5 REASONS TO TRAVEL TO COSTA RICA

ECO-TOURISM, WILDERNESS, WELLNESS & ALL THE ESSENTIALS

With a culture axed on relaxation and some of the most breathtaking tropical landscapes in the world, Costa Rica radicalizes your idea of a beach break by blending the luxury of all-inclusive resorts with eco-tourism activities that urge you to connect with nature and focus on only the essentials. Here are 5 reasons why you should travel to Costa Rica!

1. Eco-tourism & sustainability

Costa Rica is a country that nurtures its wild, natural beauty. Making up about 5% of the planet’s biodiversity, it preserves its lush lands with an assortment of protected areas—29 national parks, 19 wildlife refuges and 8 biological reserves—where eco-tourism activities and excursions are encouraged, from horseback riding to hiking mountain trails and taking boat trips. Two of Costa Rica’s most epic parks include the Poás Volcano National Park, home to one of the country’s largest active volcanoes, and the Corcovado National Park where 13 different ecosystems co-exist, from mangrove swamps to montane forests.

Pro-tip: Take our Costa Rica Eco Adventure Tour, which includes a Safari Floating tour of the Peñas Blancas river with a local naturalist guide. Plus, you can use your free time to witness the sustainable practices of the Café de Monteverde coffee farm near the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

2. Fantastic Fauna

While exploring the landscapes of Costa Rica, keep an eye out for its wildest locals. About 5 million birds fly over the country’s skies—you might even spot more than a hundred species in a day, including scarlet macaws, keel-billed toucans and resplendent quetzals (yes, that’s a real name!). On land, white-faced capuchin monkeys are bound to swing by as you stroll by unique mammals like the coatimundi and the peccary. Off-shore, humpback whales, dolphins, manta rays and all kinds of colourful fish occupy the surrounding waters.

Pro-tip: To meet some of our fave Costa Ricans, embark on our Welcome to the Rainforest Tour to learn all about the protection of sea turtles in the village of Tortuguero.
 

3. Health & Wellness

Health and wellness are evidently an important focus in a country that promotes pura vida. Imagine restorative yoga sessions on the beach and spa treatments involving natural Costa Rican resources like volcanic mud, coffee, tropical fruits and chocolate. From nature-based activities like earthing (walking barefoot outdoors) and forest bathing (soaking up forest air with a leisurely stroll), Costa Rica’s focus on a laid-back, healthy lifestyle makes it one of the world’s best destinations for wellness.

Pro-tip: Indulge in our Spa Collection for Costa Rica resorts that promise to pamper you.

4. Tico Culture

A melting pot of cultures, Costa Rica weaves together European and indigenous traditions with a lifestyle guided by a strong rural heritage. In big or small towns, cowboys (sabaneros) trot along artists, yogis and surfers. You can get a glimpse at the country’s diverse history at the Costa Rican National Museum in the capital of San José! Alternately, immerse yourself in indigenous culture with the annual Fiesta de los Diablitos, a celebration honouring the ancestral traditions of the Borucas tribe, or at the Guayabo National Monument, Costa Rica’s first archeological site of a 3,000-year old village. Study up on sabaneros at Liberia’s Sabanero Museum or at the many ranches around the Guanacaste province!

5. Cuisine

Costa Rican cuisine is a product of its diversity, heavily influenced by the early Spanish settlers, as well as the many indigenous tribes who have lived here. Rice and beans (called gallo pinto) are an important part of every meal, especially in casado, a plate that also includes fresh salad, plantains and a meat or fish of your choice. This variable dish is the most popular pick at sodas, small restaurants you’ll find everywhere in Costa Rica. Every meal should be topped off with a cup of coffee from locally sourced beans, or something more refreshing like agua dulce (sugar cane and water) or a pipa fria (a green coconut with a straw in it).

Let Costa Rica captivate you!