Others such as Finca Rosa Blanca and Xandari Alajuela are located on coffee plantations and have beautiful trails good for wildlife viewing.

The imaginative Peace Lodge, La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a unique spot with lots of wildlife to watch from gorgeous jungle positions.

Los Sueños

An hour from San José and the country's international airport, Los Sueños Resort and Marina is Costa Rica's best value for luxury digs.

Anchored by the graceful Los Sueños Marriott, surrounded by scores of extravagant rental properties, an adorable marina area and one of the country's best golf courses, Los Sueños offers almost everything you'd want from a tropical vacation, albeit without the hassle of actually seeing Costa Rica.

By "almost everything," it's worth mentioning that there's no real beach, hence the spectacular collection of swimming pools.