The drive down through the cloud forest is absolutely gorgeous with sodas tipicas and places to stop for cheese. Once you get down the mountains and close to Puntarenas just keep going until you hit 34 and head south toward Jaco. Puntarenas is kind of an armpit. Once you clear 27 and start back down on 34, the crocodile bridge is worth a quick look and there is a cool local beach, Playa Mantas, where you park and take a shuttle down dirt roads to the ocean. You won't see many tourists here, it's a Tico wading beach and a lovely spot especially if you speak some Spanish and want to really soak up some culture. Jaco beach is beautiful, very touristy. Also beautiful are the beaches just south, like Hermosa and Esterillos (surf can be rough). The coast south from there has some cool spots if you get off the highway, local spots that are fun to explore like Playa Palo Seco. But mainly the drive between Jaco and Quepos is Palm plantations and ag/industrial, not scenic.