

More than just monkeys, this well-kept park houses an ocelot, alligator, toucan, various exotic birds and spider monkeys. We must’ve been the only tourists in Costa Rica NOT to see monkeys in the wild, so it’s a good thing we stopped here. Your $10 entrance fee goes towards the rehabilitation of these animals, who are nursed back to health and reintroduced into the wild when possible.

Costa Rica has so much to explore. While its a bit over-touristed these days there are still some great beaches, warm waters, wonderful food and delicious coffee to be found... go in rainy season and see less tourists!