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see + do
Costa Rica see + do
Costa Rica's two big draws are its wildlife and outdoor adventures. More than a quarter of the tropical country is protected within reserves, wildlife refuges, and national parks, and its 800 miles of Pacific and Caribbean coastline offer excellent surfing, diving, and swimming—plus the chance to see rare marine turtles crawl ashore by the hundreds to lay their eggs. There are several active volcanoes, including the perfectly conical Volcán Arenal and the Poás, where you can drive to the summit and peer into the crater. Exploring the rainforest canopy via a zip-line is a virtual rite of passage for visitors to Costa Rica, and there's an array of other adventures—from horseback rides to white-water rafting—to boost your adrenalin. Although the country is not very large, it can't be seen in its entirety during a single visit: Costa Rica is amazingly diverse and very mountainous, so most people wisely concentrate on one or two regions at a time. To figure out which regions to stay in, see our Fact Sheet.
Combine steep, rugged mountains and high rainfall, and the result is a perfect tropical cocktail for kayaking and white-water rafting. Ríos Tropicales has...more
Of all the Central American capitals, San José could be considered the most appealing (if you've been to places like Managua and San Salvador, you know...more
Located at the far north end of the Caribbean Coast, Tortuguero National Park is a must-see for nature lovers. River otters, howler monkeys, caimans, manatees,...more
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