El Jobo Holidays

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, El Jobo is an ideal choice. It’s set on a secluded, cocoa-coloured strip of sand on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Plus, it backs on to dense jungle where monkeys and iguanas roam free. Don’t be surprised if one of these critters makes an appearance as you’re sprawled out on a sunlounger.

With the sea on the doorstep, it’s no surprise that most of the activities here revolve around the big blue. Try riding the waves on a surfboard, or go snorkelling for a chance to spot multi-coloured ocean-dwellers. Inland, the water-based activities don’t stop. You can go white-water rafting and cruise across jungle-lined lagoons.

If you need a top-up of green, there are plenty of national parks nearby. Junquillal Bay Wildlife Refuge is a 20-minute drive away. Or you can add another 30 to reach even bigger Santa Rosa National Park. Both are packed to the rafters with forest trails and animals. Plus, a couple of tour operators have set up camp down on the beach, so you can sign up for stuff like windsurfing, zip-lining and horse riding.