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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

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Chloe Arrojado

The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area in California, an important migration route for gray and humpback whales, is among the newly designated Wildlife Heritage Areas.

Travel for Good

New Wildlife Heritage Areas Help Travelers Find Responsible Animal Experiences

A new global initiative designates destinations where you can have both extraordinary and ethical interactions with animals in the wild.

October 23, 2023 01:40 PM

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Kathleen Rellihan

A glass house nestled on a cliff in Big Sur, surounded by trees and shrubs

Art + Culture

6 Hotels That Immerse You in Local Culture

From falconry in the California desert to olive oil tasting in Spain, these immersive hotel stays connect you to place.

Sponsored by World of Hyatt

Hotels

Wildflower Farms Offers a High-End Escape for Nature-Starved New Yorkers

Part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, this is the first luxury brand hotel to open in New York’s Hudson Valley.

January 12, 2023 05:30 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

Red and yellow fireworks over a city skyline at night

Holiday Travel

These 7 Places Are Having the Most Festive July 4 Parties

Because where else would you be?

May 5, 2025 04:29 PM

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Chloe Arrojado

The Influencer: Andrew Mariani, Vintner

Where to go in California, according to the cofounder of one of Sonoma County’s most casually cool wineries.

June 14, 2018 08:00 PM

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Andrew Parks

LGBTQ Travel

Transgender Activists Will Be Honored With First-of-Its-Kind Monument in NYC

The city announced plans to memorialize Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, irreplaceable—though often overlooked—leaders in LGBTQ history.

June 7, 2019 09:36 AM

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Sarah Buder

A helicopter on a landing pad viewed from behind with people all around, some wearing bright vests, and tall mountains covered in greenery in the background

Air Travel News

Following a Recent Crash, Should You Worry About the Safety of Flying in a Helicopter?

Experts weigh in on the track record of helicopters in the aftermath of a tragic helicopter crash in New York’s Hudson River.

April 21, 2025 09:28 PM

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Barbara Peterson

Where to Travel Next

Why You Should Go to Los Angeles This Summer

A bumper crop of hotel openings, the meticulous restoration of a glamorous Hollywood hot spot, and thrilling art installations are making Tinseltown sizzle this summer.

July 22, 2019 01:18 PM

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Ann Shields

Air Travel News

Round-Trip Flights to New Zealand Are on Sale From $799

Air New Zealand has announced a number of special fares to the “Land of the Long White Cloud.”

August 30, 2019 01:31 PM

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Katherine LaGrave

Rear of red Tesla Model S while charging at Tesla Supercharger Station.

Road Trips

The Complicated Reality of EV Road Trips

Lessons learned taking a Tesla road trip.

April 30, 2024 05:56 PM

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Laura Dannen Redman

Cities We Love

Why You Should Go to New York City This Summer

Everything old is new again in New York.

May 25, 2019 01:52 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

COVID + Travel

Hawai‘i Issues New Rules for Vaccinated Travelers—What You Need to Know

As of July 8, fully vaccinated out-of-state travelers do not need to take a pretravel COVID test and are not required to quarantine.

July 14, 2021 06:43 PM

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Michelle Baran

Cities We Love

Move Over Marfa: This Is the New Art Hot Spot in Texas

The border city of 1 million people, along the Rio Grande between Mexico and New Mexico, is just a three-hour drive from that high desert town of minimalism and conceptual art.

February 13, 2025 05:18 PM

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Sunshine Flint

Hotel News + Openings

The First Gluten-Free Hotel in the U.S. Has Opened in Louisiana

The Hotel Monroe has no gluten on site.

May 5, 2026 07:46 PM

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Bailey Berg

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