Great Runs in Costa Rica

Note: For the Full Guide to Running in Costa Rica, see the GR Website

The Republic of Costa Rica is a coastal country in Central America, wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea bordering Nicaragua and Panama. This bio-diverse and environmentally progressive nation is known for its ecotourism, and is the most visited country in Central America. It’s a challenge to provide a truly comprehensive guide to running in Costa Rica, but we’ve researched the best running spots in some of the most visited areas.

Nicoya Peninsula Beaches: The best beach running in Costa Rica is along the Pacific coast of the Nicoya peninsula, where flat compact sand stretches for miles of beautiful oceanfront.

San Jose Running Options: Places to run in Costa Rica’s vibrant capital include the trails of La Sabana and La Paz parks, the University of Costa Rica Campus, and the elegant metropolitan neighborhoods of Santa Ana and Escazú.

Jaco Beach: One of the liveliest towns in Puntarenas, known for its great nightlife and high-octane adventure tourism. Options are the 4.75 km Jaco Beach, and a quiet road at the southern end of Playa Hermosa.

Arenal Volcano: Head for a lush run on the area’s numerous flat, well maintained trails, including the Heliconias Trail and the paved Peninsula trail which runs along Lake Arenal. Enjoy a post-run hot springs soak!

Quepos/Manuel Antonio Area: Routes in the Quepos/Manuel Antonio National Park area include a sidewalked roadway, the Quepos boardwalk, Espadilla Beach, and trails within the park.

Santa Elena/Monteverde Cloud Forest: A splendid road run from the village of Santa Elena to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Other runs include trails in Monteverde and Curi-Cancha Reserves.

Limón/Caribbean Club: Our favorite runs in the Limón region on the Caribbean coast, including the city of Limón or Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

For the full running guide to Costa Rica, see greatruns.com.