Guanacaste

#1 Nicoya Peninsula The Nicoya Peninsula's sparkling 80-mile shoreline boasts beach-centric towns with cream-colored shores and dense forests. Half of the peninsula is found in the Guanacaste province, while the other half ... Read more » Matteo Colombo / Getty Images

#2 Arenal Volcano Arenal, one of the world's most active volcanoes, stands more than 5,000 feet high. For the latter half of the 20th century, admirers traveled to its base in ... Read more » Courtesy Visit Costa Rica

#3 Guanacaste Costa Rica's "Gold Coast" is one of the nation's most unique destinations and that's not just because of its secluded beaches. The region's dry, sunny savannas ... Read more » Kryssia Campos / Getty Images

#4 Corcovado National Park Travelers come to this 160-square-mile misty rainforest for its diverse wildlife. Buzzing insects and chirping birds can be seen and heard as you stroll through the verdant jungle. Trek along ... Read more » Arctic-Images / Getty Images

#5 Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica's smallest protected green spaces, but don't let its size throw you off. Within the park's 3 square miles ... Read more » Marco Simoni / Getty Images

#6 Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve Imagine winding through a misty oasis; strikingly tall trees wrap you in a sea of green. Add to that more than 100 mammals, 400 types of birds and 2,500 ... Read more » Courtesy Visit Costa Rica

#7 Puerto Viejo de Talamanca The village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, located on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, comes alive with reggae music, funky bamboo bars and a wild nightlife. Surfers crowd coconut-fringed Cocles ... Read more » F.J. Jiménez / Getty Images

#8 Jaco Far away from northern Costa Rica's foggy rainforests lies Jacó, a beautiful town teeming with shops, restaurants and beachfront hotels. It's also the closest beachside retreat to San ... Read more » mihtiander / Getty Images

#9 La Paz Waterfall Gardens Short for Catarata La Paz (or "peace waterfall"), La Paz may seem quiet and still at first glance. But take another look, and you'll find this rainforest buzzing with ... Read more » Riddhish Chakraborty / Getty Images

Courtesy Visit Costa Rica

#11 Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge Bird-watchers rejoice: This swampy wildlife refuge houses thousands of water birds, including jabiru storks, cormorants, ducks and roseate spoonbills. This haven sits near La Fortuna and you'll notice an ... Read more » Kryssia Campos / Getty Images

#12 San Jose San José, Costa Rica's vibrant capital, serves as a central base for exploration. You'll likely want to stop here before heading to the country's magnificent rainforests and ... Read more » francisco sosa / Getty Images

#13 Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero National Park sits tucked away in a northeastern pocket of the Caribbean coast. Tied to Costa Rica's mainland by weaving rivers and canals, this isolated park lures nature-seekers ... Read more » Courtesy Visit Costa Rica

# Jade Museum Read more » WhatsAllThisThen / Flickr

# El Toledo Coffee Tour Read more » John Seaton Callahan / Getty Images

# Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary Read more » silvia cozzi / Getty Images