Beaches perfect for surfing and surrounded by lush jungles are only two things you’ll find in Jaco ... can you see why this is one of the prettiest weekend getaways for our volunteers in Costa Rica?
I’m not sure about you, but it’s hard to say "no" to a weekend of hanging out on the beach and exploring the nearby jungle, which is probably why you’re coming to Costa Rica in the first place.
And when it comes to the prettiest beaches in the country, Jaco’s pretty famous. Not only is this the beach closest to the capital (around 2 hours away) this huge curving half-moon beach is filled with tons and tons to do. All of this is backed by the thick and lush jungle boasting even more activities to help you spend a weekend (or longer) here.
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Because Jaco’s a hot spot for tourists, you’ll find loads of restaurants, cafes, tour operators, things to do, etc — this post is here to help you sort out what’s worth doing and what you can skip out on. After all, with all the adventures packed into this little country, you’ll want to make sure you’re making the most of your time here! Here's how our ILP Costa Rica volunteers are spending their time in Jaco:
- All About The Beaches
Other Things To Do
A Few Spots For Food
Places To Stay
Getting To Jaco
+ Visit These Nearby Spots
All About The Beaches
Okay, I’m guessing you’ll want to spend some time at the beach in Jaco, which makes complete sense — this coastal city is known around the world as one of the best surfing spots around. However, there is a string of beaches around Jaco and some are better than others. My advice? Read up on a few below to help you decide which beach is best, whether you want to spend an afternoon surfing, hanging out on the sand, swimming, windsurfing, or joining a few other water adventures.
Jaco Beach
This is the most popular beach, boasting lots and lots to do. Jaco beach is one of the best basic surfing spots if you’re just learning or are a more advanced surfer. The 2.5 mile beach is dotted with surfing schools and board rentals. Rentals are around $10 for just the board but Vista Guapa has gotten rad reviews for its beginning surfing lessons ($75 for a 2-hour lesson and board rental). The waves can be a little high for swimming, so keep reading for a swimmer-friendly beach if you want to take a dip. The gray sand is also a hot spot to hang out on, complete with volleyball nets set up in some sections. You can rent an umbrella $10 for the day if you want a bit of shade.
Jaco beach is also the place to rent sea kayaks, with a few tour operators advertising snorkeling tours combined with kayaking or canoeing.
Playa Agujas
Head here for a chill, more relaxed beach, with small waves perfect for beginning surfing, and SUP. This beach is more of a local's secret and can get crowded on weekends and holidays for people in the know. It's also not the best "laying out" beach, due to the dark sand (which is rather rocky and littered with debris like palm trees and fronds) and a tide that reaches all the way to the top at high tide.
While not the prettiest beach, it's a fun half-day adventure for beginner surfers or the change to SUP. You can find rentals available here. Find Playa Agujas around 10 miles north of Jaco. Again, this is more of an activity-based, local's beach but could be fun if you're looking for something different than the other beaches near Jaco.
Playa Hermosa
Another really famous surfing beach, with more massive waves that are best left up to the pros. It’s a good spot for kite-surfing too, so hanging out here on the sand means there will be lots to watch. The beach here is pretty empty of shops and restaurants, but sometimes is the spot for surfing tournaments or at least competition practice. It’s found just five miles south of Jaco Beach.
Other Things To Do
Take A Sunset Horseback Ride
We love the sunsets in Jaco, especially on horseback! One ILP group booked sunset horseback rides in Jaco through AirBnB and loved the experience. The tour includes a little "how to" on how to ride after you're introduced to your horse and a ride that takes you to some stellar viewpoints, before hitting the beach right at sunset. Book here.
Another group went with a tour on Viator.
Spot Monkeys And Parrots In Carara National Park
One reason why Jaco tops the list of favorite vacay spots is the fact that you can get both the jungle and the beach. Jaco is backed by a thick and lush jungle, full of all the rainforest friends you can to Costa Rica to see. Spying colorful parrots shouldn’t be hard — this National Park is home to one of the highest concentrations of Scarlet Macaws that spend their time flitting in the treetops.
The entrance of the park is only 14 miles away from Jaco, so it’s an easy day trip. You’ll find a handful of well-marked walking trails that wind in and out beneath the thick canopy. The park is really easy to navigate especially since the main trail, the Quebrada Bonita Trail makes a one-mile loop, with other trails branching off of this central loop.
If you want, you can hire a guide for $25 which may mean seeing more animals while you hike. That being said, you can almost always see some macaws, the white-faced capuchin monkeys, and crocodiles if you head to the bridge over the Tarcoles River. You can cross the bridge and peer over to see a whole mess of crocodiles that live in the muddy banks. You can get more crocodile action by taking a crocodile tour if you’d rather.
Getting Here: There isn’t a direct bus, but you can hop on a bus that drives up and down the Costanera Sur. You’re welcome to hop on, just let the driver know you want to get off at the Carara National Park. To get back to Jaco, stand on the street outside of the park and just wave the bus down. A taxi is also an option, but it’s typically $30 to get you to the entrance from Jaco, and you’ll want to coordinate a pickup time or let the park rangers call you a cab when you’d like to leave.
Cost: $10
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM from May to November, and 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM from December to April. The park is closed during September and October for flooding.
Swim In This Waterfall
The trek up the Bijagual waterfall is on the more intense side, but the tumbling cascade is worth the effort to hack through the jungle. It’s a steep and mossy climb through a thick jungle where you can sometimes spot parrots and monkeys hiding out in the surrounding trees. The waterfall itself is more than impressive, a 400-food pounding mist of water powerfully pools down into a few ice-cold pools you’re welcome to swim in … the force of the falls is so intense you’re bound to get pretty wet just standing near the base of the falls, thanks to all the mist that swirls up with the water hits the rocky base of the falls.
Some details to know — The trailhead can be tricky to find, but it’s just past the Carara National Forest. Talk to your taxi driver and look for the wood and hand-painted signs advertising Cataraca Bijagual. The Falls are found on private property, so there’s a fee to pay. There’s a man who manages the trails and chargers $20 for foreigners and $10 for residents and locals (ILP volunteers, let them know you’re spending a semester living in Costa Rica!). You’ll want to get there after 7:00 AM and leave before 3:30 PM. Some hikes mentioned planning on an hour to get to the falls and about the same going back if you’re making good time.
You can also book a tour. If you go that route, I’d make sure to do something extra (instead of just being guided through the forest since you can do that yourself), like this horseback riding option.
Shop Around Jaco Walk
This open-air shopping center is filled with shops and restaurants and makes for a lovely place to do some walking (and eating!). You'll find a whole list of places like cute surfer boutiques, ice cream shops, cafes, yoga studios, bike rentals, and tons of restaurants that make it easy to spend a couple of hours (especially in the evening).
- Find it: Frente a calle Alice Jaco Walk, Local 99 Puntarenas Jacó, 61101
Hours: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM (though stores have separate hours).
Come See All Sorts Of Butterflies
If you can't wait to see the butterflies at La Paz (one of our favorite spots in the country), come here! This lovely garden and butterfly farm is filled with several species that you can come and see up close. The garden is home to 70 types of different fruit trees, and lush plants that form quite the habitat for several types of exotic butterflies.
$10 includes admission and a brief tour around the property where you can learn more about the butterflies and plants found at Royal Butterflies (learn more on that link).
- Find it: 50m este del puente de Río Seco Puntarenas Quebrada Amarilla, Jaco, 61101, Costa Rica
Hours: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cost: $10 USD (cash only).
Find Jaco’s Secret Ruins
Perched in the hills above Jaco beach are the remains of a sprawling white palace that’s been colorfully painted with tropical murals and creates quite the lookout point. The abandoned ruins of El Miro aren’t the most popular thing to do in Jaco but they are my first pick of places to watch the sunset. Just look at that view of Jaco Beach! Plus, it’s a can’t miss for anyone who wants a photoshoot next to the Aztec animal designs and murals painted in a rainbow of colors.
You’ll need to hike here, about 2 miles. The trail starts by a gas station, then makes its way on a steep trail through the jungle. This blogger has excellent instructions and pictures to help you find it.
Snorkel Tortuga Island
Just across the bay is Isla Tortuga, only accessible by boat (so going with a tour is your best bet). It’s a premier spot for snorkeling — keep an eye out for dolphins and sea turtles when you’re under the waves. Snorkel, hike around the island, have lunch, and relax before heading back to Jaco!
Check out this post that dives a bit deeper into planning the trip, covering things like potential tours to pick from and what to bring ... but know that groups highly recommend adding a catamaran tour to their time in Jaco!
A Few Spots For Food
Like any huge spot for tourists, you’ll find a string of restaurants around the beach with menus that have a huge range in price. We’ve pulled out some top picks our ILP volunteers have loved to give you a good taste of the local food in this country and a couple of spots that are good if you want a taste of home (but just know there are dozens of other eateries to choose from!).
Pachis Pan Bakery
I don't think you need much more convincing to go to a bakery filled with amazing goodies like churros, do you? One volunteer said this about Panchis Pan: "You must go to Pachis Pan bakery and get the churros. If you don’t, you’re crazy. Everything there is cheap and delicious." Pretty much seals the deal, doesn't it?
- Find it: J97F+93X, Puntarenas Province, Jaco, Costa Rica
Hours: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM (10:00 PM on Mondays)
Soda Jacó Rústica
Sodas are a big part of the culture here, serving up your Costa Rican classics like gallo pinto, fried plantains, local soups with corn, pork, and potatoes, all for just a couple of dollars. The yummy food with great prices makes this one of the most popular local spots to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
- Find it on Puntarenas Province
- Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Green Room Cafe Bar
Serving up burgers, fresh watermelon juice, salads, tacos, chips and guacamole, and a few other things, this is a popular spot. There are some veggie and vegan options which is a nice change, along with some different dishes like hummus and falafel. Oh and as an added bonus, the Green Room often has live music in the evenings.
- Find it on Puntarenas Province
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Marea Alta
Another local restaurant, find chicken quesadillas, Gallo pinto, fried plantains, sopas, ceviche, and others made to order. Oh, and this spot also has juices, smoothies, and shakes along with some fruit juices served with shaved ice so it’s more like a slushy. Yum. It’s one of those spots that you hear about when you ask around about the best ceviche in Jaco.
- Find it in Puntarenas Province
- Hours: Open 24/7
Jaco’s Farmer’s Market
My favorite part about vacationing in Central America has to be the fruit. You can find me with half a papaya for breakfast, with a whole bowl of pineapple on most mornings in this part of the world! If you’ll be in Jaco on a Thursday afternoon or a Friday morning, shop for fresh veggies, piles of fruit, local cheese, and freshly baked bread.
Find the market on Avenue Pastor Diaz (on the southern end).
Gaia Acai Bowls
A very pretty and yummy breakfast is waiting for you at this cafe, which specializes in smoothies and smoothie bowls, topped with fruit, drizzled with honey/nut butters, and sprinkled with granola. Yum.
- Address: Avenida pastor Diaz,continuo subway Garabito Jaco, 61101
Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (5:30 PM on Saturdays).
Places To Stay
You'll find your pick of upscale hotels and affordable hostels in and around Jaco, but if it's helpful to know, we have a list of where past ILP groups have stayed. One word of caution comes with the location — several groups mentioned that they loved having a place to stay that was close to the beach and the shops, while others who stayed further away made sure to budget time each morning to walk to the beach or to get breakfast.
Hostels
So far, AirBnBs have been the most popular option, but we have had a few groups stay at Hostel de Haan, saying it's pretty basic but affordable.
AirBnBs
Most groups liked staying in AirBnBs in the area, like this option with a pool and easy beach access, or this condo with great access to the restaurants and activities (and also has a pool). Past groups have also stayed here and here.
Getting To Jaco
This popular resort city lines the Pacific side of Costa Rica, rimmed with gorgeous coastlines, backed by green, lush jungles, and colorful city streets. If you take the public bus, it’s just over a 2-hour ride from San Jose making it really accessible no matter where you are in the country. Like we’ve explained in our post about buses in Costa Rica, it’s best to double-check times and prices before planning or booking your trip, but here’s some info to help you out:
From San Jose
From the San Jose Terminal 7-10 (Av. 7, C.8), there are daily buses to Jaco. The drive is around 2 hours long and costs around 2,500 colones ($5). Just head upstairs to purchase your tickets for "Jaco Transportes".
Monday through Thursday, buses leave every two hours from 7:00 AM (so one at 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM).
On Friday, there are additional times: 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 6:00 PM.
On the weekends, buses leave every hour from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Volunteers headed here from San Jose suggest grabbing an early morning bus if you can: the buses tend to fill up quickly, and the ones in the afternoon sometimes make extra stops, meaning it takes longer to arrive.
From The Uvita Area
If you find yourself on this side of the country (the western coastline), it's best to get a bus to Quepos, then get a bus to Jaco. You can find a covered bus station directly across the Tracopa Station in Uvita (we talk about the Tracopa bus later on) heading north, as well as another bus stop (next to the Hertz rental office) for buses headed south. Get on a bus headed north to Quepos. It's about a two-hour ride for 1700₡ ($3).
Once you arrive in Quepos, several buses head north to Jaco from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Tickets are about 1265₡ ($2.20) for a two-hour ride. Get more info on that route here.
Heads up! There is a Tracapo bus that can pick you up in Uvita and sorta drops you off in Jaco (en route to San Jose). The bus charges you a full San Jose fare and drops you off on the outskirts of Jaco, meaning you have to walk or take a taxi (a 25-minute ride), but you will get there faster. If you're not short on time, you can go to Quepos first because it will save you money and a cab ride into town.
+ Visit These Nearby Spots
Take a Jungle Crocodile Tour
One ILP group has traveled north of Jaco to a little place called Tarcoles for a jungle crocodile safari during their time in this part of Costa Rica. They booked through this company, which takes you on a 90-minute motorboat excursion to observe these dinosaur-like predators.
Punta Leona + Playa Blanca
Some ILP Groups have loved spending their time in nearby Punta Leona, and taking a day trip into Jaco (though you could also do the opposite).
Sometimes called Playa Blanca, this dreamy location is found about 20-ish minutes north of Jaco and is home to turquoise water, white sand, and spindly palm trees. It's a quiet escape that's a local secret for snorkelers, beginning surfers, and those looking for a calmer getaway than what you'd find in Jaco.
Playas Mantas is another favorite beach in the area, with calm beautiful water (and is less popular than that scattering of people you'll find in Punta Leona). The beaches are right next to each other and become particularly close during low tide, where you can take the flat rocky area between the two.
Past ILP groups have booked an Airbnb (like this one) for this little getaway and just taken a taxi or bus into Jaco for meals.
We know you're ready for more Costa Rica
Come spend a few months on quite the adventure as an ILP volunteer in Costa Rica! You'll be set up with a part-time teaching schedule to help local kids learn English then can take full advantage of all the adventures this country has to offer during your free time, on weekends, and vacation time.
