Herewith, our 10 favorite cases in point. We'd prefer day guides, not a tour. I'd recommend Costa Rica in a heartbeat. The ecotourism accommodations and outfitters here are generally among the best established in the region, and transportation and communication tend to be easier than in less developed countries nearby. The busses are a comfortable and inexpensive alternative to renting a car.
Public phones are available here more than in other Latin American countries.
If you're at all game for whitewater rafting, your first destination should be the Pacuare River east of Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. You'll be in a rain forest, humid, hot, and muddy, but also spacious, with animal and aviary action in the canopy high above you. Tread slowly and quietly to see howler monkeys and toucans. An ecolodge, by the way, blends with the environment, rather than overpowers it. Streams, trees, greenery are nearby.