Costa Rica, while being only the size of West Virginia, is a place of abundance. It translates literally as “rich coast.” According to legend, Christopher Columbus discovered it in 1502. Mother Nature, however, is the one individual who deserves credit for its amazing natural beauty. This tranquil Central American country has large coasts on both the Caribbean and Pacific. Costa Rica offers some of the most biodiverse landscapes on the planet, in addition to world-class beaches. Scientists who constructed zip lines to examine the numerous strata of the country’s cloud forests estimate that 5% of the world’s species can be found here. If you haven’t traveled to Africa yet, animal watching is unrivaled. Consider slumbering sloths, gorgeous scarlet macaws, deadly tree frogs, and thousands of nesting sea turtles. They all thrive under the shadow of some of the world’s most active volcanoes.