Irazu Volcano. 31 miles east of San Jose. Costa Rica's highest volcano. On a clear day you can see both the Pacific ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The summit is a bleak, gray moonscape. The last time it erupted was in 1965.

Tapantí National Park. 17 miles southeast of the city of Cartago. It's an 18 square mile lush cloud forest loaded with birds.

Turrialba. 36 miles east of San Jose. Kayakers and rafters flock to Turrialba because it is near two of Costa Rica's best white-water rivers - the Pacuare and Reventaz˘n. A number of Olympic kayaking teams use Turrialba as their winter training ground.