+1 on Tamarindo...tho watch for the drug pushers and prostitutes. Beetle Bar in Jaco if you DO need a hooker
Great surf at Playa Grande, north a mile and a half...(tho it takes 20 min driving over there). Jaco is alot greener than Tam...from Tam you can drive an hour and a half north to Playas del Coco and catch a super panga to Ollies and Withes Rock for surf...HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED!!! Dive boats are also set up there. Jaco has the Los Suenos Resort Marriott. Really pretty, great golf...we took a day trip fishing...landed 6 dorado and C&R 4 sailfish. CR is my favoritist place...great surf, fishing, diving, golf, drinking...and the ticas are some of the prettiest women in the world.
As far as driving...if someone approaches you flashing lites...SLOW DOWN...its either a radar cop just up the road or a bad accident. If you do get pinched for driving too fast...DO NOT pay the man there...you'll pay the mordida (bite)...tell him you want to go to the station...sometimes you can then get away w/o paying. HTH. HAVE FUN!!!!!