Things to Do in Costa Rica: City Guides & Audio Tours

Costa Rica is a Central American country that chose to abolish its military after a brief civil war in 1948, redirecting those funds toward health care and education. Its landscape stretches from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, encompassing volcanic peaks, expansive lakes, and rainforests that shelter a remarkable variety of wildlife. Neywo offers a free audio guide for its five cities, with 42 narrated places spread across three walking tours and narration available in 11 languages.

Exploring Costa Rica’s Highlights

Historical and cultural foundations

The 1949 constitution that eliminated the army also established universal suffrage and guaranteed social, economic and educational rights. This decision grew from a longer history in which Indigenous peoples lived long before Spanish colonization, which treated the territory as a peripheral colony. Independence followed Spain’s defeat in the Mexican War of Independence, and Costa Rica later declared its own sovereignty. Despite periods of authoritarian rule, such as the dictatorship of Federico Tinoco Granados, the nation has cultivated a reputation for relatively stable political life, a legacy that remains evident in its presidential republic today.

A meeting of seas and cultures

Lying between the Caribbean to the east and the Pacific to the west, Costa Rica’s shores have long been a crossroads where Mesoamerican and Andean influences overlapped. The northwest, including the Nicoya Peninsula, marks the southernmost extent of Nahuatl cultural presence encountered by the Spanish, while central and southern areas show Chibcha heritage. Spanish colonization introduced the language—now spoken in a distinct Central American form—and Catholicism, which remains the official state religion although the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. On the Atlantic coast, the legacy of African workers from the 17th and 18th centuries adds another layer to the cultural mosaic, evident in the country’s cuisine that blends Native American, Spanish, African, Caribbean and other traditions, from corn‑based tamales to dishes enriched with spices and domestic animals introduced by settlers.

Natural landmarks

The country’s topography shifts dramatically over short distances. Cerro Chirripó rises to about 3,800 metres, offering a challenging trek for those who seek panoramic views. Irazú holds the title of Costa Rica’s highest volcano, its crater accessible to visitors who wish to walk its rim. Lake Arenal, the nation’s largest lake, lies at the foot of the Arenal Volcano and provides a setting for kayaking, fishing and lakeside trails. Corcovado National Park stands out among ecologists for its exceptional biodiversity; it shelters big cats, tapirs and is the only park where all four of Costa Rica’s monkey species—capuchins, howlers, spider monkeys and squirrel monkeys—can be observed together. The park’s richness is matched by the vulnerability of its ecosystems, which face pressures from deforestation, illegal pet trade and hunting.

Cities and their narrated sites

• La Fortuna (La Fortuna) – home to the Arenal Volcano and a museum paired with a coffee bar that explains the region’s coffee‑growing heritage.
• Limón (Limón) – features the Catedral Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, the Limoncito Wildlife Refuge, the Estadio Juan Gobán and the Río Cieneguita, each offering a different perspective on the Caribbean coast’s natural and urban life.
• Palmar Sur (Palmar Sur) – known for the stone spheres of Costa Rica, enigmatic pre‑Columbian monuments that attract curious visitors.
• San José (San José) – the capital’s cultural hub, with the National Museum of Costa Rica, the Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture, the Costa Rican Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design.
• Santa Elena (Santa Elena) – gateway to the Area de Conservación Guanacaste World Heritage Site, a protected area that showcases dry‑forest ecosystems and their wildlife.

Experience Costa Rica with Neywo

Neywo’s free audio guide lets you explore the country at your own pace. As you approach each narrated spot, the app plays a short story that explains its significance, without requiring you to follow a group or a fixed schedule. The guide covers the five cities listed above, encompassing 42 narrated places organized into three walking tours. Narration is available in 11 languages, ensuring that travelers from many backgrounds can enjoy the insights. Simply download Neywo, select Costa Rica, and let the audio companion turn your walk into a deeper discovery of the nation’s history, culture and nature.