forbes travel guide costa rica

Rates can vary widely by room type and season. "We Paid" is intended to give a general sense of price, but you might find considerably different rates for your trip.

When we book, we aim for the optimum season for the destination, but we avoid holidays and major public events, when prices are highest. We generally book a room at one category up from the most basic.

We take advantage of promotional rates, when possible. That means the rate you see above might have included other benefits, such as spa or meal credits.

Drake Bay Getaway Resort

  • Drake Bay Restaurant, fashioned from gorgeous reclaimed teak, serves delicious smoothies with every meal. The chef can customize an impressive locally sourced menu to accommodate dietary needs.
  • You can feel good about staying at this carbon-negative hotel. The property offsets more carbon than it emits by protecting 160 acres of untouched forest that absorbs and stores CO2 and employs renewable energy sources like solar-based water heating.
  • Call the hotel directly before your visit to plan your tours. A staff member helps customize every excursion and also arrange excellent private experiences whenever possible.
  • The property feels like a wildlife preserve. You can observe chestnut-mandibled toucans, white-faced monkeys and dozens of other tropical species right from the restaurant.
  • The Costa Rica resort is designed to take full advantage of the sweeping Drake Bay vistas as well as the stunning views of the rainforest canopy, from the restaurant's dining room to the large granite walk-in showers.
  • The lapping waves and night symphony of nature invite sleeping with open doors, though it’s best to wait until the lights are out so as not to attract insects.
  • There are flights available into the Sierpe and Drake Bay airports with a free shuttle to the resort, but be sure to call ahead to check on airport status before travel. A 3.5-hour boat transfer is the alternate option. 
  • Wi-Fi is available in every cabin, though with the sweeping vistas and plethora of activities, this is a place to unplug.
  • There is no spa at the luxury hotel, but in-room or on-terrace massage services are available upon request.
  • A Land Rover shuttles you from the restaurant to the cabins, though taking the well-maintained path past the incredible blooms and colorful wildlife is highly suggested.
  • The five cabins feature a full deck with lounge chairs and a hammock, offering an unbeatable location for sunset viewing above Drake Bay and the surrounding jungle.
  • The commodious granite showers have two rainforest showerheads and a wraparound, horizontal open window that draws the wilderness into the intimate space.
  • Each bungalow sits on stilts to add privacy from other cabins and separation from the jungle floor.
  • Every cabin is adorned with romantic touches like fresh flowers. It is also possible to lie in the king bed and look out upon Drake Bay, the Pacific Ocean and the Corcovado National Park jungle.
  • The hotel will arrange for the area’s premier private guides to accompany you to Corcovado National Park, a habitat for more than 600 species of mammals, reptiles and birds.
  • White-faced capuchin, howler, spider and squirrel monkeys, as well as the rare baird’s tapirs, are among the regular sightings in Corcovado.
  • The Bug Lady Night Tour, which raises plenty of squeals and may yield slightly more restless nights, is nothing short of an amazing window into the nocturnal jungle.
  • The six-hour snorkeling tour to Caño Island Biological Reserve feels like diving into a tropical fish tank, though one large enough to accommodate stingrays, sharks and more than one dozen species of coral.

forbes travel guide costa rica

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Costa Rica is known for its wildlife.

Costa Rica has long since been a popular destination for American travelers. Although the country is small and it covers only 0.03 percent of the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters 5 percent of the existing biodiversity in the entire world. In fact, 26 percent of the country comprises conservation and naturally protected territory.

Costa Rica is located in Central America, connecting North and South America. It borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Because of its location, warm weather predominates, but many different microclimates are found throughout the country.

Exploring Costa Rica

Star Clippers sail along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

A convenient and easy way to visit top attractions in this compact country is via a cruise. Some cruise lines, like Star Clippers , even have unique offerings like yoga-themed weeks. Costa Rica often attracts adventure travelers and Star Clippers excursions reflect that with options including ziplining, white water rafting, snorkeling and hiking. Plus, Costa Rica is ideal for cruising because it has long coastlines in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The country has over 750 miles of coastline and over 600 beaches.

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Best covid-19 travel insurance plans.

The Costa Rican landscape is varied, with jungles, beaches, and a wide array of terrain and climate zones. The country has a plethora of rivers and streams that attract specialist kayakers and rafters from all over the world.

Popular Highlights Along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

A sloth in Manuel Antonio National Park.

The port of Quepos serves as the gateway to the Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most visited parks in the country. Travelers have the opportunity to see capuchin and squirrel monkeys, sloths, coatis, raccoons, iguanas and many species of birds.

Golfito is Costa Rica's most southern port town. It was built on bananas – the United Fruit Company moved its regional headquarters here in the 1930s and remained until its departure in the 1980s. Today it acts as a gateway to visitors who wish to surf at Pavones or go sport fishing. There are plenty of other activities available here, including horseback riding, kayaking and trips to nearby mangrove forests.

Playa Panama is located on Costa Rica's east side of the Papagayo Peninsula. The beaches here are some of the prettiest in the country and are especially good for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Flamingo and Potrero are known for scuba diving.

Tortuga Island in Costa Rica.

Isla Tortuga has giant coconut palms framing pretty sandy beaches. Canopy tours, horseback riding and glass bottom boats are popular here.

Popular Highlights on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica

Tortuguero National Park is known for its turtles.

The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica has a lot in common with the islands of the Caribbean. The diverse coastline of the Caribbean region attracts anglers, naturists, and water enthusiasts in search of unique experiences.

Tortuguero National Park is the Caribbean's premier nesting site for green turtles—which is a big draw for nature enthusiasts. Tortuguero is located in the Limon Province in the north of the Caribbean coast and is only accessible by boat or small plane. With 11 different habitats, this park is rich in wildlife, including monkeys and sloths.

Cahuita National Park is known for its clear water which makes it ideal for snorkeling and diving.

Cahuita National Park is located at the south of the Caribbean coast and has one of the least developed beaches in Costa Rica. This protected marine area is ideal for snorkeling and diving, with miles of colorful reef and plenty of fish.

Gandoca-Manzanillo Natural Wildlife Refuge is located near the Panama border on the Southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and has some of the country’s most endangered species, such as manatees, sea turtles, and some endemic species of freshwater dolphins.

Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

The Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge is located 20 miles north of the Tortuguero National Park along the northern border of Costa Rica, and it’s the largest refuge in the country. It has plenty of wildlife and its is made up of miles of wetlands and rainforests.

Costa Rica and Sustainability

Costa Rica is known for its conservation and preservation practices.

Considered one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Costa Rica has 6 percent of the world’s land-based biodiversity and 3.5 percent of its marine life. It is home to 30 national parks, 9 biological reserves and 51 protected areas. The country also produces more than 98 percent of its electricity from renewable resources and 26 percent of its territory is protected natural land. A leader in sustainability, Costa Rica is a model for environmentally friendly practices. In fact, the country’s law mandates that 70 percent of the land remains untouched, ensuring that the land is preserved and not overdeveloped. Reforestation initiatives increased forest coverage in the country from 24 to 70 percent. Sustainability is not a practice in Costa Rica; it is a way of life.

Judy Koutsky

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Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is Awarded Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Rating and Holds this Honour Exclusively in Costa Rica and Central America

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forbes travel guide costa rica

Forbes Travel Guide has recognized Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo with the Five Star rating , its highest honour. One of the most coveted rankings in luxury hospitality, the Resort exclusively holds this rating in Costa Rica and Central America, with just two hotels listed as Five Star in South America. It is one of the most coveted rankings in luxury hospitality, and the Resort has held this position for six consecutive years.  

“We are humbled and honoured by this year's recognition,” says Ian-Robert Ciapparra, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. “Our people and their warmth bring to life the pura vida spirit. Our team is proud to exclusively hold this honour and provide our guests with consistent excellence.” Beyond The Bucket List

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica is Latin America’s ultimate coastal retreat offering an unparalleled access to nature in one of the world’s most compelling destinations. Peninsula Papagayo is the utmost location for outdoor adventure travellers, wellness seekers, culinary explorers, and cultural globetrotters.

“We are blessed to have every region of Costa Rica represented by our team and are ready to curate extraordinary adventures for our guests,” says Lucas Medeiros , Chef Concierge. “Connecting our guests with the Costa Rican culture and creating lifelong memorable is what we live for.”

  • Surf with the best with SurfX , the Resort's in-house outfitter, and be paired with a professional surfer, including members of the Costa Rican National Surf Team.
  • Dine under the stars while learning about gastronomy and astronomy in “Taste the Stars,” a six-course tasting menu with a guided stargazing session.  Making the night more fascinating is the Resort’s resident astronomy expert, Juan Jose (JJ) Fonseca Anchia, a completely self-taught astronomer with astonishing, encyclopedic knowledge of the universe.
  • Make an impact by participating in a Coral Gardening Experience, a restoration program designed to grow new coral through the process of coral gardening.
  • Step inside a tranquil sanctuary of wellness at The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica . Be one with nature with a Volcanic Purifying Ritual – created with volcanic ash and mud from Costa Rica’s Arenal volcano.
  • Guanacaste is home for the ancestral Chorotega tribe, one of the most powerful Indigenous tribes in Central America during the conquest. In partnership with a Chorotega artisan Jose Salomón Villafuerte Grijalba, the Resort will highlight the beauty and artistry of handcrafted Chorotega pottery. Guests walk away with a custom made and personally painted Chorotega clay pot and support a local craftsman.

About Forbes Travel Guide

Forbes Travel Guide anonymously rates luxury hotels and resorts throughout the world against up to 900 rigorous standards. Star ratings are awarded by a team of anonymous professional inspectors who travel the world to assess hotels, restaurants and spas based on 900 objective standards. Star ratings emphasize quality of service. Five-Star properties are defined as “outstanding, often iconic properties with virtually flawless service and amazing facilities.”

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forbes travel guide costa rica

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Centering yourself on a surfboard or yoga mat, descending into bat-filled caves or ascending misty volcanic peaks – relax and enjoy the ride of Costa Rica.

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Teatro Nacional

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Green Hummingbird on a feeder at La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Central Valley & Highlands

This polished storybook garden complex just east of Volcán Poás offers the most easily digestible cultural experience in the Central Valley and is the…

Iguana in Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around

Featuring lush jungle, picture-perfect beaches and craggy headlands, this tiny park (1680 acres/680 hectares) absolutely brims with wildlife (and often…

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At the northwestern end of Cahuita, Playa Negra is a long, black-sand beach flying the bandera azul ecológica, a flag that indicates that the beach is…

Costa Rica, Limon Province, Caribbean coast, Gandoca-Manzanillo national wildlife refuge, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Playa Punta Uva beach

Southern Caribbean

Off a dirt road marked by Punta Uva Dive Center is a quiet, idyllic cove that could double for a scene in the film The Beach. When the water is calm, it…

forbes travel guide costa rica

Parque Nacional Isla del Coco

Southern Costa Rica & Península de Osa

Around 500km southwest of the Costa Rica mainland, Isla del Coco is a natural wonder that teems with wildlife, including the largest schools of hammerhead…

Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal

Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal

From 1968 until 2010, Volcán Arenal was an ever-active and awe-striking natural wonder, producing menacing ash columns, massive explosions and streams of…

Costa Rica, Las Cruces, Wilson Botanical Garden, bromeliad bud, close-up

Wilson Botanical Garden

The world-class Wilson Botanical Garden is internationally known for its collection of more than 2000 native Costa Rican species. Species threatened with…

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Montezuma Waterfalls

Montezuma Waterfalls

A 40-minute river hike leads to a waterfall with a delicious swimming hole. Further along, a second set of falls offers a good 12m leap into deep water…

Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas de Guanacaste

Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas de Guanacaste

Península de Nicoya

Las Baulas national marine park encompasses the entire beach at Playa Grande, as well as the adjacent land and 220 sq km of ocean. This is one of the…

Parque Nacional Tortuguero

Parque Nacional Tortuguero

Caribbean Coast

This misty, green coastal park sits on a broad floodplain parted by a jigsaw of canals. Referred to as the ‘mini-Amazon,’ Parque Nacional Tortuguero is a…

500px Photo ID: 76842259 - Museo Del Jade, San Jose, Costa Rica

Museo del Jade

This museum houses the world’s largest collection of American jade (pronounced ‘ha-day’ in Spanish), with an ample exhibition space of five floors…

Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja

Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja

Northwestern Costa Rica

Given its proximity to Liberia, this park (about 160 sq km) feels surprisingly uncrowded and remote. Named after the steamy main attraction – the active…

Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio

Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio

The park's heavenly blue river, waterfalls and lagoons are among the most spectacular natural phenomena in Costa Rica; as a result, the park is known to…

Playa Ventanas, Costa Rica.

Playa Ventanas

Tucked behind a grove of coco palms, this crescent-shaped, black-sand-and-pebble beach has elaborate rock formations at either end, and is called …

Playa Cocolito

Playa Cocolito

Here's your chance to see a waterfall crashing down a cliff, straight onto the rocks and into the ocean. El Chorro Waterfall is the pièce de résistance of…

Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro

Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro

Arenal & Northern Lowlands

This remote, 102-sq-km refuge has long lured anglers seeking that elusive 18kg snook, and birders hoping to glimpse rare waterfowl. During the dry season…

Maquenque Eco-Lodge

Maquenque Eco-Lodge

Set on 80 glorious bird-filled hectares, 20 unique bungalows (including five gobsmacking tree houses) overlook a lagoon and tropical garden; additional…

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Parque Nacional Carara

Central Pacific Coast

Carara is the famed home of one of Costa Rica’s most charismatic bird species, the scarlet macaw. While catching a glimpse of this tropical wonder is a…

Resplendent Quetzal

Parque Nacional Los Quetzales

The Road to Chirripó

Spread along both banks of the Río Savegre, Parque Nacional Los Quetzales covers 50 sq km of rainforest, cloud forest and premontane forest lying along…

Olive ridley sea turtle on the sand in Ostional Nacional Wildlife Refuge.

Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional

This 85 sq km coastal refuge extends from Punta India in the north to Playa Guiones in the south, and includes the beaches of Nosara and Ostional. It was…

Pacuare Lodge

Pacuare Lodge

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Parque Nacional Volcán Poás

Parque Nacional Volcán Poás

Here's your chance to get frighteningly close to this extremely active volcano, which last erupted in 2017. At an elevation of 2708m, the mighty Poás is…

Red-Eyed Tree Frog, Costa Rica

Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde

Monteverde & Around

This beautiful cloud forest reserve came into being in 1972, when the Quaker community (which had already set aside a third of its property for…

Planning Tools

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Things to Know

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Transportation

If you're wondering how to navigate Costa Rica's roads, airports, and ferry terminals, here's the scoop on getting around this impressive country.

Visa Requirements

Costa Rica is a stunning country that's beloved by travelers. Here's everything you need to know about its entry requirements before you go.

Money and Costs

There are plenty of ways for cost-conscious travelers to save some colones– here are ten top tips for traveling on a small budget in Costa Rica. 

Best Road Trips

Experience the best of Costa Rica with these top road-trip routes.

Traveling with Kids

Costa Rica is the easy way to dive into Central America with kids in tow. Here are our top family adventures, from surf beaches to volcano hikes.

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Costa Rica and beyond

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The Best Time To Visit Costa Rica For A Budget-Friendly Escape With Less Crowds

Aerial of Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica is not a huge country. In fact, it's about the size of West Virginia. Still, it is an increasingly popular destination for travelers. It seems that, especially since the COVID-19 lockdowns, the country has become even more of a tourist hot spot than ever before. Who could blame travelers longing to see the lush rainforests or trying their hand at a death-defying zipline over a ravine of green? Though if it's your first (or fiftieth) time seeing Costa Rica, you might want to consider going during the low tourist season, which is also the cheapest and least crowded time to visit.

We'll be honest: The low season is also the rainy season in Costa Rica. Rightly known as the green season, May through November is technically winter in Costa Rica. It is important to remember that over half of Costa Rica's land is rainforest-covered. So, it only makes sense that you'll be in a place with a healthy amount of rainfall. 

Although if you're visiting from a place that's buried in snow or frostbite-inducing cold, winter in Costa Rica still involves temperatures in the 70s, 80s, and even sometimes the 90s. Not to mention how much rain you encounter will depend on where you spend time in the country. An area like Golfito will likely have much more rainfall than Liberia or Puerto Limón. 

Rainy season makes vacation cheaper

When it comes to visiting Costa Rica in the green season, you're sure to save a lot of green, too. That's because hotels, car rentals, and even restaurants reduce their prices. Sure, you'll want to pack more rain gear than you might otherwise, but the cost savings are pretty appealing. If you want to maximize your vacation budget, consider visiting Costa Rica in the cheapest months of May, June, September, or October. Saving money anywhere gives you more room in the budget for all the best things to do on a family vacation in Costa Rica . 

For instance, the incredible Arenal Springs Resort and Spa (at the time of writing) can cost as little as $298 per night for the cheapest room in September. Meanwhile, the same room in late December would be $468 per night or $340 per night in mid-January. And not only will these months save you big bucks, but they'll also be far less crowded. 

Fewer tourists around means fewer people bumping around on nature trails, fewer carefully positioned photographs to keep strangers out, and less stress if you don't like crowds. That also means you won't have to worry as much about whacking a stranger with your umbrella or sticking to someone while donning a soaked poncho. Although the higher likelihood of rain may deter some visitors, it shouldn't scare anyone looking to see stunning Costa Rica in its most vivacious color. 

Fewer human crowds but more wildlife

Natural encounters are a massive draw for tourists to Costa Rica. It's fitting since so much of the country is rainforest. For visitors wanting to see more of the wildlife that is abundant in the land of pura vida (the pure life), the rainy season is the best time to do so. Plus, you're likely to save money on tours, making it even easier to say yes to every nature excursion you can book. 

Even though human crowds are smaller when it's rainy, the same cannot be said for the myriad wildlife that call the forests home. Seeing wildlife is just one of the many amazing things to do in Costa Rica  — especially if you want to see sloths, as rainy time is one of their favorite things. And you also don't want to go home with the biggest complaint many tourists have after a trip to Costa Rica .

You're far more likely to spot active animals in the rain than in the arid heat of the dry season. Critters like sloths, monkeys, and birds love the freshness of the rain. Even wearing a poncho on a nature walk through a place like Manuel Antonio National Park, you'll be grateful the animals do more than sleep to conserve energy. Imagine all the money you could save visiting Costa Rica when other tourists want to stay away! And how many pairs of coatimundi socks you could bring home to remind you of your adventures. 

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Forbes Travel Guide Stories

Jungle Travel Tips From A Costa Rica Insider By Sarah Bisacca

June 18, 2019

forbes travel guide costa rica

Eco-luxury reaches new heights at Costa Rica ’s Drake Bay Getaway Resort , a Forbes Travel Guide Recommended tropical retreat where the jungle meets the sea.

Built from the ground up by owners Yens Steller and Patrick Ludwig, the postcard-worthy property is as hospitable as it is stunning, with custom tours, personalized meals and attentive service from the innkeepers themselves.

We caught up with Steller to find out how two engineers ended up running a sustainable resort, what to pack for a jungle getaway and why you should try chocolate-covered steak.

forbes travel guide costa rica

How did you go from being a computer engineer to owning a resort?

I was 15 years old. I was a tour guide in Costa Rica. I earned enough money to leave my town, Drake Bay.

My dream was to become an astronaut, so I left to Seattle to try and become an astronaut, but I realized that I get seasick. So, I studied computer science instead and became a software engineer and eventually became a manager at a fast-growing company there.

I married Patrick in 2013. After many years of working as a software engineer — he was an aerospace engineer, he worked for Honeywell and I was a manager at that point working for a big software company — we just had enough of running around crazy all the time, so we said, “Let’s get married, let’s sell everything we got and move to Costa Rica.”

We bought 22 waterfront acres and built a hotel from the ground up. We just wanted to do something dramatically different. So, we went from a high-tech world to one where we have no knowledge at all.

forbes travel guide costa rica

What was your initial vision for Drake Bay Getaway?

We knew from the beginning we wanted to do something luxury and sustainable. And we knew the challenge was how to combine the two.

We like to call ourselves “eco-luxury” because there’s a serious commitment when you’re sustainable versus eco-friendly.

Sustainability is a way of designing and running your business, meaning the materials you use to build your hotel. All of our buildings are constructed with 80 percent wood and metal, with high ceilings and white roofs for ventilation.

So, if we ever decided we were done with the hotel business and [we wanted to] shut the hotel down, we would truly just disassemble the construction and the jungle would take over the land — it would be like we were never here.

From the very beginning, we wanted to do something that had no TV, no A/C and no pool. That was very important because everyone seems to have that at this point. But there’s a subset that wants an experience of a lifetime, and that’s what we’re trying to create.

People who come here are people looking for an experience, not just an ordinary, standard hotel. It’s not only about the tours. It’s not only about the view. It’s not only about the food. We, the hotel owners, my spouse and I, are always onsite. The owners are always in the hotel helping out.

Most of the people who visit our hotel are couples and families with children — it’s really split. As long as you want a lifetime experience for your family or your relationship, you are welcome here.

forbes travel guide costa rica

Speaking of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, what are the most popular excursions at Drake Bay?

One of them is Corcovado National Park . It’s known worldwide for its biodiversity. Supposedly, it has 2.5 percent of the world’s biodiversity. That means of all the animal and plant species in the world, it has 2.5 percent in this little park. Well, it’s not little, but if you look at a map, it’s a small point in the world.

People go on day hikes there with a bilingual tour guide and see lots of wildlife. It’s incredible. You see different monkeys and anteaters. One big animal is called tapir. It’s very famous. People always want to see that. It’s like a rhino, like a pig with a long nose. We’ve seen puma twice at the park. There are lots of cats there, too. You can see lots and lots. Those are just the big guys. But there are over 10,000 insects alone in this area. There are hundreds of species of birds.

The next one would be snorkeling or diving at Caño Islands Biological Reserve. That is near us, too. You can go snorkeling or diving to see turtles, sharks, manta rays and dolphins.

Those are the two main ones, but we have bird-watching and night tours — night tours are awesome, you can see lots of wildlife — and in the July-August timeframe, it’s super popular for humpback whale-watching. The humpback whales come here to give birth, and you can witness them giving swimming lessons to the little whales. They’re here by the hundreds.

So, every season is different, but birds and plants are always here. This town has the most scarlet macaws in the world, I think — the red, yellow and blue ones. And since we’re so close to the park, you can see scarlet macaws and toucans almost on a daily basis here. People even take pictures of birds from their shower!

forbes travel guide costa rica

What should we pack for a jungle getaway?

For the jungle, I would say definitely pack wet shoes — either Tevas or wet shoes because most things here are by boat. You’ve got to get in and out of the boat, and it’s a wet landing on the beach.

You also need hiking shoes or tennis shoes to actually do excursions around. You don’t want to get your good shoes wet, because then you have to go hiking.

And since we’re in the tropical rainforest, you should bring some kind of poncho or raincoat, just in case. A backpack [is good to have, too], because you’ve got to carry your own water wherever you go. And always wear clothes for a tropical, warm place, so no long pants. Don’t wear thick clothes, just light colors. Most of the time it’s bright and sunny here, so if you wear a black T-shirt, you’re going to be hot.

We also do laundry for free, so you don’t have to bring too many shorts and T-shirts. You can come for 12 days without having to pack for every single day.

Besides that, I would say sunglasses, obviously. Some hats or a sombrero, and a swimsuit because we’re right next to the ocean, so you’ve got to go swimming.

We do also give away biodegradable water bottles, so when you arrive, there will be a little refrigerator with two biodegradable water bottles for you to [not only] take home, but also to take with you when you go hiking.

forbes travel guide costa rica

Drake Bay Café doesn’t have a menu. After a day of jungle adventures, what can we expect for dinner?

People come here and they fall in love with everything. Every day the surprises just get better.

About 95 percent of our food ingredients are grown in Costa Rica. Seafood comes literally from the bay in front of us and beef is grass-fed beef. And we use tropical fruits. We don’t bring in strawberries, apples and things from outside. It really is fresh and local.

We use chocolate from [Drake Bay], locally grown cacao, to make one of our best items: a chocolate lava cake. It doesn’t have much sugar — we have low sugar, low salt in our food anyway. We had a couple from New York tell us that it was the best dessert ever — not just the best lava cake ever but the best dessert they’d ever had. It’s not too sweet and it’s all natural, raw cacao from the town. It’s a lava cake with guava jam on the side.

As far as meals, we serve a lot of seafood here, so it could be the mahi mahi with curry. That’s got to be one of the best ones. We make the curry with coconut milk. We have a lot of coconuts here on the beach.

We make a ceviche also. But one of the things people really love is the chocolate-covered steak. The chocolate is not sweet. It’s kind of like a mole . It’s chocolate with espresso. People are always shocked with that.

We use really good coffee. By the way, we have unlimited coffee drinks available at the hotel. And it’s much better than Starbucks.

We [also] have a lot of vegetarians that come here. It is paradise [for them] because we have a lot of meals that we make with fresh vegetables.

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