When you think of Costa Rica, what comes to mind? The chances are that rainforests are up there on the list. While the nation might be home to some of the most impressive rainforests in the world, there are plenty of other sites hidden around – like the best beaches in Costa Rica.

Playa Santa Teresa

If you want to go surfing at one of the best beaches in Costa Rica, then you might want to check out Playa Santa Teresa. The waves are out of this world. That’s not all. The waves are so good that you can surf at all hours of the day.

Playa Montezuma

A trip to Playa Montezuma offers up one of the best beaches in Costa Rica for many reasons. The teal water always looks so inviting and is filled with a host of marine life. Everything here seems to come to life, yet visitors are often hidden from the rest of the world.

Playa Conchal

This is thought to be one of the most beautiful beaches found in Costa Rica. Playa Conchal is small, but the beach is covered in ground seashells that bring it to life. Team that with the incredible sea, and you could soon lose your day to a trip here.

Playa Negra

If you want a beach covered in black sand, look no further. Playa Negra is one of the most popular beaches for swimming, yet it’s always so quiet.

Playa Ventanas

You’ll need to travel through coco palms to find the wonder that is Playa Ventanas. The beach is in the shape of a crescent and covered in pebbles and black sand – the perfect place for watching the crashing waves.

The best beaches in Costa Rica go to show that the country has more than just rainforests on offer. In fact, it has some of the best hidden beauties in the world.

Although the so-called mac n cheese is an innately American staple, other cuisines also have their own versions of it. At just 62 square miles in size, the tiny postage-stamp of a country called Liechtenstein has a dish that’s surprisingly similar and some even claim better than the original. So, what is the Liechtensteiner Käsknöpfle, and how to make it?

Käsknöpfle Is Liechtenstein’s “Mac and Cheese”

Instead of traditional pasta, the “mac” in this recipe is actually spaetzle and the cheese is a combination of three different varieties. Liechtensteiner chefs and food lovers add caramelized onion for extra flavor and an optional touch of apple sauce to heighten the taste.

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 1 package spaetzle (or pasta of your choice)
• 1 cup milk
• 2 onions, sliced thinly
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 tbsp butter
• ⅓ cup (heaping) shredded Fontina
• ⅓ cup (heaping) shredded Emmentaler
• ⅓ cup (heaping) shredded Gruyere
• Extra cheese for serving (optional)
• Apple sauce for serving (optional)

How to Prepare the Recipe

Step 1

Whisk together the flour, eggs, milk, pepper, and salt until you get a nice and even, somewhat pasty, batter. Set aside for half an hour.

Step 2

Caramelize the onions. If you want to follow the original Liechtenstein recipe, fry them until crispy, but you can also take them out while they’re golden.

Step 3

Prepare the spaetzle or pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Based on your preferences, boil the spaetzle or pasta for the amount of time described on the package.

Step 4

Once the pasta is ready, add it to the pan of caramelized onions. Add in the cheeses and cook and scoop for a couple of minutes until it’s all melty and well-combined.

Step 5

Serve while hot, top it with more shredded cheese and plenty of apple sauce as they do in Liechtenstein. Enjoy!