Located less than 1.5 hours from Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Jaco is the closest major beachside destination to the capital city of San Jose. The beach is a long gray arc that has a backdrop of palm trees, surfside hotels, souvenir and boutique shops, a huge selection of restaurants and bars, and the occasional mid-to-high-rise condo complex. One of the main draws of Jaco is the endless list of activities available. Everything from ATV and zip-line tours to catamaran cruises, surf lessons, and sport fishing can be booked from tour operators. Surf shops are scattered all around town so it is easy and affordable to rent a board or take a lesson.

The restaurant scene in Jaco is amazing. The Jaco area has over 100 different restaurants serving everything from typical Costa Rican fare and bar basics, to gourmet cuts of beef and other delicacies.

On your way to Jaco, you will pass a bridge with crowds of people leaning over and looking down. Basking along the banks of the Tarcoles River below, you’ll find huge crocodiles.

Eight kilometers (5 miles) south of Jaco is the famous surfing beach, Playa Hermosa. Even if you aren’t a surfer, it’s worth a visit to this 7 km (4 mile) long stretch of dark gray sand. The majority of Playa Hermosa is empty with no development, but there is a small community with some restaurants, surf shops, and hotels on the northern end.

If you’re looking for a secluded beach, keep heading south past Playa Hermosa about 15 km (9 miles) and you will come to Esterillos. There are multiple entrances off the main highway, but the one for Esterillos Oeste is a good place to find some peace and quiet, nice waves if you’re into surfing, and cool tidepools. This area is not very developed but has a well-stocked mini-supermarket and a few great restaurants a short walk from the sand.