Costa Rica vacations

Take in the majestic Arenal Volcano (active, and known to spit out lava and ash) from the safe and relaxing vantage point of the Tabacon Hot Springs. The pools and waterfalls here are supplied by a river that’s warmed by the nearby volcano. Have your sweetheart — along with toucans and hummingbirds — eating out of the palm of your hand at La Paz Waterfall Gardens outside of San Jose. Visit five stunning cascades in the lush cloud forest, and meet rescued ocelots, jaguars, capuchin monkeys and other exotic creatures along the way.

A Chocolate Forest Tour might be all you need to mention to get the whole family excited about Costa Rica. The tour offered by the Tirimbina Rainforest Center takes you across suspension bridges through the jungle to a wild “chocolate plantation,” where the open-air demonstration begins with the breaking of a cacao pod and ends with the making of a chocolate bar from scratch. Housed in beautifully repurposed ex-military barracks, San Jose’s Museo de los Ninos is a children’s museum chock full of activities to keep kids of all ages entertained for an entire afternoon. Special favourites are the earthquake simulator and a floor that plays music when you step on it.

Take a dip in the Pacific while you wait for the spider monkeys to show up at Manuel Antonio National Park. They’re always punctual (9 am on the dot) and hide your food! Hire a guide to point out the rest of the rainforest’s wildlife, like red-eyed frogs and three-toed sloths.