Costa Rica

Costa Rica may be small in size but it is a treasure trove for the ‘back to nature’ traveller with a jaw-dropping canvas of picture-perfect beaches, pristine rainforests, steaming hot springs and smouldering volcanoes.

Separating the lowlands facing the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean is a range of active and dormant volcanoes surrounded by mountain cloud forest, lowland tropical jungle and savannah grasslands. Plantations of its world famous coffee blanket the sunny slopes, while trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals, trogons and hummingbirds.

Costa Rica offers an excellent range of hotels and is one of the best-value destinations in Central America. There are properties to suit most people’s tastes and budget, whether this is a simple guesthouse or something more luxurious. The country was one of the innovators of eco-tourism, so there is a fascinating selection of accommodation that will both appease the ecologically sensitive as well as deliver those one-offs like an infinity pool in the middle of the rainforest.