There are two sides to Costa Rica holidays – you can go all Tarzan in the rainforests, or snooze like a sloth on the sun-drenched beaches.

Lucky slice of Latin America

Mother Nature was feeling generous when she put together Costa Rica. Jungles, active volcanoes, hot springs, textbook beach resorts – this Central American country’s got the lot. A quarter of it is part of a protected forest or reserve of some sort, too. As such, the wildlife’s off the charts, with everything from toucans to turtles and tree frogs.

Adventure awaits

If you’re a bit of an adventure junkie, Costa Rica will give you a quick fix. You’ve got a cushty set-up of landscapes, so you can switch between white-water rafting down rivers, zip-lining through rainforests, or wildlife-spotting in the national parks. The Monteverde Cloud Forest is a one-stop shop, with hanging bridges, a sky tram and a maze of zip lines. Plus, you can hike the hot spring at Arenal Volcano National Park.

Surf’s up

Costa Rica serves up a double helping of shorelines – you’ve got the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts. The former’s the front-runner in the tourism stakes, with treacle-coloured sandy beaches that are winners in the looks and surf departments. Playa Matapalo and Coco Beach are the big guns, but there are also sleepier spots, like El Jobo. Plus, howler monkeys, parrots and lizards join the sunbathers – it’s part of the Costa Rican charm.

At a Glance

  • Swap cloud forests for Colonial mansions in San Jose
  • Fly through the jungle on a zip line
  • Keep an eye out for monkeys on the beach

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