Costa Rica Complete Guide 2026: Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Arenal, Tortuguero and Corcovado
Browse more guides: Costa Rica travel | Americas destinations Costa Rica Complete Guide 2026: Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Arenal, Tortuguero and Corcovado Costa Rica was the first country that made me understand what people actually mean when they talk about "rewilding tourism." I flew in expecting another Central American beach loop and left two weeks later with mud on my boots, a sloth photo I still cannot believe I took, and a notebook full of bird names I had never heard before in my life. This country is small, roughly the size of West Virginia or two Sri Lankas stacked, and yet about 6 percent of all known biodiversity on the planet lives within its borders. Thirty percent of the land is under some form of legal protection. There has been no standing army since 1948. The electricity grid runs on renewables for most of the year. People greet you, thank you, and say goodbye with the same two words: Pura Vida. This guide is the long version of everything I wish someon...