Costa Rica [CA - best bet]

diverse landscapes | conscious travel | adventure | wellness | stays

Costa Rica

C heerful birdsong, rushing waterfalls, soaring volcanic peaks and golden-sand beaches—the everyday sights and sounds of Costa Rica make it an exceptional place to recharge. Rightfully so, natural phenomena might be the first things that come to mind when you picture a getaway to this Central American haven. But the country offers more than the chance to unplug. From its Pacific to its Caribbean coast, there’s a huge variety of experiences on offer to suit everyone from sporty types to wellness seekers, animal lovers to beach bums. And whether you stay in 5-star luxury resorts, family-run eco-lodges or some combination of both, you can feel good that your tourism dollars will support a country that’s committed to the health of its environment and people. Here's a look at how Costa Rica fits the bill for a variety of vacation styles.

There’s no doubt Costa Rica boasts incredible beaches on both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and it’s certainly possible to spend your entire trip swimming, surfing, snorkeling and sunning. But Costa Rica stands out for the awe-inspiring beauty of its mountains, volcanoes, forests, lakes and waterfalls, too. One could easily argue these inland marvels pose just as strong a draw as its paradisiacal coastlines. The best course of action is to see as much of the country as possible on your trip. Many Costa Rica travel packages feature stays in multiple areas—Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest, the beaches of Guanacaste or the lush and wild Osa Peninsula, for example. These tours often include airfare, a rental car (or chauffeured transfers between destinations) and some meals, making a sweeping exploration exceedingly easy. Packages can be excellent for first-time visitors who want to get the lay of the land without putting in tons of research. And they can offer a lot of value.

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Of course, those who wish to be more hands-on in their planning can go their own way. Rent a car and cruise between hot springs and rainforest treks in the Arenal area. Plunge into a pool at the foot of a waterfall in La Fortuna by morning, and tour a nearby chocolate farm in the afternoon. See a cultural performance at the National Theatre of Costa Rica in the capital city of San Jose one day. Traverse ziplines or intricate rope bridges strung across plunging, green-blanketed valleys the next. The volume and variety of experiences you can have is limited only by the number of vacation days you've got to spend.

Costa Rica is an ideal getaway for those seeking to balance wanderlust with a desire to support the health of the planet. The country has one of the world's best records on conservation, having designated over 25 percent of its land as protected national parks, refuges and reserves. That's more than any other nation. Thanks to its dedicated efforts, Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world's biodiversity—167 times its share, considering its land mass. The country also derives 98% of its energy from renewable sources like hydroelectric and geothermal power plants. Travelers will experience Costa Rica's green mission throughout their trips. They'll notice the remarkable amount of forest cover (over 50% of the country), healthy reefs and refreshing, earthy air. They'll hear the buzzing life around them in the rainforest, and even on their hotel balconies. And they'll likely notice the near-complete ban on single-use plastics that recently came into effect, another milestone toward the country's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Travellers can take action to travel responsibly in Costa Rica, too. Choosing certified sustainable tour and accommodations partners is one way to make your nature-infused getaway go the extra eco-friendly mile. Maintaining a respectful distance from wildlife, properly disposing of trash, paying attention to signage at national parks and buying from local-owned businesses are others. There are also ample opportunities to participate in "voluntourism" projects in Costa Rica. From environmental cleanup to animal welfare to education, there are wide-ranging causes to link up with, whether you choose to dedicate a few hours or a few months. Some of these programs also allow travellers to stay with home hosts, adding another layer of cultural immersion to the experience.

Some of Costa Rica's most captivating activities entail a near-zero carbon footprint, too. Pack a pair of binoculars and join a naturalist guide on a rainforest hike, spotting tiny tree frogs, sleepy sloths, white-faced capuchin and some of the 900-plus local bird species as you go. Or strap in for the zipline ride of your life. Some cables in Costa Rica are over a kilometre long, with one at 100% Aventura adventure park in Monteverde topping the list at 1.6 kilometres. Adventure tour operators often offer packages that add in a bunch of other bucket-list adventures, too, like rapelling down waterfalls, rafting through whitewater rapids and navigating ropes courses through the tree canopy.

The adventure continues in and around Costa Rica's coastal waters. The Pacific coast is home to renowned surf spots, from Playa Negra on the north end, to quiet Pan Dulce Beach on the Southern Osa Peninsula, with hundreds more in between. If you've never caught a wave in your life, Costa Rica is an excellent place to change that, thanks to the numerous, affordable and friendly surf schools dotted across the coast. (The waves are most beginner-friendly December–April, while experienced surfers will favor May–November's larger swells.) Both of Costa Rica's coasts are great for a variety of other water sports, too, from kayaking to standup paddleboarding to sailing. Anglers can book a spot on a fishing excursion or charter a boat for the day (fishing license required). Certified divers (and those seeking certification) will find a marine playground in Costa Rica. Travellers can choose from over a dozen dive centers for training, equipment and guided trips to the most exciting wrecks, walls, reefs and even caves.

Costa Rica trips inherently invite mindfulness. Hours in the verdant outdoors supplant hours of screen time. Everyday stresses are worked out on the trails or on the water. But there's a significant intentional wellness scene, too, for those interested in compounding the health benefits of their journey. It's a haven for yoga, for example. Many Costa Ricans and expats practice the discipline themselves, and some run classes or studios that welcome guests to drop in. Many hotels feature yoga sessions as part of their regular programming. It's exceedingly easy to make yoga the central focus of your trip, if you so choose, thanks to the dozens of accommodations and wellness centers that offer full rosters of classes, teacher trainings and retreats. For an extra wellness boost, enjoy some vinyasa outdoors, guided by the zen-inducing natural soundtracks of frogs, birds, cicadas and other wildlife.

Wellness seekers flock to Costa Rica, too, for its abundant geothermal hot springs. The famed Tabacon Hot Springs Resort, the family-run Ecotermales hot springs complex in La Fortuna and the quieter Rio Negro hot springs facilities inside Rincon de la Vieja National Park are just a few of the mineral-rich springs worthy of a long, restorative soak. And for those who feel a wellness-focused trip isn't complete without a massage or facial, rest assured that day spas and spa resorts are abundant throughout the country. Eating well is an easy feat in Costa Rica, where the "pura vida" mantra makes its way into fresh-squeezed tropical juices, smoothies starring locally harvested fruits and colourful plates of traditional Costa Rican cuisine. Try tangy ceviches made with locally caught corvina, ginger root and fresh lime; casado, which literally translates to "married" but equates to a platter of rice, beans, salad, plantains, tortillas and meat or fish; and hearty stews like slow-cooked olla de carne, which combines a variety of fresh produce (carrots, corn, green plaintain, taro root, cassava), beef and salsa linzano, Costa Rica's ubiquitous savoury-spicy condiment.

Best Bet 2025

Costa Rica was chosen as a Travelzoo Best Bet for 2025. Only five worldwide destinations were selected for this honour, based on factors like increased interest among Travelzoo members, sustainability considerations or landmark events for the new year. See the full list here.

Best Bet 2025

Why

Stays to suit all styles

Costa Rica also offers the chance to immerse in local culture with stays in small, family-run inns or even on Indigenous lands as part of its rural tourism program. These accommodations come with a variety of memorable experiences baked in—glamping inside a geodescic dome tent, walking local trails with a naturalist guide, taking hands-on tours of family farms or watching ancestral food preparation demonstrations, for example. Eager adventurers may have a hard time deciding, but again, you don't have to pick just one; Costa Rica is the ideal place for a multi-stop tour. And if you're like many travellers who come to Costa Rica in search of a getaway filled with nature, beauty, adventure and wellness, you'll be back again soon for another dose.

Costa Rica's accommodations are as diverse as its ecosystems, and similarly worth exploring broadly. There are branded, luxurious resorts with expansive pools and access to secluded beaches. There are eco-lodges nestled at the base of mountains or the edges of the rainforest. There are resorts with sprawling golf courses, extensive spa facilities (with or without built-in hot springs access) and kid-pleasing splash pads. Many accommodations throughout the country meet the rigorous Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) standards set out by the Costa Rican Tourist Board. By choosing from this list of accommodations, travellers can support businesses that operate sustainably and make positive social impacts on their communities.

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diverse landscapes | conscious travel | adventure | wellness | stays