COSTA RICA

This small, safe Central American country is a global leader in sustainable development, reflected in the happiness of its people and the richness of its flora and fauna. The jewel in its crown is Corcovado National Park, on the Pacific coast, home to big cats, tapirs and all four endemic species of monkey. On the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park (accessible only by boat and plane) is known for its nesting turtles and boat trips promising sightings of caimans, toucans and sloths. Near the border with Nicaragua, Arenal Volcano National Park offers treetop canopy walks and boat trips on Lake Arenal as well as the spectacle of the cone-shaped volcano.

Then there are the beaches, at their best on the Osa Peninsula and Caño Island, known for its snorkelling, and on the Golfo Dulce, a marine-life sanctuary. Colonial towns, coffee plantations and the Monteverde cloud forest complete the picture.