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This Central American country attracts travelers to its beaches, rainforests, wildlife, resorts, and diverse landscape.

Visiting national parks, ziplining, hiking, cave tubing, diving, birdwatching, and river rafting are popular with adventure travelers, and for those seeking a relaxing or luxurious escape, Costa Rica offers beautiful beaches, plush resorts, golf courses, and excellent dining.

Dormant and active volcanoes, rare wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs, and pura vida lifestyle make Costa Rica a sought-after destination.

Three photos from Thailand with the words Destination of the Year overlaid on top

Explore This Adult-Only Boutique Hotel in Costa Rica

Destination of the Year 2024

Central & South America

Pair of photos from the Ovo Patagonia hotel in Argentina

composite of images of products tested by editors

A colorful illustration referencing retirement themes

A green frog on a flower in Costa Rica

Pool at Nekajui

Explore This Adult-Only Boutique Hotel in Costa Rica

Aerial view of Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Pool overlooking the beach at Arenas del Mar

A cabin in Costa Rica

A catamaran and paddleboarders of the coast of Costa Rica

Windmills on the rolling hills of Monteverde

Clementina Espinoza, 91, takes care of her garden in Nicoya, Costa Rica,

View overlooking the boats on the water in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

View of Arenal Volcano over the trees

The paradise surf beach of Playa Naranjo and Witch’s Rock in the Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Arenal volcano at Dusk

Aerial view of Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica

Tamarindo Villa in Costa Rica

A scrapbook collage of family vacation photos from Costa Rica

Las Catalinas is located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Las Catalinas is a car-free European style resort.

The Alejandro Surf School, Adaptive Surfing in Costa Rica

Plane landing near Tambor Beach, Nicoya Peninsula, Montezuma, Costa Rica

Aerial view of the Peninsula of Manuel Antonio

Two hikers on a route in Costa Rica

Illustrated map of Costa Rica highlighting the rainforests mentioned in the story text

Kids in the pool with dad at the villa rental. Family vacation with kids in Nosara, Costa Rica

Sunset at a beach in Costa Rica

Pool area amongst tropical plants at Sendero hotel in Nosara, Costa Rica

Outdoor dining at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo during sunset

Aerial view of Las Catalinas at sunset

Colorful fruits at a market in Costa Rica

A mountain and Jessica Poitevien on a bridge in Costa Rica

Pair of photos from Costa Rica, one showing a farmer harvest coffee beans, and one showing a coffee tasting.

Rooftop lounge pool area overlooking mountains

Wildebeest migration in Seronera, Tanzania

Couple walking on a beautiful beach in Costa Rica

Mansita Beach at JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa

A view of a crashing wave from in the water, standing in the wave, facing the shoreline of a tropical beach.

Scenic view of Arenal Volcano in central Costa Rica at sunrise

Jen Murphy surfing with surfX Costa Rica

Lounge furniture on a patio at Mahali Mzuri

Exterior of a villa perched on a hill in a rainforest in Costa Rica

Reasons to Visit Costa Rica

Top Festivals in Costa Rica

Aerial view of Puerto Viejo

Diver films a large tiger shark at the dive site “Tiger Beach” on Grand Bahama Island. These sharks frequent a shallow sandy area with sea grass known as Tiger beach.

Arenal peaking over green plants at Tabacon Hot Springs