Northern Region

The cool highlands of Northern Costa Rica offer a dramatic contrast to the tropical Southern coast. Much of the Northern Region is known for its more temperate climate and generally cooler weather, which makes it a pleasure to explore all year-round (though beware the rain!)

Though North Costa Rica is defined by its highlands, the region offers a great variety of landscapes. The coastal canton of Sarapiquí is a biologically rich territory, with large swathes of primary forest, inland swamps, and tropical fruit plantations. An area of great importance for the conservation of birds, butterflies, felines, insects and plants, this hot and humid land can be freely explored via a network of trails.

The San Carlos region, which borders Nicaragua, offers a landscape of exceptional beauty, with its tropical forests, deep lagoons, natural hot springs and, that most famous Costa Rican landmark, Arenal Volcano. Within driving distance of San José, Arenal Volcano is a tourist hotspot. It can get busy, but a few days here spent exploring the many hiking trails, or just relaxing in the hot springs, are a great addition to any Costa Rica holiday.

North of San José, the highlands region of San Ramón is more typical of northern Costa Rica, with its tropical rain and cloud forest, its great variety of mosses and ferns, and its rich variety of birdlife (close to 250 recorded species).

Venturing further into the highlands, the town of Monteverde is located 172km northeast of San José. It has a curious past, with its beginnings in the early 1950s when a community of Quakers from the United States settled in the region as dairy farmers, defying the American draft during the Korean War.

The real appeal of Monteverde, however, lies not in the town's history but in the surrounding landscape. The Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde, or Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, is among Costa Rica's most visited nature reserves. It is home to the endangered Golden Toad, as well as over 100 species of mammal, 400 varieties of bird, and as many as 500 varieties of butterfly. You can spend a few days exploring the reserve's myriad trails and hanging bridges on foot, accompanied by a naturalist guide; or, if you're more inclined to adventure, fly through the forest as part of a zip line tour - a great adventure for families!

Many visitors to Costa Rica spend only a short time in the Northern Region, travelling only as far as Arenal Volcano or Monteverde. But there's enough in northern Costa Rica to fill an entire itinerary. We can help you plan an itinerary that takes in the best of the region's varied attractions.