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Print the full guideWhat to see in Northwest Costa Rica
Northwest Costa Rica Attractions
Things to see and do in Northwest Costa Rica revolve mainly around exploring the stunning variety of natural landscapes and a number of world-class wildlife refuges and national parks. The region is scenically spectacular with volcanoes, forests, lakes, rivers and fertile lowlands, interspersed with small villages. Fortuna and Liberia are both good bases from which to explore the numerous attractions of Northwest Costa Rica, and the Monteverde community is an attraction in itself.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is one of the most famous attractions of Costa Rica and many visitors travel to the country primarily to experience this magical, misty forest world. The other well-known park in the region is the Arenal Volcano National Park which attracts visitors from all over the globe with its visibly active volcano. In both parks there are a variety of hikes and activities to be enjoyed.
Although these two reserves are deservedly world-renowned, there are many other wildlife refuges and national parks in the Northwest. Santa Rosa National Park is an important sea turtle nesting area and a wonderful place to see Costa Rican animals in their natural habitat. The Bolanos Island National Wildlife Refuge is an island where a variety of seabirds, including pelicans, nest, and it has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. White Cliffs National Wildlife Refuge and Junquillal Bay National Wildlife Refuge are two more popular wilderness areas.
Arenal Volc�n National Park
The Arenal Volcano National Park is situated within the Arenal Conservation Area, also known as 'the Energetic Heart…
Fortuna
Fortuna is the nearest village to the spectacular Volcán Arenal and the volcano is the main reason for visiting…
Liberia
Located 135 miles (220km) northwest of San Jose, Liberia is not so much a tourist destination as a convenient travel…
Monteverde
Monteverde is a small community scattered along several kilometres of road that leads to the Monteverde Cloud Forest…
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
The cloud forest is one of the most famous ecotourism areas in Central America. It is called a cloud forest rather than…
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