Hotel at a Glance: Hotel Bosque del Mar

The junior suites at Hotel Bosque del Mar are surrounded by colorful, tropical foliage. Some even have native trees growing up through their private terraces, bringing you even closer to nature. Each unit is within a minute's walk of Playa Hermosa, on the shores of western Costa Rica.

• Included meals: Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Niromi Restaurant, which specializes in Costa Rican flavors
• Tours and activities: Diving and snorkeling excursions, sunset sails, and jungle zip-lining tours can be booked through the hotel.
• Go swimming in a freeform pool with a hot tub and a waterfall feature.
• Alfresco pampering: Book a beachfront massage from Paradise Spa.
Going green: The hotel enforces a number of energy- and water-conservation practices.

Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Forested Mountains and Legendary Surfing Beaches

The province of Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica takes its name from the Guanacaste tree, an umbrella-shaped species also known, less picturesquely, as the earpod tree. These trees blanket the slopes of the Guanacaste and Tilaran Mountains, helping to shelter the coastline from rainstorms and keep the beaches warm and dry.

Stick to the shore of bustling Playas del Coco and you'll find plenty of waterfront activities as well as lively nightlife. But it's worth heading farther afield to take in some of the province's national parks. Starting in October, Marino las Baulas National Park serves as a major nesting ground for leatherback turtles. And in the north, Santa Rosa National Park is known for its legendary surf breaks, including one featured in the documentary The Endless Summer II.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.