7 Reasons Costa Rica is on My Travel Wish List

I’ve been daydreaming of Latin America for a number of years now. But when I flick through brochure after brochure to get those wanderlust juices flowing, Costa Rica always seems to be the first country to stand out to me on the pages, screaming “visit me, visit me!” 

One of the main reasons this country features high on my Latin America travel wish list is because it seems to have it all. Whether you’re a nature lover, adrenaline junkie, a foodie traveller, or just a total beach-bum, Costa Rica seems to be the ultimate destination for keen explorers of any kind.

Here’s seven reasons why I have to tick Costa Rica off my travel wish list! 

It’s an adventure playground for everyone 

Zip-lining, hiking, kayaking, white-water rafting, canopy tours, skydiving, surfing, scuba-diving – you name it, Costa Rica probably has it. While I am by no means the world’s biggest thrill-seeker, it’s great to have such a plethora of adrenaline-fuelled activities on offer if I was feeling slightly adventurous.

It has an abundance of blissful beaches

It’s no lie on the blog that I love a good beach! And Costa Rica is supposed to have some of the most spectacular in the world. Stretching over 1500 km from the Pacific to the Caribbean, Costa Rica’s coastline boasts beautiful, sandy beaches lined by rugged rainforests. I hear the Manuel Antonio National Park is a definite must-see, where you can walk through unspoilt rainforests discovering hidden beaches and an abundance of wildlife along the way!

It is the home to one of my favourite animals – sloths!

Much to my sister’s dismay, I have a weird obsession with sloths. I love them because they’re so ugly they’re cute, and they are probably one of the laziest creatures in the world (perhaps my spirit animal???). It is an absolute dream of mine to see them in their natural habitat, and what better place to do it than Costa Rica? Sloths are probably the country’s most famous resident and they can be spotted literally everywhere!

It has hundreds of volcanoes

Part of the Pacific Ring Fire Circle, Costa Rica is an area booming with high volcanic activity. It currently has over 200 volcanic formations, however, only around 100 show any signs of volcanic activity, while just five are classified as active volcanoes. Perhaps the most famous of Costa Rica’s volcanoes is Arenal, which is thought to have a ‘perfect’ volcanic cone that sits towering above the surrounding landscapes of the Arenal National Park.

It looks like a luscious green wonderland

Almost every photo I see of Costa Rica has inviting images of lush green landscapes and tropical rainforests, so it’s not surprising to learn that it is the home to 46 national parks, reserves and wildlife refuges. I’m a sucker for beautiful scenery and love exploring the depths of magical forests taking in all the different sights, smells and sounds. If the photos are anything to go by, then I can see myself never wanting to leave.

It’s a dream for coffee and chocolate lovers

Whether you’re a coffee or a chocolate addict, in Costa Rica you can have the best of both worlds.  Coffee is Costa Rica’s most famous export, and they are as equally well-known for their high-quality chocolate produced from organic cocoa and natural ingredients. I am a big fan of both so this gets a massive thumbs up from me!

It is also the home to lots of other interesting wildlife (besides sloths!) 

Aside from sloths, Costa Rica is considered to be one of the world’s most biodiverse countries and is the home to half a million different species. That’s around 5% of the world’s total species, which is actually quite impressive for a relatively small country. From monkeys and racoons, to lizards and iguanas, this country is a haven of tropical wildlife. All over Costa Rica there are opportunities to experience wildlife encounters, whether it’s heading to Tortuguero National Park to witness nesting turtles or walking through the misty Monteverde Cloud Forest to capture some of the country’s 900 species of colourful birdlife!

So there’s at least seven reasons why Costa Rica features on my travel wish list – have I missed anything out? Let me know below!

And if (like me) you want to have your very own Costa Rican adventure, then definitely check out Trek America’s awesome itineraries for travel inspiration.

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Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post brought to you in partnership with Trek America. But as always, the views and opinions expressed in this article are my own.