Macaw, Costa Rica

Photo credit: Weststock

For years, Costa Rica was the well-kept secret of a few biologists, backpackers, and beachcombers, but that's all changed. The secret is out. Today Costa Rica is the hottest destination in Latin America. The country is a major vacation and adventure-travel destination, and tourism has become the nation's number-one source of income. Despite the boom in vacationers, Costa Rica remains a place rich in natural wonders and biodiversity, far from the maddening crowds. Here you can still find unsullied beaches that stretch for miles, small lodgings that haven't attracted hordes of tourists, jungle rivers for rafting and kayaking, and spectacular cloud and rainforests with ample opportunities for bird-watching and hiking. In addition to the country's trademark eco- and adventure tourism offerings, recent years have seen the opening of a handful of large luxury resorts and golf courses, with more on the way.

This is my 10th year putting this book together, and the "best of" experiences keep on coming. In this section I've selected the very best of what this unique country has to offer. Most of these places and experiences are covered in greater detail elsewhere in the book; this chapter is merely meant to give you an overview of the highlights so you can start planning your own adventure.

Costa Rica Feature Articles from

Photo credit: Costa Rica Tourism

Costa Rica: Every Sport Under the Sun: Raft, Ride,
Fish, Dive & Hike

Costa Rica's Cocos Island National Park: UNESCO
World Heritage Site

Raft Costa Rica's Upper Savage: A Wild New Ride

Costa Rica's Caribbean Side: A Tale of Two Coasts

Kayaking in Costa Rica: Eight Great Sea Kayaking
Spots

• Antigua
• Aruba
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Grand Bahama
• Grand Cayman
• Jamaica
• Nassau
• Puerto Plata
• Puerto Rico
• Punta Cana
• St. Lucia
• Turks & Caicos