Sardinal, Costa Rica

Some 35km west of Liberia, with good road connections, Playa del Coco was the first Pacific beach to hit the big time with weekending Costa Ricans from the Valle Central. The beach itself is nothing special, but it's kept clean by rubbish-collecting brigades organized by local residents, and the town's accessibility and budget accommodation make it a useful base to explore the better beaches nearby. It also has many good restaurants, all within walking distance, and is a good place from which to take a snorkelling or diving tour. More