Selina Jaco

There’s always something going on in Jaco – the town’s well known for both its activities and its buzzing nightlife. Surfing’s a popular pick, of course, either on the beginner-friendly waves of Jaco beach or the bigger swells of Playa Hermosa (10 minutes’ drive). About 20 minutes away from town is Carara National Park, a place of mountain peaks and pristine rainforest. There are lots of ways to explore: join guided hikes, saddle up for horseback outings or gear up for something more powerful on an ATV driving tour. You can also see it from above while ziplining, or ride the tram at Rainforest Adventures Jaco (10 minutes’ drive). For close-up animal sightings, look out for crocodiles on a boat trip up the Tarcoles river or drop in on the rescue centre Neo Fauna (10 minutes). Or, if you’d just like to hang out on a white sandy beach for the day, head half an hour north to the stunning Playa Blanca.