Costa Rica is an ornithologist’s paradise, home to more than 850 full time or seasonal species of birds. Of these many and varied species, none are more flamboyant or fascinating than the scarlet macaw.

As the largest member of the parrot family, these birds can grow wingspans of three feet. They are strong fliers, reaching speeds of 35 miles an hour. Macaws are social birds that mate for life, which may be longer than the average human relationship, as these birds can live for 40 years or more in the wild.

Macaw couples often join flocks up to 30 individuals, which travel together as they forage on fruits, nuts, flowers and nectar. In addition to beauty, these brilliantly-plumage birds have brains, and are among the most intelligent members of the avian family.

Macaws are found through Costa Rica, but are more common on the Pacific side of mountain ranges. Favorite viewing areas include Corcovado National Park, Carara National Park, and Palo Verde National Park.

The 20-mile section of coastline known as Costa Ballena, aka “the whale coast,” boasts some of the most pristine beaches in Costa Rica. Once remote, it is now linked to the resort town of Quepos by a paved highway.

Hidden among the green coastal hillsides that rise from the sea are a smattering of eco lodges and boutique hotels. The area is a favorite with surfers, hikers and bird watchers, and it is home to Marino Ballena National Park. This marine reserve provides sanctuary for turtles, dolphins and the migratory whales that give the area its name.

A favorite destination within the reserve is Punta Uvita, a sandbar which local’s have named the whale tail based on its shape. At low tide, beachgoers can explore the rocks and tide pools, and may catch a glimpse of the namesake marine mammals broaching in the blue Pacific waters.

Inland, miles of hiking trails lead into the mountains, and a trio of beachside towns—Ojochal, Uvita and Dominical— provide a range of eclectic shops and eateries. Costa Ballena is a three-hour drive from the capital of San Jose, or a half-hour from the Quepos airport.

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.

If you are heading north from San Jose or Alajuela to resorts in Costa Rica’s La Fortuna area, make time to stop and stretch your legs at the town of Zarcero. Follow Highway 141 as it wanders through coffee plantations and green hillsides, climbing the slopes of the Cordillera Central in a series of switchbacks to reach an altitude of 5,600 feet. As the roadway enters town, look to your right, where a collection of unique topiary arches are overlooked by the twin-spires of the San Rafael church. This is the Parque Francisco Alvarado, which contains 16 meticulously sculpted shrubberies clipped into resemblances of animals, dancers, aircraft and Christ carrying the cross. Park and spend a few minutes strolling the garden, then enter the church to take in the extensive wall artwork, which includes murals, paintings and elaborate stencil work. If you aren’t ready to climb back in the car just yet, take a stroll through the small downtown, where markets and street vendors offer local cheeses and fresh organic produce from surrounding farms. Most tourists are soon on their way, but if you are intrigued by this picturesque high country oasis, there are several small lodges and cabins in the area, and wooded trails in the nearby Los Ángeles Cloud Forest Reserve to wander.