Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country's Disney-like cast of creatures ranging from howler monkeys to toucans are prolific and relatively easy to spot. The waves are prime, the beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive.

Costa Rica, despite being such a tiny nation, draws well over a million visitors every year - and you can see why. The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise a cloud forest one day, climb a volcano the next, and finish passed out on a hot sandy beach.