AFAR Search

Most visitors come to Costa Rica for nature. Twenty-five percent of the country is protected, and most natural areas are easily accessible, though some require going off the beaten path. More than 10 conservation areas are within reach of the country’s capital, San José, and each offers a different nature experience. From the last remaining tropical wet forests in the Mesoamerican Pacific, located in Corcovado National Park, to the stalagmite- and stalactite-filled caves of Tempisque Conservation Area, travelers can see a variety of habitats in one trip. As for accommodations, there are plenty of options for roughing it, but Costa Rica also features upscale resorts where you can retreat and recharge after a day outside.

Where to Travel Next

These Are the 5 Best Countries for Retiring Abroad

These places don’t require a high budget for a very high quality of life.

June 16, 2025 02:32 PM

·

Chloe Arrojado

Left: Ursa; right: Sunset in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona with mountains and saguaro cacti and other desert vegetation.

Food + Drink

An Experimental Desert Cuisine Is Blooming in This Southwestern State

Thousands of years in the making, the Sonoran Desert’s ancient pantry is finally getting its fine dining moment.

March 20, 2026 12:38 PM

·

Chris Malloy

Those $49 fares out of Nevada’s Reno-Tahoe International Airport are a thing of a past.

Air Travel News

Regional Airline Aha! Has Shut Down

Less than one year after launching, the Nevada-based discount carrier halted operations after parent company ExpressJet filed for bankruptcy.

September 2, 2022 01:33 PM

·

Associated Press (AP)

Health + Wellness

Why This Unexpected Destination Should Be Your Next Wellness Retreat

Find mindfulness, sleep retreats, and much more in the Middle East.

July 25, 2024 02:00 PM

·

Laura Dannen Redman

Tips + News

Michelin Just Gave These 10 New York Restaurants New Stars

A Brooklyn wine bar owned by LCD Soundsystem’s frontman and a restaurant 30 miles outside of the city both earned stars in the 2020 edition of the Michelin Guide New York City.

October 24, 2019 12:48 PM

·

Lyndsey Matthews

COVID + Travel

CDC Further Relaxes Mask Guidance for Vaccinated People

Those who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no longer need to wear a mask outdoors, except when in a crowded environment.

April 27, 2021 03:29 PM

·

Michelle Baran

History + Culture

Barbados Bids Farewell to British Monarchy as It Becomes a Republic

It’s an event that the Caribbean hasn’t experienced since the 1970s, when Guyana, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago became republics.

December 1, 2021 12:26 PM

·

Dánica Coto

Taking in the views of the city by boat is one of the best ways to get a sense of the scale of Chicago's architecture.

Art + Culture

Chicago Is Known for Its Incredible Architecture—Here’s How to See It

In a city teeming with staggering architecture, it’s worthwhile to take more than a cursory look around.

October 24, 2022 01:59 PM

·

Nina Kokotas Hahn

Washington D.C. subway station with passengers in motion blur

The processing time for U.S. passports has decreased for the first time since February 2023.

October 3, 2023 02:00 PM

·

Bailey Berg

Tips + News

Here’s When NYC Museums Are Opening Again

New York’s museums are starting to reopen with new protocols in place. Here’s what you need to know.

August 14, 2020 05:19 PM

·

Lyndsey Matthews

Food + Drink

UNESCO Adds Singapore’s Hawker Culture to Its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Singapore’s street food tradition is now part of UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which includes knowledge and practices instead of physical sites.

December 22, 2020 04:33 PM

·

Lyndsey Matthews

Striking view of Torres del Paine National Park with large jagged peaks basking in a sunny glow and dusted with sections of snow rising behind a body of water and shrub-filled flatlands in the foreground

Search results for