Camping Casalta

It’s quite a mini village, Uvita, but it’s well stocked with things to do. As well as the beaches and seafaring expeditions, guests can also take kayak tours through the mangroves, hike to the area’s waterfalls (one easily walkable from the village, others around a half-hour drive away) or ride horses up into the hills. Costa Rica is, of course, famed for dedicating a huge chunk of its land to national parks (25 per cent, in fact – the highest level in all the world) so you’re never far from a nature reserve around here. Day trips to Corcovado and Los Quetzales national parks are doable with a couple of hours’ drive, and Manuel Antonio is about an hour away. The animals run wild in the parks, so may not put in an appearance at the time you wish; to be sure of your spottings, take the 20-minute drive to Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary or climb up to the treetop trails at Rainmaker conservation project (an hour and 15 minutes’ drive).