Things to See in Costa Rica

At 3820m (12,533ft), Cerro Chirripó is Costa Rica's highest peak and the centerpiece of a gorgeous national park set in the rugged Cordillera de Talamanca. Lush cloud forest, high alpine lakes and bare paramó define the landscape. A well-marked hiking trail leads to the top where trekkers can sleepover in a mountain hostel. It's a two-day climb.

Santa Rosa is a wild space of pristine beaches, tropical dry forests and savannahs of thorn trees and swaying jaragua grass. The wildlife on Península Santa Elena is both varied and prolific, especially during the dry season. The rainy months of September and October are best for turtle watching. Here you'll find arribadas (mass-nesting) of up to 8,000 olive ridley sea turtles.

The world class Wilson Botanical Garden covers 12 hectares (30 acres) and is surrounded by 254 hectares (628 acres) of natural forest. The garden was established by Robert and Catherine Wilson in 1963 and thereafter became internationally known for its collection. Today, the well-maintained garden holds more than 1000 genera of plants in about 200 families and plays a scientific role as a research center.

The Nicoya Peninsula is a sun-drenched strip of land with over 130km (81mi) of stunning coastline bound by dry, tropical rainforest. As looks go, it's a beauty and the most popular tourist destination in the whole country. Though the coastlines are being increasingly colonized by gringos, the interior remains dedicated to agriculture and ranching.

Yes, they farm butterflies in Costa Rica, and it's a fascinating process. Opened in 1983, this was the first commercial butterfly farm in Latin America. Informative guided tours will take you through tropical gardens filled with hundreds of butterflies. Learn about the complex butterfly life cycle and discover the importance of butterflies in nature.