Costa Rica What It's Known For

Fly into the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica's capital. Rent a car and drive two hours west to the region of Puntarenas. costaricainfo.com

Stay at Hotel Villa Caletas. While Calypso Cruises to the Nicoya islands leave from Puntarenas, try this hotel in a hilltop rainforest. Calypso Cruises can pick you up from here for the 45-minute drive to the Puntarenas port, stopping along the way for breakfast. hotelvillacaletas.com

Cruise the islands of the Gulf of Nicoya with Calypso Cruises, which offers a very scenic route to Isla Tortuga by passing alongside seven islands in the gulf on the two-hour, 13-mile sail. calypsocruises.com

Snorkel off the Isla Tortuga or just wade through the clear waters. Enjoy a lunch of white-fish ceviche and coconut chicken with Calypso Cruises and then finish the day with a nap on the warm sand. calypsocruises.com

Learn more at visitcostarica.com.