| Costa Rica has been ranked as the number one Latin | | | | protected areas include the Monteverde Cloud Forest, |
| America vacation destination in a major international | | | | Manuel Antonio National Park, Tortuguero National Park |
| survey of the world's favorite tourism hotspots. | | | | and the World Heritage Site on the Corcovado |
| The World Economic Forum's yearly travel | | | | peninsula. |
| competitiveness report takes into account a range of | | | | The country is known for its variation in natural |
| factors including natural resources, cultural heritage, the | | | | landscapes which provide a home to the highest |
| quality of infrastructure, standards of Costa Rica | | | | concentration of bio-diverse natural life on the planet's |
| hotels and other services, and the overall regulation of | | | | surface. Thanks to the country's compact size, even |
| the Costa Rica travel industry. | | | | short Costa Rica vacations are able to include visits to |
| The report commented on the country's Certification | | | | several of the country's world-famous natural |
| of Sustainable Tourism program, and the country's | | | | wonders. |
| unparalleled richness in natural resources, World | | | | Supporting these strengths with abundant, high quality |
| Heritage sites and number of protected conservation | | | | services such as hotels, car rental firms and high |
| areas. | | | | quality transport infrastructure, means that the country |
| Known as the rich coast, the country is unique in the | | | | has been able to reinforce its position as a leading |
| world for its level of environmental protection, with | | | | vacation destination in the Americas, and throughout |
| almost 30% of the country's land areas designated as | | | | the world. |
| protected areas, either as one of 35 national parks, | | | | This commitment to a sustainable and environmentally |
| conservation areas or natural reserves. | | | | neutral tourism industry has been well documented in |
| The Costa Rica travel industry has played a major | | | | the past. The UN World Tourism Organization has |
| role in the country's sustainable development program | | | | previously praised the country's Certification of |
| by helping to establish privately operated lodges and | | | | Sustainable Tourism initiative, calling it a model that the |
| reserves. | | | | rest of the world should follow. |
| Some of the most successful and well known | | | | |