Costa Rica: Eco-Tourism Done Right
When I think of Costa Rica, I think of eco-tourism done properly. Long recognised as a global leader in sustainable travel and conservation, this small Central American country has protected more than a quarter of its land through national parks and reserves. It’s a place where wildlife thrives and tourism works in harmony with nature.
Costa Rica’s diversity is extraordinary. In a relatively small area, you can explore lush rainforest, misty cloud forest, and two completely different coastlines — the wild Pacific and the laid-back Caribbean. On the Caribbean coast, sloths hang lazily in the trees while monkeys swing playfully overhead, sometimes so close you feel as if they could land right in front of you.
One of the most magical experiences was in Tortuguero National Park. We paddled by canoe through rainforest, the river enclosed by a living tunnel of trees. The jungle was alive: toucans called from the canopy, sloths clung to trees, monkeys chattered overhead, caimans rested on the banks, and even a viper slithered silently among the roots. It felt a million miles from anywhere. At night we explored the beaches, and just when hope of seeing turtles was fading, a huge green turtle appeared, like something straight out of a wildlife programme, climbing slowly to lay her eggs — an unforgettable encounter.
In the highlands, the cloud forests of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve offer a different world entirely. Zip-lining through the canopy, suspended above layers of mist-covered forest, is both exhilarating and immersive. Around Arenal Volcano, rainforest trails, hot springs and dramatic volcanic landscapes create one of the country’s most iconic settings.
Along the Pacific coast, the Nicoya Peninsula offers a wonderfully rugged, sun-drenched landscape of surf towns, empty beaches and dry tropical forest — a place where life slows to the rhythm of the tides. On one stretch of sand, vultures gathered around a washed-up dolphin — a raw and powerful reminder that nature here remains wild and unfiltered. Costa Rica doesn’t sanitise the experience; it celebrates the full ecosystem. Further south, the lush and wilder Osa Peninsula feels even more remote and untamed, home to vast stretches of protected rainforest and extraordinary biodiversity, where scarlet macaws flash overhead and jungle meets ocean in dramatic fashion.
On the Caribbean side, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca adds a completely different rhythm. This small beach town blends Afro-Caribbean culture, reggae beats and palm-fringed beaches with easy access to wildlife-rich jungle and coral reefs. Days here drift between surfing gentle waves, cycling along the coastal road, and watching the sun sink into a sea that feels wonderfully unhurried.
From canoe trips to see green turtles in Tortuguero, to monkeys swinging overhead and sloths in the canopy, Costa Rica offers a seamless blend of adventure, biodiversity and sustainability.
