Costa Rica holidays

Costa Rica is Central America's most-developed eco-tourism destination — 25% of the country is protected national park or reserve, the wildlife is genuinely spectacular (toucans, sloths, scarlet macaws, all four species of monkey, 5% of the world's biodiversity in 0.03% of its land mass), and the country has decades of small-group adventure-travel infrastructure (zip lines, hanging bridges, canyoning, river rafting, surf schools, yoga retreats, plant-medicine retreats). The headline regions: Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna (cloud-forest, hot springs, hanging bridges); Monteverde Cloud Forest (the legendary biological reserve and quetzals); Manuel Antonio (the most accessible jungle-meets-beach park); Tortuguero (Caribbean turtle-nesting beach, accessible only by boat); and the Osa Peninsula's Corcovado NP (the wildest, jaguar-and-tapir territory).

A 10-14 day classic Costa Rica trip: San José arrival (1 night) → La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano (3 nights — Tabacón hot springs, Sky Adventures hanging bridges, Maleku Indigenous community visit) → Monteverde Cloud Forest (2 nights — the Curi-Cancha or Santa Elena reserve early-morning birding) → Pacific coast at Manuel Antonio or Uvita (3 nights — beach, surf school, kayaking) → optional southern Osa Peninsula for Corcovado wildlife (3 nights at Lapa Rios, Bosque del Cabo or Drake Bay). Travel is by private vehicle with driver-guide, or independent rental car (driving is straightforward; the main roads are paved).