VACATION DETAILS

Montezuma, a lazy seaside village on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, attracts an offbeat clientele but has become increasingly popular with the local elite. A one-hour water-taxi service from Playa Herradura, near Jaco, has increased traffic to the area. There are a number of unique bohemian-chic restaurants and cafes, and accommodations are on the increase, ranging from rustic cabins to upscale beach-resort bungalows.

There are several coved beaches around Montezuma, and an impressive three-tiered waterfall and zipline within walking distance of town. Hiking to the second tier of the waterfall is relatively easy, but the trek to the top is only for advanced hikers.

Montezuma is on the way to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, where hiking trails lead to sparsely populated beaches, and it lies 75 mi/120 km west of San Jose.

The Curu National Wildlife Refuge is located about an hour from Montezuma. It is Costa Rica's first private wildlife refuge, and its beaches are nesting areas for leatherback, ridley and hawksbill turtles. An astounding variety of birds—more than 110 species—have been sighted in the small park. You can also go kayaking and snorkeling in the Bay of Curu. http://www.curuwildliferefuge.com.

This small Caribbean coastal town is a unique melting pot of Afro-Caribbean descendants, European expats and indigenous Costa Rican tribes. The town is bounded by rainforest, jungle, banana plantation, and scenic rivers that leads to the sea. While its two National Parks (Cahuita and Manzanillo) attracts the most avid of backpackers, its scaled waves lures out the large surfer community. So if you're craving global fusion gastronomy, scenic nature, array of adventures, a little party and a lot of chill - Puerto Viejo is where you want to explore.

The Monteverde rainforest area, which comprises ten towns with 8,000 people, is situated on the Continental Divide at an elevation of 5,600 feet. A walk through a Costa Rica Monteverde cloud forest reveals a lush green garden of mosses, ferns, flowers and epiphytes growing thickly on every tree. Clouds drift in and settle among the slopes, giving the continuous moisture required for such exuberant plant growth. Dangling roots and vines sweep across the trails. The air is rich with the sounds of birds and the occasional scurrying of small mammals on the forest floor. In the distance a howler monkey roars.

La Fortuna is near Costa Rica's active volcano, Volcan Arenal. Driving into the park, plumes of smoke belching out of the volcano become ominiously closer. Arenal has been nearly contastantly active and attracts visitors from around the world. Experiencing first hand nature's awesome power is a humbling sight. Take a night trip to the volcano and see bright red lava spew forth. Tabacon Resort Hot Springs, located in Arenal, featuring stunning views of Arenal Volcano and offering the pleasurable experience of bathing in the volcano's byproduct - hot springs. Constant energy of Arenal volcano, warmth of flowing thermo mineral rivers and surrounding tropical rain forest provide a supreme experience. Let the hot water of a spectacular waterfall massage your neck and shoulders. Enjoy a large main pool with a swim-up bar, or other smaller pools hidden in the gardens with built-in lounges, little waterfalls, and cozy tubs. Spend a steamy afternoon here, or head to Iskandria Spa for a volcanic body wrap, using a mixture of ash as a skin mask.

The sophisticated capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, has been endowed with a vibrant street life as well as a refined cultural life. You'll see contemporary structures of glass and steel, as well as colonial, Victorian, and classical architecture, exotic birds, giant butterflies, and picturesque scenery. Costa Rica offers some of the world's most thrilling sights to those who seek a new adventure.