Selina Mancora

Surfing is king here. You can learn to ride waves in total safety at Selina Surf Club (on site) – and whether you’re looking to dip your toe in the water for the first time or perfect your roundhouse cutback, lessons will up your skills fast. You can try your hand at kitesurfing too, or go scuba diving over coral reefs. All equipment can be hired locally so you don’t need to lug everything with you. Ñuro (25 minutes’ drive) is the departure point for organised eco-expeditions to swim with green sea turtles. Mancora (10 minutes’ walk) has a deserved reputation as a party town, so you can hang out with a surfing crowd or take yourself off to almost-deserted Playa del Amor (10 minutes) for dips in the sea. To discover beaches further afield, hire a tuk-tuk and head for the sands at Punta Sal (30 minutes) or Punta Pico (an hour).