Costa Rica Dupes List: Five Travel Alternatives to Popular Spots

Crowd enjoying sandy beach during a sunset
 
It's well known that Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination. In fact, its popularity continues to increase as visitor numbers each year show no signs of slowing down. 2023 was a record year for tourism in Costa Rica, as the country welcomed almost 2.5 million visitors by air, a 16.7% increase over 2022. These numbers beat Costa Rica's previous pre-pandemic record set in 2019. On top of this, Travel + Leisure named Costa Rica its Destination of the Year for 2024, which will further boost travel. In short, travel and tourism look good in Costa Rica going forward. But here's the thing. Most tourists to Costa Rica visit a few select areas, which end up being busier than anywhere else.