One of Coat Rica's best known beaches, Jaco is a long swath of grey sand streched along a shallow bay south of Puntarenas. It was one of the first beaches in the country to be developed as a resort, and today the town's main street is lined with hotels, restaurants and a variety of shops.

Because Jaco Beach regularly enjoys big waves, surfers flock there, boards in hand. However, those waves also create rip tides, so swimmers shouldn't enter the water any deeper than their waist when the sea is rough.

Jaco Beach also has plenty of bars, several discotheques and casinos, which keep visitors busy till long after the sun has gone down.