North-Central and Caribbean Plains

With an incredible array of protected zones, volcanoes, lakes, lagoons, and waterfalls, this region has experienced a growth in adventure and nature tourism. It has developed a parallel infrastructure for safe and fun experiences set in luxurious nature settings.

The North-Central and Caribbean plains region of Costa Rica -also referred to as the “Northern Plains,”- is well known for the Arenal Volcano and its nearby town of La Fortuna.

However, it includes several more areas like the Tenorio Volcano and its magnificent Río Celeste. 
 

With an incredible array of protected zones, volcanoes, lakes, lagoons, and waterfalls, this region has experienced growth in adventure and nature tourism.

It has developed a parallel infrastructure for safe and fun experiences set in luxurious nature settings.

Thanks to its frequent pouring rains, the Northern region of Costa Rica features wet evergreen forests and extremely fertile plains.

These work as excellent shelters for aquatic birds, hundreds of reptile species, a great variety of mammals, and some rare wildlife sorts as the enigmatic prehistorical Gaspar fish.

You may find remote and enchanting areas, like Boca Tapada, bordering the San Juan River and the border with Nicaragua in the Northern part of Costa Rica.

Sanctuaries preserve habitats for different endangered species with an extensive network of trails through luscious rainforests.

When talking about bird watching, the region is full of some of the most searched targets, such as the green macaws, different species of manakins and toucans, sun bitterns, and rare notable species like the snowy cotingas and the umbrella birds.

For adventure seekers, the North region of Costa Rica has a long and quite diverse menu. It’s endowed with white water rafting rivers immersed in canyons of profuse rainforests, and its topography is filled with mild hills.

It naturally allows the perfect scenario for all sorts of adventures in its multiple rivers as on the forests and trees’ tops.

Experiences such as rappelling on the cliffs of abundant waterfalls, walking on hanging bridges on the top of the rainforests, or flying on zip lines are common in the region.

It is probable, though, that the North Central area’s most prominent feature is its intense tropical nature, fantastic biological diversity, and the extended trails in private and state-owned reserves.

Hiking tours are made into the heart of the rainforests. They will take you to see, if lucky, three species of monkeys, two kinds of sloths, several types of rodents like agouti pacas, and coatimundis, rarities like white bats, and all sorts of amphibians and reptiles.
 
Guided by expert birders and naturalists, these tours turn into entertaining live documentaries.
 
And of course, at the end of the intense days, you may find in the region an abundance of thermae to soothe the strained muscles and relax the mind.
 
You will also be able to choose from a fantastic variety of accommodations that go from small family hotels to rainforest-immersed lodges, or luxurious options with fantastic settings to see volcanoes and enjoy exclusive spas.
 
Several options include their own rainforests and reserved areas. Some others, especially in the Arenal Volcano area, offer their own thermae and even as a part of your room a private hot spring plunge pool.
 
In the Northern Central region, we also include Monteverde’s unique region, as it is on the limit with the Pacific regions but quite close to the plains of the North.
 
Mountainous and a bit isolated, Monteverde holds some of the last tropical cloud forests in the World.
 
Among a great sort of bird species, probably the most recognized is the Resplendent Quetzal, an elusive, however stunning bird with iridescent plumage and a long tail that is considered a divinity among the Mesoamerican Pre-Columbian cultures.
 
Monteverde is an adventure too, with some of the longest ziplines in Costa Rica and a great network of hanging bridges in different preserves. It also offers some of the most authentic cultural Costa Rican experiences in sugar and coffee mills.
 
And, obviously, a fantastic array of accommodations can go from cozy wooden bungalows to luxurious five-star hotels with all sorts of amenities. 

Learn more about the other regions:

Central Valley

Pacific Coast

Caribbean Coast

So many great activities and locations to choose from, and that is why we create tailor-made trips based on your interests and wishes.
Contact us for more information or visit our blog page for more inspiration. (Tip: If you don’t want to miss any of our new blogs sign up for our newsletter, which we send out 6x per year)