Renowned for its natural beauty and pioneering ecological conservation, Costa Rica is ramping up efforts to become a strong contender in global film production. A compact nation with a growing cash rebate scheme, skilled bilingual crews, close proximity to the U.S., political and economic stability, rich natural landscapes and — perhaps most importantly — a keeness to better support productions, Costa Rica is coming head to head with neighbors Panama and Dominican Republic to become a film power in Central America and the Caribbean.
In 2021, the Costa Rica Film Commission, in collaboration with national Trade & Investment Promotion Agency Procomer, established six Film Friendly Zones (FFZ), designated regions selected for their scenic diversity, ease of logistics and general available infrastructure to support productions. Within these regions, one can find a wide variety of natural landscapes, from pristine beaches to volcanoes and modern urban settings. Procomer has worked closely with local leaders to facilitate production and educate locals on the logistics and potential of film productions, an initiative that not only reflects the country’s tangible sense of unity and collaboration but has also begun to bear fruit, with about $12 million generated by the industry in the country last year.
Below, you will find a selection of the 10 best locations in Costa Rica today, from the dense rainforests of the north to the clear waters of the Caribbean:
FFZ Huetar Norte
Shutterstock
1. La Fortuna de San Carlos
Nestled at the foot of the imposing Arenal Volcano, a perfectly conical volcano rising to 1,657 meters (5,436 feet), La Fortuna de San Carlos is the most popular location of the Huetar Norte zone and where Hollywood productions such as “After Earth” were filmed. It is the ideal location for productions looking for diverse natural settings, reliable infrastructure, and efficient logistical access. Within its 30km radius, La Fortuna de San Carlos offers tropical rainforests, hot springs, majestic waterfalls, hanging bridges, rural farms and lakes — including Lake Arenal, an artificial lake spanning 85km and responsible for providing 60% of the country’s electricity. The area is under three hours by road from both San José and Liberia, features a local airstrip for commercial and private flights, and boasts one of the country’s strongest hospitality infrastructures, with hotels ranging from luxury resorts to modest lodges. Locals are widely familiar with film productions, having often worked on nature documentaries from the world’s most prominent broadcasters (such as the BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel), and are heavily locally organized, with cooperatives and homeowners’ associations featuring a high level of coordination. The region is known for its operational efficiency and safety.
2. San Vicente de Ciudad Quesada
Locals of San Vicente lovingly call their region the Switzerland of Costa Rica and it’s easy to see why: sitting at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, this charming rural mountain community in the San Carlos canton is often enveloped in thick mist, making its roads look straight out of a Stephen King novel. San Vicente is ideal for those looking for pristine natural or countryside locations with a European feel, and some of its spots can easily double for countries like Scotland, Austria, Netherlands and Switzerland. With thick misty forests, San Vicente could attract fantasy and genre productions looking for atmospheric settings and, while neighboring locations are sparser, San Vicente features a series of key locations sitting just a few meters from restaurants, hotels and tourist centers. The area is especially prominent in the months of June, July, and August, and sits at just 25 minutes from downtown Ciudad Quesada, the northern region’s logistical hub with paved road access and proximity to essential services including lodging, food, hardware stores, hospitals, and local technicians. San Vicente also allows for combined shoots with La Fortuna, Juan Castro Blanco National Park, and a series of scenic rural routes.
FFZ Brunca
default
1. Bahía Ballena
Located on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, Bahía Ballena is widely recognized for the distinctive natural whale tail formation that gives it its name and it’s a key location for those looking for pristine marine landscapes, lush terrestrial ecosystems and striking natural scenery. The bay is a popular tourist destination with extensive white and black sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, mangroves, and tropical rainforests. The region offers a range of eco-lodges and boutique hotels, with experienced local providers for transportation, catering and technical support. Nearby, one can find protected areas such as the Piedras Blancas National Park and the Marino Ballena National Park, ideal locations for filming wildlife and marine environments in conservation areas. Bahía Ballena is between four and five hours by road from San José and also accessible by air through a 40-minute domestic flight to Palmar Sur Airport, followed by a 30-minute ground transfer.
2. Corcovado National Park
One of the most biodiverse places on Earth, the Corcovado National Park is home to 2.5% of the planet’s total biodiversity and one of the most visually stunning natural locations for the audiovisual industry in Central America. The park consists of over 400 square kilometers of rainforest, virgin beaches, mangroves, rivers and remote mountain ranges, and has been widely featured in documentaries by National Geographic, BBC and the Discovery Channel. Corcovado is the natural habitat of iconic species like jaguars, tapirs, scarlet macaws, crocodiles and a vast range of monkey species, making it a prime location for nature documentaries, adventures, eco dramas, survival-style productions and narratives looking for an untouched jungle setting. Basic lodging and services are available in Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay, as well as local operators available to support productions, making Corcovado suitable for small to medium-sized film crews. The park is accessible through flights from San José to Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay (around 45-minute flights), followed by land or river transport, depending on the park sector.
FFZ Caribbean
1. Southern Caribbean
Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean region encompasses a wide variety of locations including Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Punta Uva, and Manzanillo. The region is characterized by black and golden sand beaches, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, colorful Caribbean architecture, and lush roadside vegetation. While the Pacific Coast is usually associated with dry forests, volcanic terrain and conventional tourist developments, the Southern Caribbean offers more intimate, jungle-rich environments, greater cultural diversity and less conventional tourist imagery. The region’s key appeal is its cultural differentiator, with rich Afro-Costa Rican heritage descended from Jamaican communities and expressed through the local language of patuá, local music and gastronomy. Such qualities make the region ideal for stories dealing with themes of diaspora, identity, cultural resistance, connection to land, and Afro-descendant spirituality. The Southern Caribbean is approximately 4.5 hours by road from San José and features boutique lodging and eco-lodging, technical services and transport options, and a multicultural community.
FFZ Chorotega
1. Bat Islands
Nestled within Costa Rica’s Santa Rosa National Park, the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélago) offer a wild, remote and visually stunning location just 1.5 hours from an international airport. This untouched Pacific archipelago of five islands and ten islets features dramatic cliffs, vibrant blue waters, and rich marine biodiversity – perfect for productions seeking raw nature, isolation or otherworldly landscapes. San Pedrillo Islet, famed for bull sharks, manta rays and whale sharks, stands out as a prime underwater filming site. Protected under SINAC, the area supports eco-conscious storytelling and extreme natural beauty. Accessible by boat from the Gulf of Papagayo, the islands are ideal for documentaries, marine adventures, sci-fi, survival tales and exotic commercials. It’s hailed as a hidden gem—cinematically unique and logistically feasible.
2. Sámara Beach
Located on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, Sámara Beach offers a stunning blend of tropical beauty, production-ready infrastructure and small-town charm. Samara is also considered part of the Blue Zone where some people live past 100, given their healthy lifestyles. With calm, reef-protected waters, vibrant greenery and wide, flat beaches ideal for panoramic shots, it’s a go-to for shoots requiring a laid-back, family-friendly or adventure-driven coastal vibe. Part of Guanacaste Province and just 1.5 hours from an international airport, Sámara provides easy logistics, solid road access and a variety of nearby settings – from rolling hills and rural roads to palm-lined shores and Chora Island just offshore. The town features ample lodging, dining and tour services, supporting both short and extended shoots. Versatile and cinematic, Sámara is ideal for romantic comedies, travel series, lifestyle commercials, family dramas and digital content. Nearby villages like Pueblo Nuevo and Playa Buenavista expand the filming palette. A rare mix of visual appeal and practicality, Sámara Beach is deemed a standout location on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Adjacent to it is the virgin beach Playa Carrillo where howler monkeys swing among the trees. A 2.5 hour drive inland is the Rio Perdido Hotel, which offers superb meals, a zip lining adventure and hot springs.
FFZ Central Pacific
1. San Lucas Island
Just 8 km from Puntarenas, Isla San Lucas is a powerful filming location blending wild nature and haunting history. Once a notorious prison from 1873 to 1991, this 500-hectare island is now a national park, preserving stone corridors, graffiti-covered cells, decaying chapels and colonial ruins – an evocative setting for stories of confinement, mystery or redemption. The island’s dense tropical forests, coastal cliffs, and wildlife (howler monkeys, deer, iguanas) add to its cinematic potential. It also holds deep cultural weight as the setting of La isla de los hombres solos, penned by former inmate José León Sánchez. Ideal for period dramas, thrillers, or dystopian tales, San Lucas is accessible by boat from Puntarenas, which offers support infrastructure. Maintained by SINAC and community efforts, the island stands as both a filming gem and a national site of memory, mystery, and transformation.
2. Manuel Antonio
Just three hours from San José, Manuel Antonio offers filmmakers a rich tapestry of rainforest, coastline, and vibrant local life—all within a compact, accessible region. Located near the port town of Quepos, this iconic destination combines turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, lush jungle, and exotic wildlife in stunning harmony. At its heart is Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica’s most visited reserve, famed for its biodiversity and breathtaking scenery. Trails lead to panoramic cliffs, jungle lookouts and beaches like Playa Espadilla and Playa Biesanz, ideal for everything from romance and adventure to wildlife and luxury lifestyle shoots. Golden sunsets, rocky coves, offshore islands, and abundant wildlife (monkeys, sloths, toucans) add visual richness. The town of Manuel Antonio offers boutique hotels, restaurants and artistic flair, while nearby Quepos provides marina access and production infrastructure. Touted as a dream setting for projects needing both beach and jungle within walking distance.
FFZ Western Region
Bajos del Toro Amarillo
Located about 90 minutes from the capital of San José, Bajos del Toro Amarillo sits in the highlands of Alajuela Province, offering a remote, rainforest setting with easy road access. The area’s main feature is Catarata del Toro, a 90-meter waterfall that drops into a volcanic crater, surrounded by cloud forest and rugged rock formations. The site includes nature trails, scenic viewpoints ideal for wide and aerial shots and a reserve that supports biodiversity, including a sanctuary for more than 200 bird species. Privately owned and conservation-focused, the property provides a quiet, low-traffic environment suited to controlled film shoots. Filmmakers benefit from privacy, logistical support and proximity to key production hubs like San José and La Fortuna. Suitable for nature content, adventure or atmospheric sequences needing dramatic, natural backdrops without crowds or heavy development.