Costa Rica
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You don't have to spend a ton to pull off a dreamy getaway
Want to avoid the winter blues? These warm adventure remedies are here to help, from mountain biking in Baja to hiking Dominica.
I traveled abroad on a shoestring budget. Here's how I did it—and how you can, too.
From remote wilderness resorts to a ski-in, ski-out hotel, these properties care as much about environmental practices as they do guest amenities
'How to Be a Family' and 'Uncharted' give unvarnished views of family travel from two very different perspectives
Yep, Costco. Here are six cut-rate trips you can take thanks to the bulk superstore.
Want to stay overnight in a jetliner, a snowcat, or a luxe glass globe dangling off a cliff? You can.
Her surfing students wanted swimsuits that stayed put and had a place to stash a key or money. So Andrea “Mona” Picasso created some—and they’re brilliant.
From deserted beaches to raucous singletrack to ancient Maya ruins, these new adventures and resorts in Central America will warm you up
Score everything from hotel rooms to concert tickets to dinner reservations on the online marketplace
Whether you want to dedicate a few hours or a few weeks, here's how to give back on your next trip
Three months after the hurricane, fly-fishing guides wrestle with what the future of their industry might look like
New approaches to wellness travel offer detoxifying spa treatments, nutritious meals, and awesome fitness options
'A Moment Longer,' from filmmaker Evan Adamson, follows surfer Tommy Witt down to the northern shore of Costa Rica.
Scouts Rickard Sjöberg and Stephan Dombaj explore a forgotten river in the jungles of Costa Rica
Professional wildlife photographer Aaron Baggenstos travelled to Costa Rica to photograph the incredible biodiversity that teems throughout the country’s jungle
The discovery of human remains in Costa Rica complicates theories on his mysterious 2014 disappearance
Presenting the best trips in one of the hemisphere's hottest travel regions.
Fulfill that childhood fantasy and book one of these high-end treehouses, from Costa Rica to Italy to San Francisco
Showering outside is one of life’s small pleasures. Discovering there’s one adjoining your hotel room is an enormous joy.
Following a lengthy trial plagued by missing and mishandled evidence, judges have acquitted seven men charged with the murder of the environmental activist Jairo Mora Sandoval. But with protestors and government leaders incensed by the decision, the case is far from over.
A new 48 Hours documentary looks into the death of an American multimillionaire—and the bizarre trial of his wife.
Roman Dial is an adventure icon and Alaskan legend who raised his son, Cody, in the outdoors. Now Cody is missing in a Costa Rican jungle and Roman is leading the search.
An excerpt from Unruly Places: Lost Spaces, Secret Cities, and Other Inscrutable Geographies examines the spaces between borders
For some surfers and SUPers, hanging ten is the holy goal—toes on the nose, nothing in front of you but pure green wave. With a nerve disorder threatening to destroy his balance, longtime kook Erik Hedegaard asked a waveriding genius to train him for one last shot.
It’s true that Costa Rica stopped being a traveler’s secret sometime during the Reagan Administration. But who cares? Its relative popularity doesn’t diminish the untouched beauty and adventure that this Central American country offers travelers—especially if you go off the beaten path. Follow these tips for planning the ultimate…
Each spring on Costa Rica’s desolate Caribbean coast, endangered leatherback sea turtles come ashore at night to lay and hide their eggs. Poachers steal them for cash, and as Matthew Power reports, they’re willing to kill anyone who gets in their way.
A brilliant American financier and his wife build a lavish mansion in the jungles of Costa Rica, set up a wildlife preserve, and appear to slowly, steadily lose their minds. A spiral of handguns, angry locals, armed guards, uncut diamonds, abduction plots, and a bedroom blazing with 550 Tiffany lamps ends with a body and a compelling mystery.
Costa rica is basically one giant, overrun eco-resort, right? Not here.
Need to get away? Far away? Where you, and maybe someone else, can spend some time on an endless beach and in a whole lot of water? Here you go.
I want to go on a road and mountain biking vacation in the tropics. What do you recommend?
Globe-trotters: we've got you covered. Our 2012 Travel Awards honor the best destinations on seven continents—everything from idyllic beach escapes to camping safaris in Kenya to a mountain-bike expedition in Tibet. Plus: Outside-endorsed outfitters, adventure insurance, and more.
What's the best Central American surf trip for me and my girlfriend (who’s a beginner) in late winter? Honduras? Costa Rica? -Andrew New Haven, CT
I'm planning a trip for my husband's 40th birthday this fall, and I'm trying to find the place with the perfect mix of beach relaxation and adventure. You know, kayaking, hiking, sailing, snorkelling, and windsurfing to go with a super nice room, superb food, and a spa treatment or two. What are your suggestions? –Jill North Attleboro, MA
What are some good, cheap, tropical eco-trips for a winter break? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
People give when they know it will buy something tangible. We asked directors at five organizations to tell us what donations from $50 to $50K would accomplish.
I will be hiking with my 12-year-old son for a few days through the rain forest in Costa Rica. What gear to you recommend? Hiking boots, socks, moisture-wicking underwear, bag to keep camera dry, insect repellent, hat...? Al Bedford, NY
I'm looking for luggage to use on a ten-day eco-tour of Costa Rica. Do you have any suggestions? Mark Buffalo, NY
Is there a DEET-alternative I can really trust when I go hiking in the Costa Rican jungle? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
With 25 national parks, 815 miles of coastline, and thousands of wildlife species, Costa Rica is indeed a rich coast. Experience it all with these seven sea-to-jungle family adventures.
All it takes is one trip to change your life - and we've got 40 of 'em. Dreaming of close encounters with cheetahs or penguins? Want to climb a mountain in Peru? Experience an epic trek in China? One trip, one world - that's all it takes.
Fight back! Don't succumb to the cold-weather blues this winter—head south to the Caribbean and Central America, where the sun comes up early and the ice comes shaved. Presenting the six freshest surf-and-chill outdoor adventures this season.
In the nearly 30 years I've been hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, and kayaking, I've gone through a lot of gear. Most of it has been pretty good (like my Eureka Sentinel tent of a dozen years ago—heavy, but sturdy and roomy). Some of it has been pretty awful (like the…
To maximize the return on your investment in wanderlust, you need know-how and solid advice. We’re here to help. From saving on destination packages and high-value gear to insider trips and the bet reasons to blow a bundle, we’ve got the lowdown on affordable, rip-roaring, full-value adventure travel.
Budget-conscious families should know two things about the tropics: First, Central America and the Caribbean are only a few degrees hotter in summer than in winter. Second, as temperatures rise, resort prices often fall by 15 to 20 percent or more. What's a little humidity in exchange for a great, affordable family trip? We found six of the best spots-from Puer
Where to Surf, Hike, Dive, Fish, Shop, Eat, Drink, Dance, Sleep, and Kick Back
The 21,200-foot Illimani Volcano standing tall above La Paz, Bolivia. Q: We’re looking for a South or Central American destination with challenging mountain biking. Not everyone in our group bikes, though, so it’s important that there be other activities too. Any suggestions? — Amy Fredrick, New…
Yoho National Park Mountain Hut Trip Canada’s Rockies Just another brick… China’s Great Wall MINIMUM AGE: All ages welcome DESCRIPTION: Who better to introduce kids to backpacking than a naturalist who was a teacher for 27 years? The owner of Back of Beyond, Bud Ettiger, puts his expertise…
We’ve learned a lot in a quarter-century of roaming the planet. This month, to kick off Outside‘s silver anniversary, we’ve chosen 25 bold, epic, soul-nourishing experiences that every true adventurer must seek out—from the relatively plush and classic to the cutting-edge and hard-core. All that’s left for you is the…
Pura vida: mountain forest in Costa Rica's Guanacaste province Q: My friend and I are planning a trip to Costa Rica around January 2002. Is this a good time? Also, is it safe to hike and camp there? — Joe-Anne Brantford, Ontario Adventure Advisor: A:…
And deliver us pronto to these 44 island Edens—if they were any more perfect we'd be in heaven
Back to school: Pescadero Surf Camp’s Playa Los Cerritos Q: I’m looking for high-quality surf camps in Central America or Mexico for next month and can’t find any. Any suggestions? — Andrew Brenner, New York, New York Adventure Advisor: A:…
The Costa Rica of legend still exists. But you have to crash through breakers and fight off pigs to find it.
Q: Any idea where I can take a vacation and at the same time do some environmental volunteer work? I remember an article in Outside a couple of years ago about a spot where you can act as a “guard” for sea turtles as they came ashore to lay…
Escape the monkey house and take your brood to where the wild things really are. Our kid-endorsed guide to sneezing lizards, daffy otters, and bellowing moose. (Sorry, no dinosaurs.) Koalas in Kangaroo Island Though the koala is right up there in the race for…
Outside's guide to the coolest trips and the world's top new adventure travel spots.