As a travel editor, I’ve been to a fair amount of places around the world — and Costa Rica is hands down, by far, one of my favorites.

The country is divided into two sides — the Pacific side, known for its stunning beaches, and the Caribbean side, known more for its low-key rainforest vibe — and I’ve been to both. In fact, I love Costa Rica so much that I actually lived there for a month last year, back when my job was remote.

So here are 25 reasons you should definitely go to Costa Rica — at which point you’ll become slightly obsessed, just like me. That blue water is not enhanced. Swear on my life. Neither is the sand. That’s just how the beaches are in Costa Rica. This particular beach is called Playa Conchal, because the sand is actually made of conch shells (!). And there are many, many others that are just as sweet