7 Bucket-List-Worthy Ways to Experience Ecotourism in Costa Rica

From popular jaunts through the coastal rainforest to arduous climbs to mountain peaks, Costa Rica has vibrant and varied landscapes that offer endless opportunities for hiking.

Come to Costa Rica to discover magnificent landscapes, endless outdoor activities and creatures great and small. This smallish Central American country offers a world of adventure, from water sports to mountain hikes, from rainforest wildlife watching to cloud-forest birding. 

Epic landscapes, diverse wildlife and the creative capital city of San José draw many visitors from all over the world to Costa Rica – don't risk a last-minute disappointment by not having your paperwork in order.

A woman with a severe peanut allergy says she endured humiliating treatment from an airline on a journey from London to Costa Rica.

There are thousands of surf schools in the world that can get you up and riding for the first time. They teach the basics, and then for the most part, set you off on your own. For aspiring pros there are high-level surf coaches, but what about the rest of us?

Italy’s Riviera di Ponente, or Western Riviera, has long attracted travelers—in the late 19th century new rail connections made it easier for well-heeled and titled English and Russians to escape their dreary winters, but before and after WWII, destinations on the Côte d'Azur and Riviera di Levante (the Eastern Riviera), like Rapallo, Portofino, and later, Cinque Terre, stepped into the spotlight, drawing celebrity names and eventually flocks of tourists.

You’ve already photographed the Big Five, sipped your way across Stellenbosch, straddled a camel beside the pyramids and now you’re looking for someplace new and different to feed your fascination with Africa.

Costa Rica is one of the most visited international destinations, and for good reason. With lush tropical rainforests, dramatic volcanic hot springs, and endless waterfalls thanks to the verdant jungle and surrounding mountains, it’s no wonder that travelers go to Costa Rica to experience some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. In fact, it’s home to the tallest waterfall in Central America, El Salto del Calvo. As 25 percent of the country is protected for conservation, most cascades are located within some of the 32 national parks and have entrance fees, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking them out — they’re well worth a few bucks. Here are the 14 most amazing waterfalls you should go chasing while in Costa Rica.

There’s no shortage of unique hotels in Cape Town, South Africa, that show you how a vacation should be done. Positioned between ocean and mountain, the breathtaking landscape is matched by a thrilling downtown district dishing up farm-to-fork fare and wines from the local vineyards. With international and boutique hotels vying for your attention, whittling down where to stay in Cape Town is the biggest hurdle. Complete with swimming pools and views for days, these luxury hotels in Cape Town’s top neighborhoods have you spoiled for comfort and location.

You can’t expect to fit everything South America has to offer into one trip – or two or three or four, to be fair – and we don’t suggest you try. For those taking a big, extended trip around the continent you could join a few together, but remember that the distances you’ll be covering can be vast. Plus, there's lots to discover off the beaten track.

Indigenous communities in Costa Rica are relatively unknown and often overlooked, so visiting them makes for a truly fascinating and authentic experience. In the remote Bribrí village of Yorkín, men and women are equal and sustain themselves through farming, fishing and hunting. Rough Guides writer, Anna Kaminski, met the woman behind the collective.

Africa is a continent of wild open savannahs, terracotta sunsets, thousands of vibrant green hills and rugged coastlines. You can be chugging along on a rickety old railway one day and standing atop a rust-coloured sand dune the next. As American author John Hemingway once said, “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” There’s no end to the amazing adventures this continent offers, but as a starting point, here are a few of our favourite African journeys.