Congo's Camping

Playa Hermosa in the Guanacaste province is a top Costa Rican spot for swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing and sailing. It's not as busy as some of the neighbouring sands, so head here if you want a more peaceful vibe, a serene sunbathing spot, a lazy surf in calm waters or a trot along the beach on horseback. Shops, restaurants and bars are all handy in town. Like most of Costa Rica, the region surrounding Hermosa is a wildlife and birdwatching haven, with national parks and nature reserves all easy to access on land, and marine life spotting from the shore or via boat. The turtles of Las Baulas National Park can be seen (in season) within 50 kilometres of here; 20 kilometres or so to the north, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica's first, has howler and spider monkeys, sea and terrestrial turtles, and big cats including jaguars and cougars. Other options are the surfing beaches of Tamarindo, Langosta, Avellanas and Grande, within 30 kilometres; the Llanos de Cortés waterfall, 20 kilometres to the east, and the thermal pools of El Guayacán, just under 60 kilometres away at Bagaces.