Top 5 Cant Miss

Soak in natural hot springs.

Dont miss the mud planters and paintbrushes for painting yourself.

Travel back in time in Bagaces.

Arenal volcano at Dusk

View of Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.Credit:Janusz Kubow / Getty Images

dola710/Adobe Stock

Despite being just 45 minutes by car from Liberia, Bagaces seems a world away.

Here, locals still outnumber tourists, and it feels a bit like going back in time.

Finally, dont leave without refueling withrosquillas, a baked snack made with corn and cheese.

Hot springs in the jungle

Ecotermales Fortuna hot springs.Jose Hernandez/Travel + Leisure

Ride a wave.

Their instructors love their jobs, and thanks to the video analysis they provided, I improved immensely.

If youre bringing your own board, theGilded Iguanas Surf Clubin Nosara is awesome.

Large waterfall

Llanos del Cortes waterfall in Bagaces, Costa Rica.dola710/Adobe Stock

Take a cooking class.

Shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

See sea turtles at Tortuguero National Park.

A surfer walking towards the water

A surfer on Jaco Beach.Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Arctic-Images/Getty Images

When it comes to nature, Villalobos says it doesnt get better than Tortuguero National Park.

Its only accessible by boat or small plane, but the remoteness lends itself to a really immersive experience.

Of course, the main attraction here in the Amazon of Costa Rica is the population of sea turtles.

Chef preparing a fish fillet dish with vegetables. Costa Rica gastronomy

Hands preparing a meal in Costa Rica.Carles Navarro Parcerisas/Getty Images

Villalobos describes it as a remarkable spectacle.

Pro tip: Book a guided night tour as many of the animals here are most active at night.

Rent a car and explore.

Small wooden carved vases.

Handicraft souvenirs in Costa Rica.Driendl Group/Getty Images

Gerardo Huitron/Getty Images

I met Villalobos atVamos-Rent-A-Car, where hes the director of operations.

I always get my wheels here when Im in Costa Rica.

Get your hiking boots dirty.

Tortuguero National Park situated on the Northeastern side of Costa Rica.

Arctic-Images/Getty Images

Saragovia is like a walking Wikipedia page for hiking in Costa Rica.

Sadly, all of my favorite hikes are illegal, he admits.

Just confirm to bring layers.

Tenorio way, in the background the volcano Tenorio and to the right cows grazing on the roadside.

A car driving down an empty road through Costa Rican countryside.Gerardo Huitrón/Getty Images

Watch wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park.

Jess Macdonald/Travel + Leisure

Costa Rica has nearly 30 national parks, andManuel Antoniois its most popular by far.

Manuel Antonio is one of the most accessible parks in Costa Rica.

A hiker on top of a large mountain

A hiker at the top of Rincon de la Vieja.Jose Hernandez/Travel + Leisure

Its paved trails are wheelchair-friendly and have interpretive signs in braille.

Venture off the beaten path.

Talk with (and like) a Tico.

A sloth hanging on a tree

A sloth spotted in Manuel Antonio.Jess Macdonald/Travel + Leisure

John Coletti/Getty Images

According to Saragovia, Costa Ricas greatest asset is its people.

Many Ticos speak English and are happy to help you practice your Spanish.

Eat your way through San Jose.

Aerial view of a beach

An empty beach along Papagayo Peninsula.Jose Hernandez/Travel + Leisure

Saragovias top tip for eating in San Jose?

Find the restaurants with a real story and palpable passion.

And remember, most restaurants include a 10 percent service charge.

Indigenous Panamanian coffee pickers dressed in traditional clothing, live and work on a coffee farm in San Marcos de Tarrazu, Costa Rica. Their basket is full of ripe coffee cherries.

Two women pick coffee beans in Costa Rica.John Coletti/Getty Images

Of course, you’re able to tip extra if you feel compelled.

Get wet white water rafting.

Depending on the season, youll find everything from class three to class five rapids.

Restaurant interior

People dining in San Jose’s Sikwa restaurant.EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images

Most tour companies operate between May through November when water levels are highest.

Become one with nature on the Osa Peninsula.

Host a multigenerational family vacation.

Tourists white water rafting at Pozo Azul near Virgen de Sarapiqui in Costa Rica.

White water rafting in Pozo Azul, Costa Rica.Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

Courtesy of The Point Luxury Villas.

It has a putting green and an infinity pool, plus all seven of its suites are ocean-facing.

Catch the sunset from a catamaran.

Sun breaking through the trees in Corcoaodo National Park Rainforest, Costa Rica,

MB Photography/Getty Images

Check out the Langosta tide pools.

Its total meditationuntil a tiny crab decides Im covering his little home and pinches me to get me moving.

Soar through the canopy.

Large dinner table set for a meal

Large dinner table in private villa at The Point.Courtesy of The Point Luxury Villas.

Want to see the canopy without getting harnessed up?

For a more relaxed experience, explore the hanging bridges, he adds.

Experience the culture of the oft-overlooked Caribbean Coast.

sailboat at the beach

A sunset boat ride off the coast of Costa Rica.Kryssia Campos/Getty Images

Most travelers, and even many Ticos, make the mistake of not traveling to the countrys Caribbean coastline.

I recommend staying in Puerto Viejo; when I stayed there, I felt like I was in Jamaica.

Give back.

Natural pools made among a rocky landscape

Natural Langosta Tide Pools.Jeffrey Eisen / 500px/Getty Images

it’s possible for you to also support locals throughPack for a Purpose.

Red helmet girl flying over Selvatura Park

A zipliner gliding through a cloud forest in Selvatura Park.Malena Barrios/Getty Images

Aerial view of Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo alongside the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.Jose Hernandez/Travel + Leisure

A person holding a basket of eggs

A basket of eggs from Hotel Belmar’s farm.Courtesy of Hotel Belmar