Costa Rica Named the 2025 World’s Best Healthy Destination: What the Healthy Places Prize Means for Travelers

By Silvanna Pacheco, January 14th, 2026

Burnout, constant connectivity, and fast-paced routines have become part of everyday life. As a result, travelers are no longer searching for just another vacation. They want something deeper, places that allow them to slow down, reconnect with nature, and return home feeling truly restored. That is precisely why Costa Rica’s latest international recognition matters. Start your Costa Rican adventure with us, we will guide you through the most unique destinations.

In Spain, Men’s Health and Women’s Health named Costa Rica the recipient of the Healthy Places Prize 2025, awarding it the title of Best International Healthy and Wellness Destination. This prestigious honor confirms what experienced travelers and wellness seekers have long understood: Costa Rica is not only beautiful, but supports physical, mental, and emotional well-being. If you’re dreaming of a vacation that improves how you feel, not just what you see, Costa Rica deserves your full attention.

What Is the Healthy Places Prize, and Why It Truly Matters

The Healthy Places Prize is an international initiative created by the Spanish editions of Men’s Health and Women’s Health. Both publications are globally respected for their focus on health, fitness, mental well-being, and balanced lifestyles. Unlike many tourism awards that prioritize luxury, popularity, or visitor numbers, this recognition looks deeper. It highlights destinations that genuinely encourage a healthy way of living, both for residents and visitors. The evaluation focuses on factors such as:

Active, outdoor-oriented lifestyles
Easy access to nature and open spaces
Mental and emotional well-being
Opportunities for rest, balance, and disconnection
Commitment to sustainability and quality of life

Costa Rica stood out among wellness-oriented destinations worldwide and was selected as Best International Destination. The award was presented in Spain, one of Costa Rica’s fastest-growing European markets, further strengthening the country’s reputation as a global leader in wellness travel.

Why Costa Rica Was Chosen as the World’s Best Healthy Destination

Costa Rica’s connection to nature is deeply woven into everyday life and travelers sense it the moment they land.

Nature That Heals
More than 25% of Costa Rica’s land is protected, offering unmatched access to national parks, rainforests, cloud forests, beaches, and wildlife reserves. Nature is never far away, and this constant immersion has a calming, restorative effect that travelers notice right away.

An Active Yet Balanced Lifestyle
Here, movement feels natural. Hiking volcano trails, surfing warm Pacific waves, kayaking mangrove estuaries, and walking through rainforest can be an everyday experience. Physical activity is enjoyable and not exhausting.

Space for Rest & Digital Detox
Many regions invite travelers to unplug and slow down. Quiet beach towns like Nosara and remote peninsulas like Osa create ideal conditions for rest, reflection, and reconnection.

Fresh & Nourishing Food
Costa Rican cuisine emphasizes fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, lean proteins, and locally sourced ingredients. Farm-to-table dining isn’t a trend here; it’s a long-standing tradition that supports both health and sustainability.

The Pura Vida Philosophy
Pura Vida is more than a phrase. It reflects a national mindset rooted in gratitude, simplicity, and balance. It prioritizes well-being over urgency, and visitors quickly find themselves understanding and embracing this way of tico state of mind.

Wellness Travel Trends—and Why Costa Rica Leads the Way Naturally

Wellness travel is one of the fastest-growing segments in global tourism. Today’s travelers want more than escape; they want experiences that support long-term well-being. Some of the strongest trends include:

Nature-based travel
Mental health and stress reduction
Active experiences balanced with rest
Digital detox and slower itineraries
Meaningful cultural connections

Costa Rica aligns effortlessly with these trends, not because it is following them, but because it has embodied them for decades. This is why many travelers choose a custom, self-guided itinerary in Costa Rica. It allows them to experience wellness at their own pace, without rigid schedules or rushed group tours. Let us design a self-guided Costa Rica journey that helps you move more, stress less, and return home truly refreshed.

Places in Costa Rica That Reflect the Healthy Places Spirit

Costa Rica’s wellness identity becomes even clearer when you explore the regions that define it.

Nosara and the Nicoya Peninsula
Located in one of the world’s renowned Blue Zones, this area is known for longevity and healthy living. Surf, yoga, mindful movement, and nourishing food are woven into everyday life, creating a strong sense of balance and community.

Monteverde
Cool temperatures, misty forests, and peaceful trails make Monteverde ideal for mental clarity and re-connection. Here, nature encourages you to slow down, breathe deeply, and move mindfully.

Arenal and La Fortuna
With its iconic volcano, Arenal offers the perfect blend of movement and relaxation. It’s ideal for travelers who want to stay active without sacrificing rest. There are a number of natural hot springs throughout the area of the Arenal Volcano National Park. Warm and soothing, these springs offer you an ideal way to relax after a day spent exploring the area.

The Osa Peninsula
One of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, the Osa Peninsula offers true digital detox and deep immersion in nature. This is wellness in its purest form, raw, grounding, and profoundly restorative. We recommend visiting the Corcovado National Park , a conservation area that features thirteen major ecosystems that range from mangrove swamps, lagoons, beaches, freshwater swamps and primary rainforest.

Why Self-Guided Travel Is the Best Way to Experience Wellness in Costa Rica

Wellness is personal. No two travelers relax, recharge, or reconnect in exactly the same way. That’s why self-guided travel works so well in Costa Rica. Self-guided journeys allow you to:

Travel at your own rhythm
Balance exploration with downtime
Choose activities that match your wellness goals
Avoid rushed schedules and crowded tours

As a full-service destination specialist, we design custom self-guided Costa Rica itineraries that take care of logistics behind the scenes. Accommodations, routes, transfers, and curated experiences are all thoughtfully planned, so you can focus on enjoying the journey.

Our Costa Rica Vacation Packages

Our custom Costa Rica vacation packages are built around the same principles that earned the country the Healthy Places Prize 2025: nature-forward accommodations, carefully planned itineraries, outdoor experiences that energize rather than overwhelm and time and space to rest, disconnect, and reset.

Whether you’re traveling as a couple, solo, with friends, or in a small group, each itinerary is designed around your interests. Surf and yoga, rainforest immersion, soft adventure, or a balanced mix—it’s all tailored to you.

Is Your Next Vacation Supporting Your Well-Being?

Costa Rica’s recognition as the World’s Best Healthy Destination by Men’s Health and Women’s Health is more than an award. It’s a reminder of what travel can and should be and confirms why people love Costa Rica so much as a vacation destination.

Here, wellness isn’t limited to spas or retreats. It’s found in forest trails, ocean swims, fresh meals, quiet mornings, and the simple joy of living well. The real question is no longer where to travel, but how you want to feel when you return home. What if your next vacation didn’t just create memories—but genuinely improved your well-being? If that’s the kind of journey you’re ready for, Costa Rica is waiting, and we would be delighted to help you experience it your way.

Costa Rica Named the 2025 World’s Best Healthy Destination: What the Healthy Places Prize Means for Travelers

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