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From Pasture to Paradise: Hacienda Pinilla

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

Atlanta developer Hg Patillo bought a 4,500-acre farm in 1973; now it's an eco-friendly and luxurious vacation community.

Four Seasons Tennis Court

Playing on grass at the Four Seasons Papagayo

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

It's the only grass tennis court in the Four Seasons chain, and it may be the only in all of Costa Rica.

Tortuga Lodge 1

Tortuga Lodge: Adventure at a turtle’s pace

By Clayton R. Norman  | The Tico Times

Eco-luxury and wildlife encounters abound at this remote jungle escape.

Blue River Resort 1

Chill out, see volcanoes at Blue River Resort

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

Remote hot-springs resort offers relaxation, adventure and old Costa Rica feel.

Tabacon

Where to partake in hot-springs tourism

By Clayton R. Norman  | The Tico Times

Five excellent choices for soaking tired muscles in Costa Rican mineral hot springs.

Holistic Tourism 1

Holistic tourism stretching out in Costa Rica

By Genna Marie Robustelli  | Special to The Tico Times

A round-up of Costa Rica's best retreats for yoga, massage therapy, fasting and cleanses.

AmaTierra Retreat

Where medical tourists get recovery on

By Matt Levin  | The Tico Times

Costa Rica boasts an array of wellness and recovery centers and hotels where medical tourists can relax and replenish their bodies and souls.

Plastic surgeons slicing out their niche

Costa Rican plastic surgeons tell The Tico Times why the medical tourist business is good.

New medical procedures available in Costa Rica

By Matt Levin  | The Tico Times

Costa Rican companies like Meditek are beginning to promote contemporary treatments for ailments such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and neurological diseases.

Vista Las Islas 1

Paquera jungle luxury at Vista las Islas

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

Exploring Costa Rica: A Swiss man with a wild streak runs a stunning hotel with island views in Paquera.

Infinity pool

Cabins of glass at romantic Uvita Resort

By Andrew Kasper  | akasper@ticotimes.net

This intimate boutique resort will take you away from it all, accommodate you in a glass cabin and serve you a surprise five-course meal.

Sueño del Mar 1

Tranquility in Tamarindo: Who knew?

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

Sueño del Mar B&B guests can have their party in Tamarindo and come home to the best breakfast in town.

Ringle Resort 1

Views, comfort, food impress at Ringle Resort

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

A new hotel and spa in an old colonial mansion in the hills of Santa Ana caters to business travelers and locals seeking Greek food and haircuts.

Nayara Hotel 1

Nayara delivers on romance, wine, fresh sushi

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

The five-star luxury hotel near Costa Rica’s famous Arenal Volcano makes it nearly impossible to leave the property.

Casa Botania 2

Bounteous breakfasts, vistas at San Vito B&B

By Dorothy MacKinnon  | Special to The Tico Times

Casa Botania offers gorgeous views, comfortable accommodations and excellent cuisine at great prices in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone.

Riding the Wave 2

Ticos ride surf school wave in Nosara

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

Local Costa Rican surfers who once worked for North American surf-school owners are setting up shop themselves in this Nicoya Peninsula beach community.

La Puerta del Sol 2

Coco hotel offers comfy lodging, great food

By Adam Williams  | The Tico Times

With comfortable, well-appointed rooms and an Italian chef owner, La Puerta del Sol makes an excellent base from which to explore the northwestern Guanacaste province.

Coastal Trail 1

Hiking Costa Rica’s wildest coastal trail

By Shawn Larkin  | Special to The Tico Times

Whales, dolphins, myriad jungle flora and even yachts may be spotted on the six-hour coastal hike from Drake Bay to Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula.

Beautiful Villas Beautiful Beach 2

Villas Hermosas ranks tops with travelers

By Ashley Harrell  | aharrell@ticotimes.net

Canadian-owned Villas Hermosas, just up the coast from the popular Nicoya Peninsula surf destinations of Malpaís and Santa Teresa, has earned big kudos on TripAdvisor.

Tabacon Resort

Tabacón makes green strides at Arenal

By Dominique Farrell  | The Tico Times

The luxury hot springs resort at the base of Arenal Volcano has been garnering recognition for its eco-efforts in recent years.

Isla Bastimentos 2

‘No cars, no stress’ on Isla Bastimentos

By Nate Perkins  | The Tico Times

Residents of the roadless island in western Panama’s Bocas del Toro archipelago happily share their laid-back culture with visitors.

Marbella 3

Surf inn offers all the comforts in Marbella

By Karla Arias Alvarado  | The Tico Times

Built by a surfer for surfers, Marbella Surf Inn lets guests enjoy a remote Guanacaste beach setting in style.

Toro Blanco Resort 2

Playas del Coco resort an oasis in paradise

By Ellen Weathers  | The Tico Times

Toro Blanco Resort, owned by Italian expats, offers fully equipped suites for self-contained vacations on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast.

Hotel 3

Grand Tara Hotel reborn under new owners

By Dominique Farrell  | The Tico Times

The hotel in the hills of San Antonio de Escazú returns to its roots as a spot for weddings, international travelers and families.

Tambor Tropical Resort

Tropical bungalows, cultural exchange in Tambor

By Ellen Weathers  | The Tico Times

Tambor Tropical Resort on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula encourages guests to volunteer at a local school and use local guides for tours, while offering beautiful vacation accommodations.

Monteverde Lodge 2

Lodge offers ‘rustic elegance’ in misty Monteverde

By Ellen Weathers  | The Tico Times

Guests enjoy discreet luxury and cloud-forest views at Monteverde Lodge and Gardens in north-central Costa Rica.

Rio Celeste 2

Río Celeste remains true blue

By Karla Arias Alvarado  | The Tico Times

Named for its celestial-blue waters, the river is the main attraction of Guanacaste’s Tenorio Volcano National Park.

Contempo 1

Contempo: Chic boutique outside Managua

By Adam Williams  | The Tico Times

Hotel Contempo packs a wealth of elegance into a small boutique property outside Nicaragua’s capital city.

Caribbean Beach 4

Beaches beckon on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast

By Meg Yamamoto  | The Tico Times

Boasting turquoise seas and golden sand, the string of beaches between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo are among the most beautiful in the country.

Rio Chirripó Yoga Retreat

Retreat to Río Chirripó in the Southern Zone

By Karla Arias Alvarado  | The Tico Times

Mountain air, abundant nature and yoga and art classes soothe body and spirit at Río Chirripó Yoga Retreat in Canaán de Rivas.

Sloth Sanctuary

Change Pace at the Sloth Sanctuary of C.R.

By Leslie Josephs  | Special to The Tico Times

No matter how many fingers, all sloths – and visitors – are welcome at Aviarios del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary on the southern Caribbean coast.

Kelly Creek Hotel 2

Cahuita hotel welcomes all species of visitors

By Dominique Farrell  | The Tico Times

Kelly Creek Hotel offers laid-back accommodations and the chance to see plenty of wildlife at its location at the entrance to Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park.

La Esquina del Lago 1

Lodge sits in idyllic corner of Lake Nicaragua

By Clayton R. Norman  | The Tico Times

The rustic La Esquina del Lago Jungle River Lodge offers tarpon fishing, bird-watching and kayak tours on Lake Nicaragua and the Río San Juan.

Yoga Retreat 3

All’s wellness at Nicaraguan luxury yoga retreat

By Matt Levin  | The Tico Times

Aqua Wellness Resort offers a unique beach-jungle yoga experience near the Pacific-coast surf town of Playa Gigante.

Talamanca Lodge 2

Indigenous eco-lodge welcomes first guests in Costa Rica

By Richard Tinkler  | Special to The Tico Times

An association of Bribrí indigenous women is now welcoming guests to the Kabata U Indigenous Eco-lodge in Watsi, Talamanca.

La Fortuna

La Fortuna: More than just volcano gazing

By Will Ferguson  | The Tico Times

Arenal Volcano may be the most celebrated attraction in north-central Costa Rica, but the surrounding area offers plenty of other attractions, including an eco zoo, canyoneering and a hike to a crater lake.

Cano Island

Caño Island: Costa Rica’s accessible wild isle

By Shawn Larkin  | Special to The Tico Times

Limiting visitation to just a small portion of the island seems to be working well at Caño Island Biological Reserve, off the southern Pacific coast.

Adventure Inn

Start your adventuring at Costa Rica’s Adventure Inn

By Ann Antkiw

The conveniently located hotel in Ciudad Cariari comes highly recommended.

ApartHotel Vista Pacifico 2

Jacó hilltop hotel big on views, hospitality

By Dominique Farrell  | The Tico Times

Vista Pacifico apartment hotel offers panoramic views and Canadian hospitality on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast.

Rescue Center 1

Wildlife rescue center welcomes human visitors

By Nate Perkins  | The Tico Times

Tourists can get up close and personal with orphaned monkeys and injured wildlife at the Jaguar Rescue Center on the southern Caribbean coast.