Well you didn't start far from a very good option, staying at Manuel Antonio is a good idea, has everything you need and want very close-by, there's the amazing beach, and not even 200meters away you find yourself in the middle of the jungle, then there's also a huge amount of tours, for ziplining and what not, I'd stay at a hotel like http://www.sicomono.com "Sicomono", this hotel has everything you are looking for, and to make it a plus, that hotel is completely ecofriendly, I don't know, I just found it truly amazing when I stayed there. Good luck and Welcome to Costa Rica.

You'll get a 90 day tourist visa and you'll wish if was much longer. It is a beautiful place and there is a lot to do. Just be careful in San Jose and leave there as soon as possible. Plan on going to Puerto Viejo.by bus from San Jose. It is about a four hour ride. When the bus stops to let off or take on passengers, your luggage can be ripped off, so keep an eye out AND don't put anything of value in the overhead rack. Ripping off Gringo tourists is the national past time.

You want Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast.. It is a great place to party, hang out at any the very nice beaches and there are a lot of them, there is nightlife that you won't find at the Pacific coast places, there's surfing at the best surf beach in CR there are side trips you can take to Tortuguerro, the beach where the turtles come up and lay their eggs (that boat ride alone, is very cool). and rainforest trips. You can rent bicycles and go to the "end of the line" Manzanillo, the last village on the Caribbean side. and there's always a lot of girls.

Tamarindo is located in a dry forest so probably will not serve your purposes and less you don't plan to spend all of your time there. Manuel Antonio or something further South like Dominical might work for you.

I suggest you to see and compare hotels price with Southern Costa Rica.Biz:

http://www.southerncostarica.biz/Manuel-...

National Park Manuel Antonio is great!!!!

Beaches, amazing!

My favourite restaurant El Avion! Go for supper, before sunset...view is amazing!

Have a great trip!

If your a bunch of guys looking to pickup and party, try find somewhere less ''tourist packed'' like honestly EVERYWHERE you go in Costa Rica will have awsome stuff! just look at a map and google the names of small citys etc you see, but you have to hit up the main city fo sure!

We are a group of college students and we're planning to go to Costa Rica next January. We want to be by the beach/coast but also near the forest/jungle for ziplines and canopy tours. We are looking at Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio but are there any other suggestions? Also, we will most likely be staying in CR for 9/10 days. Thank you!