Caféoteca (San José) - Start where Costa Rica begins: coffee. Forget Starbucks — this place sources beans from micro-lots across the country, brewed every way imaginable. The kind of café where you sip something dark and fruity and suddenly get why this country lives and dies by coffee.

Mercado Central (San José) - Labyrinthine, noisy, and perfect. Butcher stalls, soda counters, bags of spices, and casados piled high. Order the olla de carne or a plate of gallo pinto. You’ll sweat, you’ll be jostled, and you’ll love it.

La Sabana Park - Think of it as San José’s lungs. A sprawl of green where locals run, play soccer, or sit on benches arguing politics. Grab a cold pipa (fresh coconut) from a vendor and wander.

Jazz Café Escazú - End the day with live music — jazz, salsa, or sometimes a wild fusion of both. It’s where the city shakes off the heat with a drink and a rhythm.

La Fortuna Waterfall (near Arenal) - A wall of water crashing into a turquoise pool in the middle of the rainforest. You hike down steep steps, swim until your muscles ache, then sit on a rock dripping and grinning like a kid.

Don Rufino (La Fortuna) - Upscale without the fuss. Wood-fired meats, fresh fish, and cocktails that actually care about balance. Order the beef tenderloin or the ceviche — this is local dining polished, not watered down.

Tabacón Hot Springs - Natural volcanic hot springs flowing through lush gardens. Tourists go, sure, but locals sneak in during the week. Nothing says “Pura Vida” like sitting in mineral water while the jungle hums around you.

Lava Lounge (La Fortuna) - Laid-back bar, open-air, hammocks strung up, reggae on the speakers. Cocktails are strong, beer is cold, and no one’s in a rush.

Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste) - Not the tourist-packed beach. Black sand, rough surf, and a reputation as a serious surfer’s spot. Grab a board or just sit back and watch the locals carve waves with brutal grace.

Soda El Coco (Playa Hermosa town) - No frills, plastic tables, and casados that taste like someone’s abuela cooked them. Rice, beans, plantains, and fish pulled from the water that morning. Cheap, honest, perfect.

Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional - If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the arribada — thousands of sea turtles hauling themselves onto the sand to lay eggs. It’s messy, primal, and unforgettable.

Zárpe Craft Beer (Tamarindo) - Local craft beer in a country still dominated by Imperial and Pilsen. Bold IPAs, stouts brewed with cacao, and a local crowd mixing with the occasional dusty traveler.

Playa Negra (Puerto Viejo) - Black volcanic sand, warm Caribbean water, and waves that attract a mix of Rastas, expats, and diehard surfers. It’s raw and beautiful, with no souvenir stands in sight.

Soda Lidia’s Place (Puerto Viejo) - Run by a local family, serving the best Caribbean rice and beans you’ll ever eat — slow-cooked with coconut milk, paired with jerk chicken or rabo encendido (oxtail stew). Pure soul food, Costa Rican style.

Jaguar Rescue Center - Not a zoo — a sanctuary. Injured sloths, monkeys, and wild cats being rehabilitated to return to the jungle. Run by locals who actually care, not a tourist gimmick.

Hot Rocks Reggae Bar - Finish with live reggae, strong rum drinks, and the kind of vibe where no one cares about time. Sit under the stars, the ocean a stone’s throw away, and let the night swallow you.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve - Walk into a forest that lives in the clouds. Moss carpets the trees, orchids hang like jewelry, and every few steps you hear a rustle that might be a quetzal or just the wind. Trails lead to hanging bridges where the canopy feels infinite. It’s haunting in the best way.

Stella’s Monteverde - A café that feels like someone’s living room, perched on the edge of the forest. Hummingbirds zip around while you sip a strong cup of local coffee and eat a slice of their homemade carrot cake. The kind of place that slows you down whether you want it to or not.

Monteverde Cheese Factory - Started by Quakers who settled here in the 1950s. They brought dairy traditions and created a cooperative still running today. You’ll taste some surprisingly good cheese — not what you came to Costa Rica for, but exactly what makes it special.

Tree House Restaurant & Café - Yes, it’s built around a giant ficus tree right in the middle of town. Touristy? Sure. But grab a table upstairs at night, order a cocktail or fresh seafood, and lean into the surreal. Eating dinner inside a tree feels right after a day in Monteverde’s dreamlike haze.