Costa Rica

Experience these destinations authentically by getting under the skin of these countries is how we want you to experience these short breaks.  These include spying wildlife in Costa Rica’s national parks to cooking with locals on a little-visited Greek island.

Laying claim to the world's biggest rainforest, driest desert, largest salt pan, along with a string of exceptional archaeological sites and stunning natural wonders, Latin America is not short on enthralling and unusual destinations. Here's a clutch of our favourites.

'Pura Vida' can be heard echoing throughout Costa Rica. Translating to 'pure life', the term has been adopted unofficially as the country's national motto, symbolic of the Costa Rican mindset and indicative of the enriching experiences that await travellers.  With today's hectic lifestyle, it's never been more important to enjoy an occasional break from the daily grind, take a digital detox from our phones or simply make time to revel in the world around us. If you're looking to pair all this with an immersion into nature, then Costa Rica makes for a prime destination choice.

Japan is a land of great natural beauty and there are plenty of remote walking trails to get you amongst it all. The Kunisaki Trek is one of the best: you can follow in the footsteps of Monks who have wandered the mountains of the Kunisaki Peninsula for more than 1,000 years.

Are you a 'zip-lining through the rainforest' kind of traveller? Or do you prefer your explorations to move at a more sloth-like pace, with walks on hanging bridges in the treetops and dips in mineral-rich volcanic hot springs?

Either way, you can do it all in Costa Rica. The small, lush country is perfect for adventures, courtesy of its sultry rainforests and cool cloud forests, and shires lapped by both the glistening Caribbean Sea to the east and the surf-friendly waves of the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Whether you fancy deserted, wild shores or laid-back surfer vibes, with two picture-perfect coastlines - one Caribbean, one Pacific - Costa Rica has just the beach for you. We have put together some of the country's best beaches for the beach goers.

Named the 'Rich Coast' by Columbia in 1502, Costa Rica has up it tourism credential its only a backpacker's paradise but it now caters for the wider traveller, including a eco-luxe holiday destination in little over a decade thanks to sustainable tourism and excellent value to money.

This enchanting land laidback surfing communities, empty beaches and active volcanoes. Go and explore the bird-filled cloud forests of San Gerardo, the rich rainforest of the Osa Peninsula, riding the parched plains of Guanacaste and swim with turtles off the Pacific beaches.

There are few places on Earth where you can gaze at an active volcano one day and hit the beach the next.  As a holiday destination Costa Rica has it all, from invigorating hikes through dense rain forests and adrenaline-pumping river rafting to pure relaxation in hot springs.

ABSEIL IN MALAYSIA
It’s an abseiling paradise in Malaysia, with several sumptuous locations on offer for a range of abilities.  Beginners would be advised to try Gunung Jerai in kedah or Gunung Tangsi in Negeri Sembilan, while the more experienced abseiler can’t fail to be impressed by the challenge the rivers, mountains and rainforests provide.  For those looking for the ultimate abseiling test, though, look no further than Sabah’s Gunung Kinabalu.  At just over 4,000 metres, it’s one of the highest – and toughest – mountains in southeast Asia.