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All Costa Rica

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Costa Rica

23 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Costa Rica

Updated November 8, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Costa Rica

Cahuita, Costa Rica

Aviarios del Caribe: Sloth Sanctuary

Sloth rehabilitation center in the jungle of Costa Rica.
Rio Celeste

Costa Rica

RĂ­o Celeste

This neon blue river gets its color from a unique mix of bacteria and volcano minerals.
Parque Francisco Alvardoa

Zarcero, Costa Rica

Parque Francisco Alvarado

This Costa Rican topiary park is a surreal garden of unearthly delights.
Dogs on a hike.

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Territorio de Zaguates (Land of Strays)

Where dogs like the rare "Fire-Tailed Border Cocker" run free on the mountainside.
DiquĂ­s Spheres

Costa Rica

DiquĂ­s Spheres

These mysterious ancient stone spheres were created by a civilization lost to time and are now mostly lawn ornaments.
Main staircase

Jaco, Costa Rica

El Miro Ruins

Once the foundation for a mansion, these ruins now offer amazing panoramic coastal views.

Quepos, Costa Rica

El Avion Restaurant and Bar

The sister plane of the C-123 shot down during the Iran-Contra Affair has found a new purpose in retirement.

Quepos, Costa Rica

727 Fuselage Home

Costa Rican accommodation resembles a crash site, but with a nice balcony.
See All 23 Things To Do in Costa Rica

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Costa Rica

Quepos, Costa Rica

El Avion Restaurant and Bar

The sister plane of the C-123 shot down during the Iran-Contra Affair has found a new purpose in retirement.
The exterior of La Oruga.

Altamira, Costa Rica

Restaurante La Oruga

Dine inside a giant caterpillar at this community-run eatery.
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Stories About Costa Rica

Costa Rican designs for oxcarts are iconic and can be spotted throughout the country. The intricate patterns represent birds and foliage found in the dense forests, as well as spear tips from Indigenous and Aztec designs, and colors represent different regions.

A Look Inside the Last Colorful Oxcart Factory in Costa Rica

Uriel Alfaro Castro shows his handmade Aztec wheels, which outperformed European designs.
by Sarah Yeoman
September 5, 2023
Rocky's doghouse was carefully dismantled after meteorite hunters purchased it in 2019. Though Rocky was sad to see his house go, it was soon replaced with a much nicer one.

Sold: A $44,000 Doghouse With a Hole in Its Roof

Rocky's home was struck by a rare meteorite, but don't worry, he's okay.
by Sarah Durn
February 25, 2022
The misty cloud forests of Costa Rica's Cerro de la Muerte are home to several endangered species—including, say locals, spirits charged with protecting the mountain.

In Search of NĂ­mbulos, Guardians of Costa Rica's Mountain of Death

Believers say the otherworldly protectors of Cerro de la Muerte's cloud forests face an uncertain future.
by Trevor Ritland and Priscilla Palavicini
October 6, 2021

Lists Featuring Costa Rica

Red Seabeach
The otherworldly landscape of Padar Island.
Black Sand Beach

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

From bright red grass to stranded shipwrecks, these beaches are anything but ordinary.

10

Including Driftwood Beach, Red Beach , and Padar Island

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