Costa Rica’s Llanos del Cortez has all the elements you look for in a tropical waterfall, including lush foliage, a dramatic drop and a pool of cool, clear water at the base that’s perfect for a swim. And there’s one more thing; this waterfall has what many would consider a “just right” location. Getting there doesn’t require a long, arduous hike on muddy or steep jungle paths. But on the other hand, you can’t just step off the tour bus and jump in.

Just west of the town of Bagaces, in the country’s north-central highlands, a bumpy but passible dirt road branches from the Pan American Highway. Unobtrusive signs direct you to a simple parking area, where it is customary to make a small donation that supports local schools. From there, it’s a short but slightly steep walk down the bank to the base of the falls, where you will find a sandy beach and—if you’ve come mid week and mid morning—few other people. The water is refreshing but not cold. You’ll want to swim over to the base of the falls, where you can immerse yourself in the gently falling water, or duck behind the wispy liquid curtain into a cool grotto.

High in Costa Rica’s Tilaran Mountains, the air is cool and crisp and the trees are laden with bromeliads and shrouded in mist. This is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, home to jaguars, ocelots and the resplendent quetzal, considered to be the most beautiful bird in the Western Hemisphere.

Nature lovers will be pleased to know that the park provides habitat to over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of reptiles and over 3,000 species of plants, including some 500 types of orchids. On all, the preserve supports four different bioclimatic communities.

A highlight of any visit to the preserve is a trek on the Sky Walk. This series of suspension bridges and walking trails allows visitors to witness the complex life of the rainforest canopy at close range. High in the treetops, vines and thick mosses grow among the branches. This is where 90 percent of the area’s biodiversity is found. To give visitors a closer look at this elevated realm, six bridges are strung between towering trees, the longest spanning 984 feet. Down below are over a mile and half of additional trails weaving throughout the verdant jungle growth.

Two-hour tours are offered at scheduled times during the day, with guides on hand to point out native plants and animals. Those wanting to explore on their own can follow maps to observation areas, waterfalls and rivers.

In the northwestern corner of Costa Rica, a trio of scallop-shaped bays open into the Gulf of Papagayo. Each offers a sandy beach, waterfront accommodations and spectacular sunsets, but it is the middle of the three, Playa Hermosa, that is the choice of many in- the-know travelers.

The scene on this mile-long stretch of gray sand is a bit more laid back then that at the flanking beaches of Playa Coco and Playa Panama, and you’ll never have to fight to find room to spread a beach blanket. Calm surf makes it a favorite with swimmers and snorkelers, and the clean waters have earned Hermosa the coveted title of a Blue Flag certified beach.

The beachside town of Hermosa offers a range of accommodations, restaurants, bars and shops. After beach time, there are several national parks nearby including Parque Nacional Palo Verde and Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja. Best of all, this is one of the easiest resorts in Costa Rica to reach. Fly into the Liberia International Airport and you can be on the beach at Playa Hermosa in half an hour.

At first glance, the impossibly blue waters of the Rio Celeste seem artificial, as if vats of indigo dye were added to the flow. In fact, it is dissolved minerals from volcanic hot springs and boiling mud pots that leach into the water to create this river’s trademark hues.

Flowing from the slopes of the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Río Celeste snakes and splashes its way down from the highlands and over a waterfall hidden deep in the jungle. Though somewhat remote, this cascade can be reached by an hour’s hike through a verdant rainforest that is home to white-faced monkeys and several hundred species of birds.

Those who do make the trek often reward themselves with a cooling dip in the pool at the base of the falls, perhaps followed by a relaxing soak in one of the natural hot springs found nearby. Tenorio Volcano is a short drive from the La Fortuna resort area, and is considered one of the crown jewels of Costa Rica’s National Park system.