Things to do in  Caribbean Coast

Deep turquoise water surrounds the archipelago of the Rosario Islands, and lively coral reefs swarm with sealife. This island group off the coast of Colombia is home to mangrove forests and underwater fields of seagrass, with white sandy beaches backed by bright green vegetation. Despite its proximity to Cartagena, you’ll feel like you’ve fully escaped the city with a trip to this biodiverse haven.

With its incredible biodiversity, Tortuguero National Park (Parque Nacional Tortuguero) is among Costa Rica’s most visited attractions. The park is best known for its sea turtles, with clusters of green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles who lay their eggs in the sand. You can also spot more than 160 mammal species and countless birds.

Flowing through the dense Costa Rican rain forest on its way from the Talamanca Mountains to the Caribbean Sea, the Pacuare River is known for scenic white water rafting. A true gorge at some sections, the river is surrounded by walls of thick greenery dotted with waterfalls and tropical plants and teeming with wildlife.

Tropical rainforest flanks the natural and man-made waterways of the Tortuguero Canals, which wind through Tortuguero National Park. Visiting by boat is a chance to explore a spectacular natural area where wildlife populates the shoreline far beyond the reach of roads and tourist crowds. Sightseeing cruises frequently spot sunning caimans, tree-hugging sloths, and a rainbow of birdlife, such as agami herons, sungrebes, and kingfishers.

The largest of the postcard-perfect Rosario Islands, Isla Grande delivers the clear turquoise waters and bone-white sands that the Colombian archipelago is famous for. It's also home to the best variety of accommodation options if you’re looking to stay overnight; hotels range from backpacker hostels to luxurious complexes right on the beach.

This private rainforest preserve hums with life, from forest-floor trails to the vine-draped branches of centuries-old trees. Colorful frogs, slow-moving sloths, and tropical birds abound. Explorations of the 3,400-acre (1,376-hectare) Veragua Rainforest are focused on all that wild nature, whether hiking to the scenic Puma Waterfall or riding an elevated tram through the rainforest canopy.