Costa Rica is a natural wonderland where “pure life” is a way of living. For the local Ticos that means living life leisurely: with wanton cheerfulness and no artificial ingredients added. That means the pace can get enticingly sluggish, but then Costa is a peace-loving country that doesn’t even have an army of its own. Choosing Costa as a travel destination is easy and here’s why: The Pacific hovers on its western underbelly while the Caribbean flanks its eastern coast, giving rise to dual coastlines dotted with gorgeous beaches that rank among the best in the world. But what makes this tropical Central American country even more appealing is its diverse landscape which indulges the avid eco-tourist in you. Its only here in Costa Rica, that trekking through a cloud forest, riding glorious sun-kissed waves, peeking at the legendary Arenal volcano and partying till sunrise is possible in the span of a single holiday. The best way to get to Costa is to fly in through Juan Santamaria airport in San Jose city, the largest metropolis in the country. Public transport is cheap but very iffy, so its best to hire a car and drive wherever takes your fancy.Jaco,is Costa Rica’s most boisterous beach and a surfer’s sanctuary.Jaco’s tiny bylanes are very Baga Beach-like with bars and cafes at every street corner; the sea food is fresh and the drinks are cheap. Couple of hours away along the coastal region of Puntarenas lies one of the Costa’s best beaches. Its rare that a place live up to picture postcard perfection, but Manual Antonio is one of these rarities; It has white sand, azure waters and lime-green trees that shelter the beach. This stretch of coast has four stunning beaches to choose from: Playact, Espadilla, Manuel Antonio and Escondido: there’s also Manuel Antonio National Park which has a few virgin beaches within its territory