Costa Rica

Nestled high in Costa Rica’s misty Tilarán Mountains, Monteverde place feels like a living fairytale, lush, green, and humming with life. Moss draped trees and rare birds like the Resplendent Quetzal make every step feel enchanted. The cool, dewy air is a refreshing break from the tropical heat, and the town itself has a quirky, welcoming vibe, full of cozy cafés, chocolate tours, and friendly locals.

Wild and sparsely populated, the West Coast of the South Island is all about raw nature. See glaciers spill into rainforest, hike through limestone canyons, or fly into the blue ice fields. The Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki are worth a detour, weathered by sea spray into surreal formations.

This place is best explored by water. Nicknamed the “Amazon of Costa Rica,” Tortuguero is a maze of canals and lagoons teeming with wildlife. Sloths nap in the treetops, caimans drift below the surface, and hundreds of bird species fill the air with color and sound. If you’re lucky, you’ll be here during turtle season, when green and leatherback sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, a quiet, moonlit moment you won’t forget.

Deep in Fiordland, these fjords are all moody skies, sheer cliffs, and mirror still waters. Milford is iconic, but Doubtful feels even more remote. Cruise or kayak through the mist, spot seals and dolphins, and listen to the silence. It’s unforgettable.

Arenal rises straight out of the rainforest, often veiled in clouds, always impressive. Hiking the trails here gets you into thick jungle, past waterfalls and hot springs, and maybe even close to a howler monkey or a rare quetzal. The volcano is technically still active, and the geothermal energy bubbles up everywhere in the form of mineral springs perfect for an afternoon soak. It’s wild, it’s relaxing, and it’s pure Costa Rica.