Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the easy entry point to neotropical wildlife. Cloud forests, two coastlines, active volcanoes, sloths, monkeys, more bird species than the United States — all in a country smaller than West Virginia. Pura vida is real and the infrastructure works.

The classic loop is short and proven: fly into San José, head to Arenal for volcano hikes and hot springs, take the bumpy road around the lake to Monteverde's cloud forest, then drop to the Pacific for surf, sunsets, and sloths. Hire a guide with a spotting scope at least once — you'll see ten times more than you would alone. Budget reality: this is a trip of rental cars, park fees, and guided walks, and it adds up fast.

Costa Rica is not cheap — expect prices closer to the United States than to the rest of Central America, especially in Guanacaste and the surf towns. Distances look tiny on the map and take hours on rough roads. September and October rains can wash out whole afternoons, and San José deserves one night at most. If you're after culture, ruins, or city life, go elsewhere. For wildlife per day of vacation, almost nowhere on earth beats it.