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Costa Rica Luxury Travel


In just a few short decades, Costa Rica has gone from some little backwater that nobody visited to being the most popular vacation destination in Central America by far, especially for luxury travelers. Costa Rica's best beaches pale in comparison to most of its neighbors. The main draws here are tour activities in the great outdoors: the cloudforests and jungles filled with wildlife. With the best facilities and service in the region, even the eco–lodges here provide plenty of luxury comforts and pampering.

Costa Rica has long been a beacon of stability in the region, with a democracy that's over 100 years old, a literacy rate of 95 percent, and the highest standard of living in Central America. There are a lot of natural superlatives in this country as well. Arenal Volcano is Central America's most active volcano. Some five percent of the world's species are found on this small plot of land, including more species of birds than the U.S. and Canada combined. A quarter of the country is devoted to protected lands and parks and the Costa Rican government here has been far more enlightened about environmentally friendly tourism than most other countries anywhere.

See our reviews of the best hotels, resorts, and lodges in Costa Rica

Don't plan on having the whole place to yourself though unless you stay at a luxury lodge with plenty of land. The secret has been out for ages. While there are plenty of things to do for your Costa Rica trip, this is one of the most popular destinations for North Americans, drawing over two million total visitors per year. A fair number of those visitors never made it back home: this is a popular place to retire to and buy or build a dream home.

Nature in Costa Rica

The good side of all this traffic is that upscale facilities are quite good, the better guides speak English well, and staffers aren't just figuring all this out as they go along. Some of the eco–tourism pioneers are based here, so eco–friendly lodges and five–star hotels that "think green" are more prevalent than those that are not—a welcome change in the luxury market.

A Costa Rica vacation is not about colonial history and sightseeing. Instead come here to find jungle adventures, white–water rafting, hiking, mountain biking tours, and wildlife sightings. Then a bit of beach living on the Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste, or Quepos/Manuel Antonio. Follow our links to find the best of the best for your next holiday trip.

Luxury Hotels in Costa Rica


Secret Beaches of Panama and Costa Rica on an UnCruise Adventure

From Jaco to the Gulfo Dulce in Southern Costa Rica

Finding Sophisticated Cuisine in Wild Costa Rica

A Luxury Villa Vacation on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast

A Wealth of Wildlife in Costa Rica

Cruising on a 21st Century Clipper Ship to Central America

Costa Rica Golf Amid Nature's Splendor

Costa Rica's Eco–luxe Spas



Costa Rica Real Estate for Wealthy Investors

Interview with Cristina Jones, Broker and Founder of WeRCR Real Estate