For a relatively small country, Costa Rica has an unusually diverse range of eco-systems to explore and adventurous activities to try. You'll visit rugged wilderness preserves and sleepy beach towns, spectacular orchid gardens and mineral hot springs at the foot of a recently-active volcano. There are adventures here for all ages and abilities: swooping from treetop platform to treetop platform on a canopy tour, taking a dip in a jungle swimming hole, spotting playful spider monkeys as you hike through lush foliage, windsurfing on Lake Arenal, or watching endangered sea turtles nest on the beach. This highly opinionated book, by one of Costa Rica's top journalists (Karl Kahler, the Travel Editor of the country's English-language newspaper, The Tico Times), will help you sort through all the options, so you can tailor a vacation that's right for you.