Published on Monday, March 23, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica has received the 2026 Forbes Travel Award in the Best Nature Destination category, the Tourism Institute (ICT) announced.

Authorities said the award, sponsored by the travel and tourism division of Forbes, was presented at the Forbes House in Madrid.

The award was accepted by Guisella Sánchez-Castillo, a representative of the Costa Rican Embassy in Spain, and presented by Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu.

According to a special report by Forbes, Costa Rica is considered one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with 6% of the planet’s terrestrial biodiversity and 3.5% of its marine life. The country is home to 30 national parks, nine biological reserves and 51 protected areas.

 

“Costa Rica also produces more than 98% of its electricity from renewable resources, and 26% of its territory is protected natural land,” the report states.

The publication also highlights Costa Rica as a global leader in sustainability and a model for environmentally friendly practices. “In fact, the country’s law mandates that 70% of the land remains untouched, ensuring that the land is preserved and not overdeveloped,” the report adds. “Reforestation initiatives increased forest coverage from 24% to 70%. Sustainability is not a practice in Costa Rica; it is a way of life.”

Tourism Minister William Rodríguez said the award reaffirms the country’s leadership in sustainable tourism, driven by its biodiversity and conservation model.

“This recognition allows us to reinforce the country’s focus on offering experiences that connect visitors with nature,” Rodríguez said.

 

The Forbes Travel Award is one of several recent international distinctions for Costa Rica. Last week, the country was ranked the happiest in the Americas in the 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report.

In February, Costa Rica also ranked first in the SCS Chauffeurs Index of destinations travelers are most likely to revisit and recommend.

Costa Rica welcomed more than 653,000 tourists arriving by air as of February, according to the ICT.

Costa Rica welcomed more than 2.6 million tourists by air in 2025.

In 2024, the tourism sector generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting Costa Rica’s tourism industry.

Founded in 1917 by B. C. Forbes, Forbes is an American business magazine with more than 40 international editions covering about 70 countries.

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