A country just the size of Wales, yet packed with the biodiversity of the Amazon, Costa Rica is a paradise for nature-lovers. With a fantastic network of national parks covering over a quarter of the country and an impressive tourism infrastructure to get you around, this is the place to visit for outdoor enthusiasts of all varieties.

Costa Rica is a premier destination for fans of breathtaking nature, fascinating wildlife, pristine beaches, and adventure. Whether you want to spend your time on a surfboard or yoga mat, descending into bat-filled caves or ascending misty volcanic peaks, whether you’ve got a penchant for hiking, biking or ziplining – in Costa Rica your only limit is your return date.

You’ll start in the capital; San José, where you will likely be met with calls of “Pura Vida”. Here it means “pure life” and it is used as a greeting, farewell and saying that locals use. San Jose is sat in the heart of the country and is, therefore, the ideal jumping-off point for your tours and activities to the surrounding Central Valley. Nestled between mountain ranges, this area is renowned for its production of coffee, and the vistas of the awe-inspiring active volcanoes Irazu and Poás.

Next, you’ll visit an array of national parks and reserves that Costa Rica has to offer, brimming with exotic flora and wildlife, and packed with a multitude of hiking options along the national park trails or experiencing the rainforest from a unique perspective with a canopy tour.

Then you could travel south, to the Osa Peninsula. Sat jutting into the South Pacific the biodiversity here is simply enormous. This is where you will find the Corcovado National Park. Engulfing over 40,000 hectares and a protected biosphere for more than 141 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 116 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of fish, and at least 500 species of tree.

Costa Rica is bordered by two oceans, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and the Pacific Ocean in the west. The coasts are very different in their culture and style, yet both offer stunning beaches and charming villages with beautiful hotels and lodges. If you opt for the more remote Caribbean beaches you can expect more wild vegetation, especially around the Cahuita National Park, known for its coral reefs. Over in the West, The Pacific beaches are a touch more developed and come complete with beautiful hotels and excellent restaurants.

Dependant on when you arrive in Costa Rica, you can expect to see water turtles use the beaches for nesting, or dolphins playing through the cool clear waters. During January to March, you could also spot whales on their migration through the Pacific Ocean.