Eco-Adventures and Late-Night Casino Steps from Playa Flamingo

Despite its name, you'd be hard-pressed to find a flamingo on Costa Rica's Flamingo Beach. Instead, the stretch of sand and its surrounding mangrove forests are home to exotic toucans, egrets, howler monkeys, and sloths. The setting actually takes its name from Flamingo Beach Resort, one of the area's first hotels of its kind, which rests just a frisbee-toss away from the beach's Pacific shore. By day, guests can take in the tropical surroundings on deep-sea-fishing trips and eco-tours, and by night, the fun continues at the onsite casino (open through July).

Air-conditioned standard rooms and economy rooms comfortably sleep two guests within a modern interior decorated with tropical plants and a palette of warm earth tones. Ocean breezes pass through large, fully furnished balconies available with some rooms, which offer panoramic views of the sunset and tall coconut palms.

At dinner, Arenas Restaurant serves an array of fresh seafood infused with local flavors and ingredients, including yellowfin tuna with soy-ginger sauce. For après meal entertainment, the Flamingo Casino entertains guests through July with slot machines, poker tables, and roulette.

If you're looking for laid-back recreation, stop by the onsite spa to melt away stress with aromatherapy massages, volcanic-mud treatments, and oxygen facials.

Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica: "Gold Coast" Rich with Gorgeous Shorelines and Mountains

From its idyllic setting on northwest Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, the province of Guanacaste welcomes tourists year-round with sparkling beaches ideal for windsurfing or snorkeling. The area's beaches and lush forests are home to several national parks protecting exotic plants and wildlife. You can get up close to sea turtles in the Las Baulas National Park or survey seabirds at Ostional Wildlife Refuge.

The region's vibrant cultural heritage is on display in the cities of Guaitil de Santa Cruz and San Vicente de Nicoya, where artisans sell pottery typically made with local clays, natural dyes, and wood-burning Easy-Bake ovens. The picturesque capital of Guanacaste, Liberia, is often referred to as the "White City" for its whitewashed colonial architecture.

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