From Pasture to Paradise: Hacienda Pinilla
Atlanta developer Hg Patillo bought a 4,500-acre farm in 1973; now it's an eco-friendly and luxurious vacation community.
Playing on grass at the Four Seasons Papagayo
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: Adventure at a turtle’s pace
Eco-luxury and wildlife encounters abound at this remote jungle escape.
Chill out, see volcanoes at Blue River Resort
Remote hot-springs resort offers relaxation, adventure and old Costa Rica feel.
Where to partake in hot-springs tourism
Five excellent choices for soaking tired muscles in Costa Rican mineral hot springs.
Holistic tourism stretching out in Costa Rica
A round-up of Costa Rica's best retreats for yoga, massage therapy, fasting and cleanses.
Where medical tourists get recovery on
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
Costa Rican companies like Meditek are beginning to promote contemporary treatments for ailments such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and neurological diseases.
Paquera jungle luxury at Vista las Islas
Exploring Costa Rica: A Swiss man with a wild streak runs a stunning hotel with island views in Paquera.
Cabins of glass at romantic Uvita Resort
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.
Tranquility in Tamarindo: Who knew?
Sueño del Mar B&B guests can have their party in Tamarindo and come home to the best breakfast in town.
Views, comfort, food impress at Ringle Resort
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 delivers on romance, wine, fresh sushi
The five-star luxury hotel near Costa Rica’s famous Arenal Volcano makes it nearly impossible to leave the property.
Bounteous breakfasts, vistas at San Vito B&B
Casa Botania offers gorgeous views, comfortable accommodations and excellent cuisine at great prices in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone.
Ticos ride surf school wave in Nosara
Local Costa Rican surfers who once worked for North American surf-school owners are setting up shop themselves in this Nicoya Peninsula beach community.
Coco hotel offers comfy lodging, great food
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.
Hiking Costa Rica’s wildest coastal trail
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.
Villas Hermosas ranks tops with travelers
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.
Tabacón makes green strides at Arenal
The luxury hot springs resort at the base of Arenal Volcano has been garnering recognition for its eco-efforts in recent years.
‘No cars, no stress’ on Isla Bastimentos
Residents of the roadless island in western Panama’s Bocas del Toro archipelago happily share their laid-back culture with visitors.
Surf inn offers all the comforts in Marbella
Built by a surfer for surfers, Marbella Surf Inn lets guests enjoy a remote Guanacaste beach setting in style.
Playas del Coco resort an oasis in paradise
Toro Blanco Resort, owned by Italian expats, offers fully equipped suites for self-contained vacations on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast.
Grand Tara Hotel reborn under new owners
The hotel in the hills of San Antonio de Escazú returns to its roots as a spot for weddings, international travelers and families.
Tropical bungalows, cultural exchange in Tambor
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.
Lodge offers ‘rustic elegance’ in misty Monteverde
Guests enjoy discreet luxury and cloud-forest views at Monteverde Lodge and Gardens in north-central Costa Rica.
Río Celeste remains true blue
Named for its celestial-blue waters, the river is the main attraction of Guanacaste’s Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Contempo: Chic boutique outside Managua
Hotel Contempo packs a wealth of elegance into a small boutique property outside Nicaragua’s capital city.
Beaches beckon on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast
Boasting turquoise seas and golden sand, the string of beaches between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo are among the most beautiful in the country.
Retreat to Río Chirripó in the Southern Zone
Mountain air, abundant nature and yoga and art classes soothe body and spirit at Río Chirripó Yoga Retreat in Canaán de Rivas.
Change Pace at the Sloth Sanctuary of C.R.
No matter how many fingers, all sloths – and visitors – are welcome at Aviarios del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary on the southern Caribbean coast.
Cahuita hotel welcomes all species of visitors
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.
Lodge sits in idyllic corner of Lake Nicaragua
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.
All’s wellness at Nicaraguan luxury yoga retreat
Aqua Wellness Resort offers a unique beach-jungle yoga experience near the Pacific-coast surf town of Playa Gigante.
Indigenous eco-lodge welcomes first guests in Costa Rica
An association of Bribrí indigenous women is now welcoming guests to the Kabata U Indigenous Eco-lodge in Watsi, Talamanca.
La Fortuna: More than just volcano gazing
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.
Caño Island: Costa Rica’s accessible wild isle
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.
Start your adventuring at Costa Rica’s Adventure Inn
The conveniently located hotel in Ciudad Cariari comes highly recommended.
Jacó hilltop hotel big on views, hospitality
Vista Pacifico apartment hotel offers panoramic views and Canadian hospitality on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast.
Wildlife rescue center welcomes human visitors
Tourists can get up close and personal with orphaned monkeys and injured wildlife at the Jaguar Rescue Center on the southern Caribbean coast.
