COSTA RICA

It may be news to you but Costa Rica is the “happiest” place on earth, according to the annual Happy

Planet Index report. Covered in a rainforest, the country has been on the radar for ecotourists since the ’90s and continues to attract adventure and wilderness lovers.

You can make a difference – and make friends at the same time – by looking at one of the many volunteering options available, or push yourself out of your comfort zone with a group white-water rafting session or forest hike.