I’ve finally stopped travelling with work and am currently doing some travelling of my own – I’m on holiday and have ended up in a country that has been on my destination list for a very long time, COSTA RICA! Yep, I can’t believe it.

If you mention Costa Rica to anyone, people think paradise and they’d be right. The country's cast of exotic creatures – ranging from howler monkeys, iguanas, jaguars and toucans are abundant and lurking in every corner.

The waves are prime, the beauty of the country is staggering and the sluggish pace of life is seductive. So why Costa Rica? Why not!  It has everything on offer for the discerning traveller – the activity types hike and water raft and the incredibly varied topography means you can cruise the cloud forest one day, visit an active volcano the next, and finish relaxing on a hot sandy beach.

Adrenaline junkies have 1,001 ways to make mothers worry – among them, zipping through canopy lines or riding the rough surf of both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. ‘Pura Vida’ (meaning the ‘pure life') is the mantra of the country and with all of its pristine paradise, you can see why.

So, if you want to snatch up a piece of Shangri-la, here are my tips:

When to go

The best time to go to Costa Rica is during the coffee harvest, which runs from December to January. This coincides with the high season, which begins, when flights and hotels book up rapidly through to February. However, the area still offers fine diving through much of the wet 'green' season (May to November), which is less crowded and therefore often cheaper. 
Some hotels shut down for September and October, the rainiest months. The Caribbean side is wetter and more humid. If you are a naturalist, visit in early March, when more than 1,500 species of orchid bloom.

What to eat

Ubiquitous in Costa Rica, ‘sodas’ are usually a combination of a family run restaurant, and a convenience store that sometimes doubles as a bar or disco after the sun goes down. They are found everywhere and are clean and inexpensive offering local Tico (local Costa Rican) food. Popular dishes include sopa negra (a blackbean and poached egg soup), casado (rice, beans, stewed beef and cabbage) and tortas (tortillas with meat and vegetables). Está delicioso!

Where to stay

One of the best places to stay in Costa Rica is the Pacuare Lodge. This hidden gem on the Pacuare River is best accessed by raft. The main building is set above the river and has majestic views, a large dining area (mostly alfresco), open kitchen and plush bar. There are 13 tastefully decorated cabañas, all with comfy beds, screened windows and views of the river or jungle. The Honeymoon Suite, set in lush rainforest on the hillside, has a spacious bedroom, a private plunge pool and a terrace that's ideal for wildlife watching. The owners take responsible tourism seriously: there's no electricity and at night the complex is lit with candles and lanterns; no trees were felled during its construction; and donations from Internet bookings are made to local schools.

Well, I have to dash - there is an idyllic white beach with my name on it. Pura Vida indeeda.