Diminutive Costa Rica packs an enormous punch, with a culture as rich and vibrant as its incredible biodiversity. From wildlife to beaches to adventure activities, here are 10 reasons to choose the country for your next trip.

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Few countries on earth can rival Costa Rica for biodiversity: the tiny nation is home to an astonishing 5 per cent of the world’s identified living species. Wildlife corridors span the length of the country, and dozens of parks and reserves offer the chance for close encounters. Catch a glimpse of the bright-turquoise resplendent quetzal in San Gerado de Dota, spy colourful poison dart frogs hopping along the trails in Veragua Rainforest, or watch humpback whales breaching the water in Parque Nacional Marino Ballena. And keep an eye out for sloths everywhere – they doze in trees across the country.

Lapped on one side by the Caribbean Sea and on the other by the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica has a palm-fringed beach for every mood. Seeking solitude? Head to tranquil Playa Biesanz in Quepos, where your only company will be the occasional seabird. Fancy a spot of snorkelling? Make for the glittering waters of idyllic Manzanillo, teeming with mantas and tropical fish. For a truly magical beach experience, take a trip to Playa Ostional to witness one of the regular arribadas – a mass arrival of turtles swimming to shore to nest.

Costa Rica’s volcanic slopes offer ideal conditions for growing coffee, and there’s no better start to the day than a rich dark brew from the local grano de oro (golden bean). Many estates – from small organic farms to large fincas – welcome visitors; not only can you buy the beans, but most give tours, too. Enjoy the full bean-to-cup experience with a visit to Café Britt, the country’s most famous coffee brand, or learn about the fascinating relationships between coffee bushes and wildlife at the independent Finca Cristina.

Costa Rica’s signature dish is gallo pinto, a hearty helping of rice and beans, cooked with onions, sweet peppers, and heaps of garlic. It’s usually served with scrambled or fried eggs, cheese, avocado and a side of plátano maduro (ripe plantain) as part of a traditional dish known as casado. And for dessert? Expect a cornucopia of tropical fruit, including maracuya (passion fruit), carambola (star fruit), pejibaye (peach palm fruit), and guanabana (soursop). Wash it all down with a refreshing pipa fría – coconut water drunk straight from the just-husked coco.

An early pioneer of sustainable travel, Costa Rica is famed for its eco-friendly canopy tours. Ziplining originated here in the 1970s, as a low-impact way for biologists to study the country’s forests, and today numerous national parks have facilities for whizzing high above the forest floor. Prefer a more sedate way of getting eye-level with the monkeys? Take a ride on the Rainforest Aerial Tram next to Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo or go for a stroll along the aerial pathways of the Sky Walk near Santa Elena.

Costa Rica may not have many coral reefs, but its crystal-clear waters are filled with marine life. Better yet, this includes numerous large pelagic species such as sharks, manta rays, whales and dolphins. Isla del Coco is the country’s most famous dive destination, renowned for the chance to swim with schools of hammerhead sharks, though Playas del Coco comes a close second, with opportunities to get nose-to-nose with huge bull sharks and giant manta rays.

With world-class rapids surrounded by stunning natural beauty, Costa Rica’s rivers are about as perfect as it gets for white-water rafting. The Río Pacuare is the top pick for adrenaline seekers: with its large flows and roiling waves, it provides a heart-thumping ride through dramatic gorges. For a more gentle pace, the Río Reventazón makes a great alternative – its rapids are less wild, and there’s more floating time where you can sit back and soak up the wildlife-rich scenery.

A surfers’ paradise, Costa Rica is blessed with epic waves and a host of surf schools to choose from. Board masters can test their moves at “Salsa Brava”, over razor-sharp coral reefs off Puerto Viejo, or ride the 1.5-km (1-mile) break that stretches from Pavones. Novices, meanwhile, can hone their technique in the less crowded waters of Dominical. If you’re a total beginner, head to Tamarindo: the beachfront Witch’s Rock Surf Camp is an excellent place to learn the ropes.

Costa Rica has few rivals when it comes to spectacular scenery. Flanked by sparkling seas, its dramatic geography is studded with majestic volcanoes, amazing wetlands, pristine tropical forests, and breathtaking waterfalls plunging into turquoise pools. Must-see highlights include conical Volcán Arenal, ringed by bubbling hot springs; the mist-shrouded cloud forest of Monteverde; and the bottle-green rainforest of Corcovado, fringed by secluded black-sand beaches.

Indigenous peoples make up only a fraction of Costa Rica’s population, but they’ve had a huge impact on the country. Community-run tours provide an insight into their heritages and also offer a chance to meet traditional artisans. Admire the work of weavers at the Reserva Indígena Boruca, or head south to the Panamanian border to discover how Ngäbe fabric is produced. Alternatively, you can try the techniques yourself with a necklace-making lesson at the Sarapiquís Rainforest Lodge, or a workshop painting intricately carved Malekú jícaras (hollowed gourds) at Pueblo Malekú.

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