Top Reasons to Go

Dolphin-watching: Bottlenose, tucuxi, and Atlantic spotted dolphins ply the southern Caribbean coast.

Food and flavors: Leave gallo pinto (rice and beans) behind in favor of mouthwatering rondón (meat or fish stew) or caribeño (Caribbean) rice and beans, stewed in coconut milk.

Music: Mix reggae and calypso with your salsa. Rhythms waft in from the far-off Caribbean islands, and homegrown musicians are making names for themselves, too.

Sportfishing: World-class tarpon and snook attract serious anglers to the shores off Tortuguero National Park.

Turtles: People from around the world flock to the northern Caribbean for the annual nesting of four sea turtle species.