10 reasons why you'll love Costa Rica

There's something very special and thrilling about propelling through the canopy on one of Costa Rica's many awesome ziplines. If you're an adrenalin junkie, you've come to the right place. Costa Rica is the perfect choice for all thrillseekers and offers a wide selection of exhilarating rides.

Costa Rica will amaze you with stunning nature and wildlife experiences. One of the animals you will come across, and that could pop up literally anywhere are the sloths. You'll see them hanging from trees around the country, particularly in the national parks. Don't miss the chance to get some quality time with these gentle and lazy creatures.

Almost no matter where you turn you'll see monkeys in Costa Rica. In fact, there are so many of them that you won't even bother to get out your camera in the end. Four species of monkey are native to the forests of Costa Rica: White–throated capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys and spider monkeys. You can see these monkeys all year around and in Corcovado National Park, you'll find all four species in one location. But watch out! These cheeky guys will steal stuff right out of your hand.

Costa Rica is a green, lush and colorful country, packed with a total of 28 beautiful national parks. If you head in this direction at the end of the rainy season you'll still get some rain, but you'll also get to experience some of the most vibrant and stunning landscape you've ever seen. Costa Rica is squeezed between two oceans, and two continents and offers unique habitats and ecosystems. The country's smallest national park is located in Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast. The park is home to a huge array of exotic animals: snakes, monkeys, huge lizards, sloths, and naturally birds of every imaginable color.

Costa Ricans are often referred to as Ticos, a word derived from hermanticos, which means little brothers. This sums up the essence of the Costa Rican people really well, as they value family, community and togetherness. Generally, Ticos are a warm, friendly and welcoming people. Since tourism is such an important part of the country's economy, many Costa Ricans are very hospitable. Ticos are also extremely polite, and will often go to great lengths to avoid directly saying no to people, which can be a little confusing for some tourists!

With two coastlines surrounded by lush jungle, Costa Rica is famous for some of the most beautiful beaches in Central America. Cahuita National Park is one of the best national parks in Costa Rica due to its stunning white sand beaches, lush jungle and plethora of wildlife. It's not very far from Puerto Viejo and it's free, making it one of the must do's in the Caribbean south. Getting a tan has never been more exciting!

Oh, and btw... did we also mention that most of the amazing Selina Hostels in Costa Rica are located by the coast? Yeah, that's right, you can actually win a 10 day stay here for 2 people for free.

It might be the incredible nature that draws people towards Costa Rica, but don't miss the night life experience. From chilled out bars on the beach to clubs featuring world class DJs in San José, Costa Rica offers up a huge variety of nightlife activity. You don't want to miss out on some legendary partying. San José is a thrilling city, and the new, direct flight from Amsterdam to San José with KLM makes getting there even easier.

If you have been to Costa Rica, or if you are planning to go, one short phrase you should be familiar with is "Pura Vida". Simply translated, it means "simple life" or "pure life", but here in Costa Rica, it is more than just a saying... it is a way of life. Ticos use these words to say hello, to say goodbye, to say everything’s great, to say everything’s cool. Not surprisingly, Costa Rica has been named one of the happiest countries in the world, mostly because its people don’t stress about things we might do.

La Fortuna is a beautiful area that is best known for it's active volcano, the Arenal, which has been one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The volcano ejected clouds of smoke, incandescent cinder, and glowing lava on an almost daily basis. Fascinating and harmless as long as you keep a safe distance. However, currently Arenal has been dormant since 2010. Another exciting activity is abseiling down, or more specifically through, one of the countries many waterfalls.

If you haven't caught on yet, Costa Rica is a country packed with volcanoes, rain forest, waterfalls, rivers and beaches. Adventure seeking travelers can choose between a wide selection of activities like rafting, snorkeling, kayaking, zip-lining, surfing and heaps of other options. You're biggest challenge is perhaps simply to find out how to spend the time you have.