Consistently one of the hottest vacation and adventure-travel destinations in Latin America. Costa Rica remains a place rich in natural wonders and biodiversity, where you can still find yourself far from the maddening crowds. The country boasts a wealth of unsullied beaches that stretch for miles, small lodgings that haven’t attracted hordes of tourists, jungle rivers for rafting and kayaking, and spectacular cloud- and rainforests with ample opportunities for birdwatching and hiking. See San José, the capitol, with varied and active restaurant and nightlife scenes, several museums and galleries worth visiting. Visit Monteverde which translates as “green mountain,” or Arenal Volcano one of the top ten most active volcanoes in the world and is the most active one in Costa Rica.