If you've never been to Costa Rica, get ready for one of the most memorable experiences of your life. We often refer to landing at Juan Santamaria International Airport "landing in a postcard". And that's exactly what it is! From the moment you touch down in the Central Valley near San Jose, or at Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia, you've entered a new world of diversity and beauty.

Now the real question: what should be included in your Costa Rica Vacation? The options seem almost endless: Visit volcanoes (both active and dormant); try to spot the elusive and colorful Quetzal in the Monteverde Cloud Forest; go surfing at Witches Rock or Dominical; see giant sea turtles at Tortuguero; go whale watching at Whale Bay or Drake Bay; walk mile-long white sand beaches at Tamarindo or Manuel Antonio; glide through the rainforest canopy on an aerial tram or zip line; relax in the piping hot thermal waters of Tabacon Hot Springs; go sportfishing off Quepos, Golfito, Flamingo or Tamarindo; learn Spanish in a homestay or Spanish Language School; see how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted visiting an authentic coffee plantation; go horseback riding on the beach; relax in the quiet, bohemian beach towns of Cahuita, Mal Pais or the fast growing Dominical; see one of the last great natural wonders of the world being guided through the Osa Peninsula and the list goes on and on.

Obviously - what you do and where you go depend on personal taste and how much time you have. The following is a list of some of the more popular tours that depart from the San Jose area:

Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs - one of the most popular tours in Costa Rica. You can hear the volcano rumbling and if the sky is clear, may get the opportunity to see the volcano spewing out lava and hot gases. This same superheated mountain warms the natural pools at Tabacon Hot Springs where you can choose the water temperature you prefer by moving up or downstream from the source. The drive to the volcano takes you near Poas volcano across the range that separates the Central Valley from San Carlos. Along the way you will see coffee plantations and a large variety of flora. If you have extra time, consider staying overnight at a hotel in the Arenal area with a direct view of the mountain. Early in the morning is the best time to see Arenal erupting.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens - if you want to see all the best of Costa Rica in one place, the La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the place to be. Awesome waterfalls spread along amazing nature trails, exhibits of butterflies, hummingbirds, frogs and more can be enjoyed.

Coffee Plantation Tours - a short Drive from San Jose you will find several real coffee plantations, each with their own distinctive tour showing how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted. The most popular are the Cafe Britt Tour and Dota Coffee Plantation.

Sarchi Oxcarts - just past Grecia only about an hour from San Jose is the quaint little town of Sarchi, famous for all that is made of wood. Artisans build and paint the traditional oxcarts, mostly for tourists now-a-days. This tour is frequently combined with trips to Poas volcano.

Poas Volcano - the drive to Poas is like driving through a post card. As you pass through higher altitudes just prior to reaching the peak you will see huge ferns and large leaf plants with brownish yellow leaves burnt by the acid rain resulting from the sulfer gases emitted by the volcano. Only about 30% of visitors get to see the crater of the volcano due to cloud cover. The best time to see it is early in the morning before the clouds come rolling in. Whether you see the crater or not - having this as part of a day tour is worth it just for the beautiful scenery you will enjoy.

Irazu Volcano - towering over Cartago is majestic Irazu Volcano with it's beautiful green slopes and incredible views fo the valley. All along the way are small coffee shops and restaurants, all boasting the best views. You can take your pick - almost all have great views and the beautiful scenery is worth every minute of the drive.

Orosi Valley and Lankester Gardens - when you come over the rise and start heading down into the Orosi Valley you will feel like you've just entered a storybook land. Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful valleys in Costa Rica, Orosi's hillsides are carpeted with coffee trees and the Reventazon River winds through it's center. Tapanti National Park is not far away and many tour agencies often combine a visit to the Park with this tour. Lankester Gardens has hundreds of varieties of orchids and tropical plants from all over Costa Rica and is a must see if you are passing through the Cartago area.

The Butterfly Farm - after viewing a 25 minute video your guide will lead you into a huge natural enclosure where you can walk amongst a staggering variety of native butterfly species.

Rain Forest Aerial Tram - glide in comfort through the rainforest canopy in a gondola suspended from a cable. A great way to get close to a part of nature rarely seen.

Tortuga Island Cruise - Two possible destinations: Isla Tortuga or the private reserve of Punta Coral. The Calypso Catamaran departs Puntarenas at 9:00am and returns to port at 5:00pm. Once you leave port you will see porpoises, dolphins, sea turtles and aquatic birds. They offer hotel pickup from San Jose.