Famend for its pure magnificence and pioneering ecological conservation, Costa Rica is ramping up efforts to turn into a robust contender in world movie manufacturing. A compact nation with a rising money rebate scheme, expert bilingual crews, shut proximity to the U.S., political and financial stability, wealthy pure landscapes and — maybe most significantly — a keeness to higher help productions, Costa Rica is coming face to face with neighbors Panama and Dominican Republic to turn into a movie energy in Central America and the Caribbean. 

In 2021, the Costa Rica Movie Fee, in collaboration with nationwide Commerce & Funding Promotion Company Procomer, established six Movie Pleasant Zones (FFZ), designated areas chosen for his or her scenic variety, ease of logistics and common out there infrastructure to help productions. Inside these areas, one can discover all kinds of pure landscapes, from pristine seashores to volcanoes and fashionable city settings. Procomer has labored carefully with native leaders to facilitate manufacturing and educate locals on the logistics and potential of movie productions, an initiative that not solely displays the nation’s tangible sense of unity and collaboration however has additionally begun to bear fruit, with about $12 million generated by the trade within the nation final 12 months. 

Under, you will discover a choice of the ten greatest areas in Costa Rica as we speak, from the dense rainforests of the north to the clear waters of the Caribbean: 

FFZ Huetar Norte

1. La Fortuna de San Carlos

Nestled on the foot of the imposing Arenal Volcano, a wonderfully conical volcano rising to 1,657 meters (5,436 ft), La Fortuna de San Carlos is the most well-liked location of the Huetar Norte zone and the place Hollywood productions comparable to “After Earth” had been filmed. It’s the supreme location for productions searching for numerous pure settings, dependable infrastructure, and environment friendly logistical entry. Inside its 30km radius, La Fortuna de San Carlos gives tropical rainforests, scorching springs, majestic waterfalls, hanging bridges, rural farms and lakes — together with Lake Arenal, a man-made lake spanning 85km and liable for offering 60% of the nation’s electrical energy. The world is below three hours by highway from each San José and Liberia, includes a native airstrip for business and personal flights, and boasts one of many nation’s strongest hospitality infrastructures, with resorts starting from luxurious resorts to modest lodges. Locals are broadly aware of movie productions, having usually labored on nature documentaries from the world’s most distinguished broadcasters (such because the BBC, Nationwide Geographic, and Discovery Channel), and are closely regionally organized, with cooperatives and householders’ associations that includes a excessive stage of coordination. The area is thought for its operational effectivity and security. 

2. San Vicente de Ciudad Quesada

Locals of San Vicente lovingly name their area the Switzerland of Costa Rica and it’s straightforward to see why: sitting at 1,500 meters (5,000 ft) above sea stage, this charming rural mountain neighborhood within the San Carlos canton is usually enveloped in thick mist, making its roads look straight out of a Stephen King novel. San Vicente is right for these searching for pristine pure or countryside areas with a European really feel, and a few of its spots can simply double for international locations like Scotland, Austria, Netherlands and Switzerland. With thick misty forests, San Vicente might appeal to fantasy and style productions searching for atmospheric settings and, whereas neighboring areas are sparser, San Vicente includes a collection of key areas sitting just some meters from eating places, resorts and vacationer facilities. The world is very distinguished within the months of June, July, and August, and sits at simply 25 minutes from downtown Ciudad Quesada, the northern area’s logistical hub with paved highway entry and proximity to important providers together with lodging, meals, {hardware} shops, hospitals, and native technicians. San Vicente additionally permits for mixed shoots with La Fortuna, Juan Castro Blanco Nationwide Park, and a collection of scenic rural routes.

FFZ Brunca 

1. Bahía Ballena

Positioned on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, Bahía Ballena is well known for the distinctive pure whale tail formation that provides it its title and it’s a key location for these searching for pristine marine landscapes, lush terrestrial ecosystems and putting pure surroundings. The bay is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot with intensive white and black sand seashores, dramatic cliffs, mangroves, and tropical rainforests. The area gives a spread of eco-lodges and boutique resorts, with skilled native suppliers for transportation, catering and technical help. Close by, one can discover protected areas such because the Piedras Blancas Nationwide Park and the Marino Ballena Nationwide Park, supreme areas for filming wildlife and marine environments in conservation areas. Bahía Ballena is between 4 and 5 hours by highway from San José and in addition accessible by air by a 40-minute home flight to Palmar Sur Airport, adopted by a 30-minute floor switch. 

2. Corcovado Nationwide Park

One of the crucial biodiverse locations on Earth, the Corcovado Nationwide Park is dwelling to 2.5% of the planet’s complete biodiversity and one of the crucial visually beautiful pure areas for the audiovisual trade in Central America. The park consists of over 400 sq. kilometers of rainforest, virgin seashores, mangroves, rivers and distant mountain ranges, and has been broadly featured in documentaries by Nationwide Geographic, BBC and the Discovery Channel. Corcovado is the pure habitat of iconic species like jaguars, tapirs, scarlet macaws, crocodiles and an unlimited vary of monkey species, making it a main location for nature documentaries, adventures, eco dramas, survival-style productions and narratives searching for an untouched jungle setting. Primary lodging and providers can be found in Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay, in addition to native operators out there to help productions, making Corcovado appropriate for small to medium-sized movie crews. The park is accessible by flights from San José to Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay (round 45-minute flights), adopted by land or river transport, relying on the park sector. 

FFZ Caribbean 

1. Southern Caribbean 

Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean area encompasses all kinds of areas together with Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Punta Uva, and Manzanillo. The area is characterised by black and golden sand seashores, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, colourful Caribbean structure, and luxurious roadside vegetation. Whereas the Pacific Coast is often related to dry forests, volcanic terrain and traditional vacationer developments, the Southern Caribbean gives extra intimate, jungle-rich environments, better cultural variety and fewer typical vacationer imagery. The area’s key attraction is its cultural differentiator, with wealthy Afro-Costa Rican heritage descended from Jamaican communities and expressed by the native language of patuá, native music and gastronomy. Such qualities make the area supreme for tales coping with themes of diaspora, id, cultural resistance, connection to land, and Afro-descendant spirituality. The Southern Caribbean is roughly 4.5 hours by highway from San José and options boutique lodging and eco-lodging, technical providers and transport choices, and a multicultural neighborhood.

FFZ Chorotega 

1. Bat Islands

Nestled inside Costa Rica’s Santa Rosa Nationwide Park, the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélago) supply a wild, distant and visually beautiful location simply 1.5 hours from a global airport. This untouched Pacific archipelago of 5 islands and ten islets options dramatic cliffs, vibrant blue waters, and wealthy marine biodiversity – excellent for productions searching for uncooked nature, isolation or otherworldly landscapes. San Pedrillo Islet, famed for bull sharks, manta rays and whale sharks, stands out as a main underwater filming website. Protected below SINAC, the realm helps eco-conscious storytelling and excessive pure magnificence. Accessible by boat from the Gulf of Papagayo, the islands are perfect for documentaries, marine adventures, sci-fi, survival tales and unique commercials. It’s hailed as a hidden gem—cinematically distinctive and logistically possible.

2. Sámara Seaside

Positioned on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, Sámara Seaside gives a shocking mix of tropical magnificence, production-ready infrastructure and small-town allure. Samara can be thought-about a part of the Blue Zone the place some individuals stay previous 100, given their wholesome life. With calm, reef-protected waters, vibrant greenery and huge, flat seashores supreme for panoramic photographs, it’s a go-to for shoots requiring a laid-back, family-friendly or adventure-driven coastal vibe. A part of Guanacaste Province and simply 1.5 hours from a global airport, Sámara offers straightforward logistics, strong highway entry and quite a lot of close by settings – from rolling hills and rural roads to palm-lined shores and Chora Island simply offshore. The city options ample lodging, eating and tour providers, supporting each quick and prolonged shoots. Versatile and cinematic, Sámara is right for romantic comedies, journey collection, way of life commercials, household dramas and digital content material. Close by villages like Pueblo Nuevo and Playa Buenavista increase the filming palette. A uncommon mixture of visible attraction and practicality, Sámara Seaside is deemed a standout location on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Adjoining to it’s the virgin seaside Playa Carrillo the place howler monkeys swing among the many bushes. A 2.5 hour drive inland is the Rio Perdido Lodge, which gives very good meals, a zipper lining journey and scorching springs.

FFZ Central Pacific

1. San Lucas Island

Simply 8 km from Puntarenas, Isla San Lucas is a strong filming location mixing wild nature and haunting historical past. As soon as a infamous jail from 1873 to 1991, this 500-hectare island is now a nationwide park, preserving stone corridors, graffiti-covered cells, decaying chapels and colonial ruins – an evocative setting for tales of confinement, thriller or redemption. The island’s dense tropical forests, coastal cliffs, and wildlife (howler monkeys, deer, iguanas) add to its cinematic potential. It additionally holds deep cultural weight because the setting of La isla de los hombres solos, penned by former inmate José León Sánchez. Excellent for interval dramas, thrillers, or dystopian tales, San Lucas is accessible by boat from Puntarenas, which gives help infrastructure. Maintained by SINAC and neighborhood efforts, the island stands as each a filming gem and a nationwide website of reminiscence, thriller, and transformation.

2. Manuel Antonio

Simply three hours from San José, Manuel Antonio gives filmmakers a wealthy tapestry of rainforest, shoreline, and vibrant native life—all inside a compact, accessible area. Positioned close to the port city of Quepos, this iconic vacation spot combines turquoise waters, white-sand seashores, lush jungle, and unique wildlife in beautiful concord. At its coronary heart is Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park, Costa Rica’s most visited reserve, famed for its biodiversity and breathtaking surroundings. Trails result in panoramic cliffs, jungle lookouts and seashores like Playa Espadilla and Playa Biesanz, supreme for every part from romance and journey to wildlife and luxurious way of life shoots. Golden sunsets, rocky coves, offshore islands, and plentiful wildlife (monkeys, sloths, toucans) add visible richness. The city of Manuel Antonio gives boutique resorts, eating places and inventive aptitude, whereas close by Quepos offers marina entry and manufacturing infrastructure. Touted as a dream setting for initiatives needing each seaside and jungle inside strolling distance.

FFZ Western Area

Bajos del Toro Amarillo

Positioned about 90 minutes from the capital of San José, Bajos del Toro Amarillo sits within the highlands of Alajuela Province, providing a distant, rainforest setting with straightforward highway entry. The world’s predominant characteristic is Catarata del Toro, a 90-meter waterfall that drops right into a volcanic crater, surrounded by cloud forest and rugged rock formations. The location consists of nature trails, scenic viewpoints supreme for huge and aerial photographs and a reserve that helps biodiversity, together with a sanctuary for greater than 200 chicken species. Privately owned and conservation-focused, the property offers a quiet, low-traffic setting suited to managed movie shoots. Filmmakers profit from privateness, logistical help and proximity to key manufacturing hubs like San José and La Fortuna. Appropriate for nature content material, journey or atmospheric sequences needing dramatic, pure backdrops with out crowds or heavy improvement.