Top 10 Viewpoints in Costa Rica
Costa Rica packs astonishing biodiversity and dramatic relief into a small Central American country between two oceans. Active volcanoes, cloud forests draped in mist, and ridges from which both the Pacific and Caribbean are visible give its viewpoints a tropical drama all their own. From crater rims above turquoise lakes to canopy platforms among the treetops, these ten capture Costa Rica's volcanic and forested landscapes.
Arenal Volcano viewpoints
The near-perfect cone of Arenal Volcano rises to 1,670 metres above the lowlands of the north. Though its eruptive phase ended in 2010, the volcano remains the iconic backdrop of the region. Viewpoints from the national park trails, the hanging bridges and the resorts around La Fortuna frame the cone, often wreathed in cloud, above the rainforest and Lake Arenal.
Poas Volcano crater
The Poas Volcano holds one of the largest active crater lakes in the world, a turquoise-green acid lake nearly 300 metres across, at around 2,700 metres. A short paved trail leads to the crater viewpoint, accessible by a timed-entry reservation because of volcanic gas hazards. The steaming, otherworldly crater is one of the most accessible volcanic viewpoints in Central America.
Irazu Volcano summit
The highest volcano in Costa Rica, Irazu reaches 3,432 metres, with craters including the Diego de la Haya and the main crater holding a coloured lake. From the summit, on a rare perfectly clear day, both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are said to be visible. The barren, ash-grey summit landscape contrasts sharply with the green lowlands below.
Monteverde cloud forest
The Monteverde Cloud Forest, draped in perpetual mist at around 1,500 metres, is one of the most famous protected areas in the tropics. Canopy walkways, hanging bridges and the Continental Divide viewpoint frame the forest, the swirling cloud and, occasionally, distant volcanoes. It is a viewpoint experience as much about the ethereal atmosphere as the long views.
Cerro de la Muerte
The Cerro de la Muerte ("Mountain of Death") on the Pan-American Highway rises to around 3,450 metres, the highest point on the road. Viewpoints near the summit look across the high paramo — a treeless alpine moorland unique in the tropics — and, on clear mornings, toward both coasts. The contrast with the lush valleys below is striking.
Manuel Antonio viewpoints
The clifftop trails of Manuel Antonio National Park, on the central Pacific coast, give viewpoints over rainforest tumbling down to white beaches and turquoise coves. Cathedral Point looks out over the Pacific and the offshore islands, with monkeys and sloths in the trees. It combines tropical forest and coastal panorama in one of the country's most popular parks.
Rio Celeste
In Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Rio Celeste flows an astonishing turquoise blue, the result of a chemical reaction where two rivers meet. The viewpoint over the waterfall and the "Tenidero" where the colour appears frames the vivid water against the rainforest. It is one of the most striking natural-colour viewpoints in Costa Rica.
Chirripo summit
The highest peak in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripo reaches 3,821 metres. The strenuous two-day climb leads to a summit and surrounding paramo from which, on a clear dawn, both the Pacific and Caribbean oceans can be seen. The high-altitude landscape of glacial lakes and rock is utterly different from the tropical lowlands and is a serious mountain undertaking.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
Near Dominical on the southern Pacific coast, the Nauyaca Waterfalls drop in two tiers through the rainforest, the upper fall around 45 metres high. Viewpoints along the trail and from the pools below frame the cascade and the surrounding jungle. It is one of the most beautiful waterfall viewpoints in the country, reached by a hike or horseback ride.
Whale's Tail, Marino Ballena
At Marino Ballena National Park on the south Pacific coast, a sandbar forms the shape of a whale's tail at low tide, visible from the clifftop viewpoints and the beach. The park is named for the humpback whales that migrate here, and the combination of the natural tail formation and the ocean makes it a unique coastal viewpoint.
Explore on the map
From the craters of Poas and Irazu to the cloud forest of Monteverde and the Whale's Tail of the Pacific coast, every viewpoint above is plotted on the interactive map. Use it to see which require a reservation or summit hike, which are short forest walks or coastal overlooks, and plan a route across the volcanoes and forests of Costa Rica.