Costa Rica
866-267-8274
www.visitcostarica.com

In many ways, this small Central American republic tucked between Nicaragua and Panama has set the standard for ecologically sensitive tourism development. With its 20 nature parks and eight biological reserves, dramatically different Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, lush, mountainous interior and forward-thinking conservation policies, Costa Rica has become one of the world’s premier destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.

Thanks to a combination of small size and good transportation infrastructure, it is possible to visit many of Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems during a fairly short visit. In the course of a week, you might go hiking in a cool, high-altitude could forest, spot birds, monkeys and other wildlife from a platform suspended high in the canopy of a tropical rainforest, watch sea turtles crawl ashore to lay eggs in the sand, peer into the crater of an active volcano and ride the rapids on a jungle river. Numerous beach resorts line the Pacific Coast, which has some of the best surfing waves in Central America, and both coasts offer excellent diving and snorkeling sites.

The Costa Rica Tourism board offers detailed information and a searchable database of tour packages at www.visitcostarica.com