Tamarindo is a fairly small beach town, known for beaches with strong surf like Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta, within walking distance from downtown. Playa Negra and Playa Avellana are slightly further away, but can easily be reached by car. Nature lovers won't want to miss Playa Grande to the north — it is a major nesting site for huge leatherback turtles. Visitors can enjoy miles of soft, pristine sand and crystal-clear waters, helping to give the region its reputation as a tropical paradise.

Las Catalinas is a new beach town developed in 2006 along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Its purpose is to create a way of life that is healthy, sustainable, fulfilling and fun. In practical terms, it means that Las Catalinas was founded based on the principles of New Urbanism — a compact, car-free and fully walkable town within easy reach of the beach. A maze of small shaded streets connects houses, shops, restaurants, small hotels and inns, pedestrian streets, plazas, parks, and recreational facilities — all surrounded by a lush rainforest. On the other side is the Pacific Ocean, where you'll find two of the finest beaches in all of Costa Rica with great swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, boogie boarding, and snorkelling. Don't miss out on the opportunity to go diving next to the Las Catalinas islands!

NDK is one of, if not the, most emblematic buildings in Sofia. Its name stands for National Palace of Culture, and if you’re strolling along Vitosha Boulevard, it’s only a short walk away. Locals gather in the surrounding park to skateboard, dance, relax at nearby cafés and enjoy sunny days whenever the weather allows. The building itself hosts concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions and many other artistic and cultural events throughout the year. If you’re arriving by metro, simply get off at NDK Station, which shares the same name, you can’t miss it.