Sitting between two mountains, Playa Hermosa is another tranquil spot away from the crowds, while the leatherback sea turtle returns to Playa Grande each year to bury its eggs in the sand.

Inland, the Rincon de la Vieja National Park is a must-see natural paradise. Home to jaguars, sloths, and the eponymous Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, this is a place where you can rappel down waterfalls, hike through dwarf cloud forests and relax in thermal hot springs – all in one day! For keen birders, include a visit to the national park of Palo Verde, whose spectacular wetlands are home to a dazzling population of aquatic birds.

The interiors of Guanacaste are still steeped in the traditions of cattle ranching and sabaneros – Costa Rican cowboys. The dry, flat plains merge with tropical dry forests to create landscapes akin to the American “wild west”, and in the capital of Liberia, rodeos are held nearly every weekend during the summer months.