Eat...
- Seafood. Sea bass is the most popular fish of choice in this seaside town, but plenty of others are served. If you’re feeling adventuresome, try ceviche: raw fish in a tangy marinade.
- Chocolate covered coffee beans. Costa Rica is one of the largest producers of coffee in the world, and the combination of the sweet beans and dark chocolate is not only a great snack, but provides enough caffeine to keep you energized all day.
Drink...
- Coconut milk. Rather than trying to bust one open yourself, find a vendor who has already done all the hard work. This isn’t a grocery store product, so don’t be surprised if you still have a little sea water inside your coconut shell!
- Bottled water. After baking in the sun all day, don’t forget to stay hydrated!
See...
- A sloth. It’s the worth the crick in your neck that you’ll inevitably get from staring into the trees for an hour just to sight one! If you don’t know how this curious animal got its name—it won’t take you long to figure it out because it will take about 20 minutes for the thing to crawl down a tree.
- The sunset. Walk along the beach (past the locals who will undoubtedly be playing soccer on the sand) and take in the view—a mixture of amber and saffron with blood orange all twirl together before descending into the waves.
- Some crocodiles. If you cross any bridges, take a minute to get out and look over the edge. When I did, I saw about 20 of them. Don’t forget your camera!
Do...
- Try surfing. You can rent boards right on the beach. People come from all over the world to ride the waves on the pacific coast of the country, but don’t let that intimidate you. It’s worth a try.
- Leave your passport and cash in your hotel. Jaco draws an interesting crowd—including those who take advantage of busy tourists.
- Dance to some Latin beats. Find a dance floor on the ocean that lets the salty breeze run through it and learn some new moves! There’s not a better place to make a fool of yourself than in another country.