Jacó

Carara sits at the biological crossroads of dry Pacific and humid Caribbean forest, making it one of the best places on the Pacific coast to see scarlet macaws in the wild. A 6am guided tour puts you under the roost before most people have finished breakfast.

Stop on the bridge over the Tárcoles River and look down. American crocodiles, some exceeding 4 meters, rest in the shallows below. It costs nothing, takes 10 minutes, and is more impressive in person than any photo suggests.

Tortuga Island is a 300-acre white-sand island in the Gulf of Nicoya with clear water, good snorkeling, and basically nothing to do except swim and eat grilled fish. It is the single most popular full-day excursion from Jacó for a reason.

Manuel Antonio combines rainforest and beach in a way few parks in Central America can match. Three-toed sloths in the canopy, white-faced capuchins near the trail, and a white-sand beach at the end that you walk into from the water.

Herradura Bay is a horseshoe-shaped bay with calmer water than Jacó Beach, backed by jungle and residential hillside. Playa Hermosa (not the Guanacaste one) is a dark-sand beach known for surf and relative quiet. Good for a half-day if you do not want a full excursion.

An adventure park with zipline circuits (8 cables plus Tarzan swing), ATV jungle trails, and a butterfly garden. A reliable option for families with kids who need something active on a hot day, and a quick transfer back to the rental afterward.

Quepos is a working fishing town that happens to have good ceviche restaurants and a small marina. Combine it with a stop at the Marina Pearl outlet mall if you need anything for the rental, or just walk the waterfront malecon and eat fresh fish at a beachfront soda.