Manuel Antonio:
If you’re looking for competitive line-ups and lively day and night life, then look no further than Jaco and Hermosa. But if you’re on the hunt for some of that natural beauty that Costa Rica is famous for, hang a left out of Jaco and head 45 minutes south to the tranquil Manuel Antonio.
Tranquil not only describes the remote, jungled landscape surrounding the region, but the line-ups as well. In recent years Manuel Antonio has become a favorite destination of beginning surfers, with its scattered, soft-lipped A-frame beachbreaks that come alive on South and South-West swells.
Just north of Manuel Antonio, is Quepos river mouth, which churns out long lefts that can hollow out on a strong West or North-West swell and lower tide. Unfortunately, Quepos can be quite polluted after periods of heavy rain.