The ever popular Jaco was the first beach resort on the Pacific Coast and still attracts a mix of surfers, weekenders and holidaying Costa Ricans. It is a convenient stopover point for those travelling between Monteverde and Manuel Antonio or perhaps Tamarindo and San Jose. Playas Esterillos Oeste and Este to the south are quieter, pleasant beaches.

The nearby Carara Reserve lies at the meeting point of the dry and wet climatic zones. A variety of wildlife can be seen here such as trogons, scarlet macaws, toucans, monkeys, sloths and agoutis. The broad river that lines the reserve flows to a sweeping mangrove and wetland system that provides for one of the nation’s largest concentrations of birdlife.

En route to Jaco, it is well worth stopping on the bridge over the mud flats of the River Tarcoles which is a good spot for seeing crocodiles and shorebirds, particularly at low tide.