Nicoya Peninsula

Famed for its postcard perfect beaches and sweet Pacific swells, Nicoya has something for wave riders of all levels.

There’s wildlife too: just north of the party town of Tamarindo, Grande Beach – part of Las Baulas National Marine Park – is a nesting site for leatherback turtles from October to March.

Among the peninsula’s finest strips of sand are the blissfully secluded Playa Barrigona and Sámara, popular with both Ticos and visitors thanks to its calm, safe waters that are ideal for novice surfers. Further south, the remote, jungle-backed town of Santa Teresa – long a haunt of surfers in the know – is now a hip hangout with cool cafes, sushi restaurants and designer boutiques.

Like an advert for living the pura vida, Nicoya has been named one of the world’s five Blue Zones, where residents have longer-than-average lifespans thanks to their healthy habits and stunning surroundings.