we are landing in san.jose friday night so.we will be staying in.a hotel that night we have a rental car and we want to.head towards jaco. I have been told a couple of sketchy things about it. we want to stay in a town with more then one bar and close to.national parks. our end destination will be tamirindo. suggestions of places to stay up.the coast would be appreciated. this is our first visit ...pretty excited...the 3 of us are in our fifties...but we like pubs and restaurants ...l
When landing at San Jose airport (SJO) and you have no reservation in San Jose, you'd better stay in Alajuela. That's only 2 kms from the airport. Most rent-a-car companies are in the airport surroundings.
From here you'll already be in the direction for Jaco. This is the popular resort for the Ticos, since it is the nearest to the Central Valley. Here you should find all what you are looking for, except that the beach is not to write home about.
It is also reasonably near Manuel Antonio and Carara National parks. Worth visting.
Tamarindo is up North and a typical "young gringos" resort . Certainly more expensive, but offering plenty of night life. The beach here is splendid, so is the surf.
[ Edit: Edited on 26-Jan-2015, at 14:30 by fraluchi ]
Thank you for the information we did end up booking a hotel by the airport in san jose. I think we will book.a room in jaco for 3 nights and then work our way up the coast