If there’s anywhere in Costa Rica to perfect the art of rest and relaxation, it’s the Caribbean coast. Complete with requisite palm trees, snow-white beaches and picture-perfect turquoise waves, the coastline has ‘beach holiday’ written all over it. But dig a little deeper into the sands and you’ll soon see that R&R doesn’t have to mean doing nothing... In Puerto Viejo, a sleepy (by day!) Afro-Caribbean village, join the surfers as they gather to tackle the waves, and then head into town to sample the uber-trendy eateries and vibrant food stalls, or find an offbeat bar for a drink and chilled-out vibes. For swimming, resist the temptation at Puerto Viejo and instead head to Playa Cocles, two miles up the road, and dip into the water before touring the nearby cacao forests and chocolate-creation lab. Then, there’s Cahuita National Park, a 10 square-kilometre, nature-rich paradise that spills from land to coral reef, rainforest to lagoon, and protects sea turtles, manta rays and sloths. But equally, if you would like to sit, take a moment and watch the waves tumbling onto the sands, the Caribbean coast will absolutely oblige...