Mother Nature was clearly in a good mood when she set to work on Costa Rica, one of Latin America's most environmentally diverse countries.
With both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, simmering volcanoes, thermal waters, lush rainforest, golden beaches and mangroves, plus a wildlife portfolio ranging from hummingbirds and brightly-colored frogs, to screeching monkeys and giant turtles, it's easy to see why Costa Rica is rated as one of the world's best destinations for ecotourism.
But it's a shining example of responsable tourism too, with increasing numbers of new hotels and lodges promoting their environmentally - friendly credentials, while over a quarter of the country's has no less than 28 nationals parks, biogical reserves and protected areas and was a pioneer in the introduction of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism.
It is in part due to Costa Rica's wide appeal that the country has the most advanced tourism industry of the seven small Central American countries, with the quality and quantity of all-inclusive resorts on the Caribbean matched by the country's abundance of rainforest lodges and eco-projects across its coast, jungle and cloud forest.
Centrally located capital city San José welcomes the majority of flights from Europe and North America but new arrivals tend no to linger. The relatively anonymous city has its appeal - colonial Barrio Amon and trendy nightspots, for example - but Costa Rica's real highlights lie further afield which, thanks to the country's relatively small size, are easy for visitors to travel between.
On the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero is among Costa Rica's best-loved national parks. Motorised canoe is the principal means of transport here, where turtle-breeding grounds and prolific bird life draw wildlife enthusiasts from afar.
In the northern highlands to the west, the arenal volcano is a must for many visitors as it belches out smoke and lava flows that glow in the night sky. There are plenty of natural hot springs in which to relax, while cycling, canopy tours, trekking and horse-riding are a more active option.
The nearby Monteverde Cloudforest presents a maze of trails through its rich ecosystems, home to over 100 species of mammals and 400 bird species. A series of zip-lines will satisfy keen adrenaline junkies, as will the surf breaks on the beaches of Costa Rica's Nicoya peninsula.
On the southern Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio National Park may be one of Costa Rica's smallest nature reserves but its rich wildlife and idyllic setting make it one of the most visited Osa Peninsula in the far south, home to some superb rainforest lodges in beautifully isolated locations.
Courtesy of Selling Long Haul Magazine (http://www.sellinglonghaul.com/)
Travel to Costa Rica 
