Get Pampered Poolside or Retreat to a Rainforest? Do It All in Costa Rica

An all-inclusive resort allows travelers to stay settled or explore Costa Rica’s many wonders. (Photo: Marriott International)

If you can’t decide between a Central or South American travel destination, then meet in the middle at Costa Rica, one of the world’s happiest and greenest places to live and visit. To make the most of your vacation in Costa Rica, book a stay in a resort that offers easy access to the seashore and rainforest and meets your on-site needs: food, drinks and fun.

Relaxing by the Rainforest

All-inclusive packages at the Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort create a great foundation for a Costa Rican vacation. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on one side and a 1,100-acre rainforest on the other, this refreshing resort offers packages that cover all meals (try the gallo pinto dish of rice and beans for breakfast), drinks and accommodations, as well as non-motorized hotel water sports, massage discounts and Kids’ Club activities.

Outdoor lovers can tee off with a round of golf at the nearby La Iguana Golf Course, nestled in the wild jungles which blanket so much of Costa Rica. Resort guests are just minutes away from this championship course, and less than an hour from Manuel Antonio National Park.

Visit mangrove swamps, scenic beaches, and a dozen surrounding islands all within the park: you’ll see howler monkeys and Costa Rican water birds like the anhinga, but watch your pockets––the resident monkeys can be very stealthy and are known for swiping keys and snacks!

Slip on Your Explorer Shoes

With food, accommodations, many activities and more already paid for, a vacation to an all-inclusive resort may make you feel like your vacation has to center entirely around the hotel. But what about enjoying the surrounding area?

If Costa Rica’s extreme equatorial beauty gives you the itch to waner, there’s plenty more to see. The country is home to six percent of the planet’s animal and plant species — in an area just twice the size of Massachusetts.

You can learn more on a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park, or go on a snorkeling adventure via kayak with Anywhere Costa Rica. If you’re just looking for a spot to sunbathe, beautiful Herradura Beach is easy to reach from Los Suenos Resort.

For urban excitement, head to the Costa Rican capital of San Jose and visit museums like the Museo Nacional and cultural favorites like the Simon Bolivar Zoo, located in the Amon district.

Still need that perfect souvenir to remind you of your Costa Rican escape? Visit the Mercado Artesania, a shop filled with handmade jewelry and carved tropical wood dishes, before returning to the resort.

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