The country has honed the eco-tourism enterprise to a fine point. Over 25% of its forests, waterways, beaches and mountains are protected, and owners of tourism businesses are recognizing more clearly their debt to the natural world, and repaying it with local, home-grown conservation projects. Services are already highly developed and improve yearly. Travelers can expect not only a dizzying array of ways to see the wildlife, relax, get pampered, have adventures, and vacation in accommodations as classy or rustic as they can handle, but they can expect safety, informative guides, advanced medical and rescue services and tap water they can drink. There are five-star beach resorts, unique boutique hotels, remote jungle lodges, and quaint bed and breakfasts.

Visitors can see the country from zip lines sliding down sloping steel cables over the tree tops suspended by harnesses, or in aerial trams, by train, airplane, and helicopter or on horseback. There are river sports of all kinds, including rafting, kayaking, river boarding; there is windsurfing, sport fishing and SCUBA diving; there are waves from world class surfers’ dreams to small enough for beginners; there are golf courses hedged by forests where golf and bird watching occur side by side, and more. Every region is accessible by plane, boat, bus, chartered transportation service or car, which makes vacations varied and travel times minimal.

hat, sunglasses, sunscreen,  a waterproof jacket, a daypack, insect repellent, swimsuit, camera, binoculars for spotting wildlife, a lightweight sweater, pants, shorts, skirts, walking shoes, hiking boots for jungle treks and waterproof sandals. You might want one formal outfit for dinners and outings.