Jacó

The Central Pacific is the stretch of coast between the Tárcoles River and Quepos, the quickest to reach from San José. You come here for Manuel Antonio National Park with its rainforest right on the beach, the surf beaches around Jacó, and sport fishing off Quepos.Jacó is approximately 100 kilometers from San José, about a two-hour drive via Route 27 and coastal Route 34. You reach Quepos and Manuel Antonio by continuing further south on the same road, a journey of around 157 kilometers from San José.The region is more developed than the Nicoya Peninsula: Paved roads, regular bus services, and a domestic airport near Quepos make it practical even for short stays.

Montezuma is a small coastal town on the eastern side of the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, approximately 40 kilometers southwest of the Paquera ferry terminal. You come here for the waterfalls just behind the town, the beaches along the coast, and its proximity to the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.For a long time, Montezuma was a remote fishing village. In the 1950s, Swedish Nicolás Wessberg and Danish Karen Mogensen settled here; their efforts led to the establishment of Cabo Blanco in 1963, Costa Rica's first protected area. Later, expats and backpackers arrived, giving the town its somewhat alternative character that persists to this day.The center consists of a few streets with restaurants, accommodations, shops, and tour operators. To the north and south, rocky coves and sandy beaches line the coast, accessible on foot.From Montezuma, boat trips depart for Isla Tortuga in the Gulf of Nicoya, and a water taxi connects the town with Playa Herradura near Jacó on the opposite coast.

Quepos is a port town on the Central Pacific coast, approximately 157 road kilometers south of San José, and the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. You come here as a more affordable, everyday base for the park and for the deep-sea fishing, for which Quepos is internationally known.The area was the settlement territory of the indigenous Quepoa, after whom the town is named. In 1563, Spanish conquerors under Juan Vázquez de Coronado founded the settlement of San Bernardino de Quepo here; the surviving Quepoa were relocated to a reserve in 1746.The center is compact, with a bus station, market, sodas, and small shops. On the southern edge lies Marina Pez Vela with yachts, restaurants, and the boarding points for fishing and catamaran tours. Along the water runs the Malecón, a simpler waterfront promenade.For anglers, the period from November to April is considered peak season for sailfish and marlin. The national park is about 25 minutes away by bus via the hillside road, along which many hotels are located.

Manuel Antonio is the small town on the Central Pacific coast south of Quepos, where the national park of the same name begins, approximately 157 road kilometers from San José. You come for the park, where rainforest borders directly on bright sandy coves and sloths, capuchin monkeys, and squirrel monkeys are often seen up close.The national park, founded in 1972, covers almost 2,000 hectares of land and a significantly larger marine area. Although it is one of the smallest national parks in the country, it attracts the most visitors: Between 2012 and 2022, approximately 4.4 million people visited. Four beaches are located within the park, including Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur, separated by a land bridge leading to the rock formation Punta Catedral.The town itself consists of hotels, restaurants, and tour operators along the winding road that leads from Quepos over the hill down to Playa Espadilla. You can visit the public Playa Espadilla in front of the park entrance without a ticket.Important for planning: The park is closed on Tuesdays and otherwise open from 7 AM to 4 PM; the beaches within the park close an hour earlier. Tickets are available exclusively online through the SINAC national park authority system and not at the entrance; they are limited and often sell out early on many days.

Santa Teresa is a surf town on the Pacific coast in the south of the Nicoya Peninsula, about five hours from San José by car and ferry. You come for the waves, which offer something for almost everyone from beginner to pro, and for the sunsets, where half the town gathers on the beach in the evenings.The town stretches along a single main road that runs from the fishing village of Mal País in the south, through Playa Carmen and Playa Santa Teresa, up to Playa Hermosa in the north. Most cafés, restaurants, and surf schools are located between Playa Carmen and Playa Santa Teresa.Until a few decades ago, Santa Teresa was a remote village that lived off agriculture, cattle farming, and fishing. Today, tourism is the main source of income for most families, and the audience is international: surfers, yoga tourists, digital nomads.For swimming, the beaches are often less suitable due to the surf and currents. At low tide, tidal pools form between the rocks of Santa Teresa and Mal País, where you can bathe; water shoes protect against the sharp stones.