Sitting inside the National Theatre, Alma de Café lets you enjoy your meal surrounded by frescoes and chandeliers, a marble checkerboard floor and pale green walls decorated with paintings and portraits. Their signature Café 7 Provincias is made with grains coming from different provinces of Costa Rica, and can be coupled with snacks like quiche and crepes.

For an excursion, head over to the amazing castle of Lorca. To get up to the castle, take the small road train that directly leaves at the visitor centre called Lorca centre. You will meet costumed performers who will re-enact everyday life in the castle.

The United States Capitol dominates the eastern end of the National Mall on Capitol Hill — its dome, completed during the Civil War, is hard to miss. The Capitol is the seat of the United States Congress, and it has been a center of American politics since 1800. Inside, the Visitor Center walks you through its history, shows off its art collection, and explains how the legislative branch works. Free guided tours are available, but booking ahead is a good idea — lines can get long, especially in peak season.

The divine white-sand beach was once believed to be washed over by waters with strong curative properties. Today, over a century later, the possible medicinal effect has been eclipsed by its popularity with leisure vacationers, either idling in the sun or engaging in water sports (equipment available for hire).