Nearby Flamingo, it’s a town, has a very nice marina, and this beach stretches from the marina to the next town, all clean, soft, pale sand and dunes covered in those bright green ground covering creepers. The marina feeds the boats which in turn go fishing just off the coast and feed you your seafood dinner. *BR*A long way off to the north are some cliffs, but you have to pass across miles more beach and some mangroves before you reach them. Miles and miles of beach.

This gorgeous beach more than lives up to its tropical-sounding name. Its sands are clean, golden and powder-textured, the sea matches the cobalt blue sky, and the backdrop one of soaring mountains and lush forests. Renowned for its blue flag status, Playa Flamingo has clean water and is safe for swimmers, so you can spend all day snorkelling amongst the abundant marine life, enjoying a variety of watersports or fishing, and in the evening, simply sit back and gaze on one of Costa Rica’s most famously glorious sunset vistas.

Close to the bustling little town of Tamarindo, Langosta Beach is good for surfing and very popular, but large enough so that parts of it comprise a peaceful marine wildlife reserve, and non-surfers can easily find an empty patch all of their own. Good snorkelling and diving may also be had, but bear in mind that the sheer size of the beach means that some parts are safer than others, so look out for dangerous tides in some deeper areas and the odd rocky patch.