There is a beach in Matapalo, Costa Rica. It is called Pan Dulce (Sweet Bread), but you can - when there - call it more or less whatever you want, since you will be the only person creating footprints on its fine grey volcanic sands. But Pan Dulce, or something like that, will be appropriate, because sweet it is indeed. The beach is yours (es suyo). It has a long wide curve of approximately 1km, is ringed by intense green rain forest, and has three small rivers carrying cold and clear waters (aguas puras) from the mountains behind into this tranquil sea. Stick around for a while, and the white faced monkeys (monos con caras blancas) might play around in the almond trees which vie with palms of various sorts for supremacy on the shoreline (orilla). There will certainly be brown pelicans floating low across the water, with a quick rise, a bank, and a dive-bomb drop onto the sardines for a snack or two. Hermit crabs crawl apparently randomly in all directions, placing them somewhat at odds with the sand crabs (the 'whooaaa I can run only sideewaayyyys' type) that scurry left whilst looking right. You will swim (vas a andar) for at least half an hour, but generally longer. The water is this warm. When the waters here are in their most troubled state, the beach (la playa) is used to teach beginners to surf - I will know. You will be watched by macaws from the treetops, and more frequently than not, black hawks which seem to be rather impervious of any human activity close to them - they sit and stare back at you as if you were some overgrown mouse (raton) that they have not quite figured out. Howler monkeys keep the forest alive with sound, and when a quick tropical downpour occurs, the howls of inconvenience are so much more impressive. I laugh (yo rio) every time this happens - they really sound quite pissed off with the rain. Across the gulf in the distance lies Panama and with such calm waters you could be tempted to just start swimming and cross the Golfo Dulce to lands unknown (tierras desconocidos).