Playa Jaco
Jacó is the Daytona Beach of Costa Rica. Established in the 1970’s as Costa Rica’s first real surfing town, Jacó is today’s biggest coastal party town. As the closest beach to San Jose, you see mostly young Ticos, surfers, and other vacationers swinging in for a weekend visit. Jacó has a reputation as the “place to get the night started” (or prematurely ended, whichever your case may be). Its restaurants with live music, bars with deadly mojitos, and consistent surfer-endorsed waves are all testaments to its ‘never say die’ attitude.
The beach in Jaco is wide with brown sand and the tallest skyline of any other Costa Rican coast thanks to its building law exclusions. With more growth planned for the future, the town is also looking to clean up its act a bit, with luxury high end condominiums and residential projects going in, evening out the party atmosphere with some peace and tranquility.
The best way to enjoy the town is right along the outskirts, to the far north or south end of the beach. Most luxury hotels have migrated out the town center, allowing guests privacy and a tranquil atmosphere, while still offering convenient access to the city center when desired. Most surfers will stray even further south to Playa Hermosa to catch some serious bone-breaking waves, and retreat to Jaco at night for a little fun. Whether you’re searching for waves, a good time or both, you’ll find plenty of it in Jacó!
1. Head Due South.
Jaco’s smaller neighbor to the south, Playa Hermosa, has a wide-spread reputation for great waves and often plays host to various national and international surfing tournaments. There are small restaurants and bars scattered along the beach but development hasn’t taken over yet and roosters and dogs still outnumber human residents. The beach here is perfect for a toss of the Frisbee, a walk down the coast, or a simple picnic on the sand. In this surfer’s mecca, you should find yourself a quiet spot on the sand and watch them ride the waves. If you time it right, you can catch the sunset in the background while surfers continue to take on the powerful waves as the mist rises along the coastline, proving a very romantic experience.
2. Hit the nightlife scene.
Do as the locals while in Jaco and enjoy some live music at the Backyard bar at Backyard Hotel in Playa Hermosa. The joint offers an All-American menu in Tico fashion, with free bocas or appetizers to accompany your drinks. Weekends are accented by the best live music in the area at what is considered the best bar in Jaco.
3. Put on your hiking boots!
Located about 10 miles north of Jacó is the Carara Biological Reserve, famous worldwide as the home to the Scarlet Macaw. There are several miles of trails, so hiking clothes and repellant are recommended. Admission to the park is only $7 while organized tours can be upwards of $40 per person. This is a great day trip from San Jose or Jaco.
4. Try out new modes of transportation.
Kayak and ATV tours out of Jaco will have you seeing a natural side to the area that you might not have known existed! Travel along the shoreline, down tropical forest-lined estuaries, or try your hand at kayak fishing! The Jaco ATV tour will take you to a hidden waterfall for a cool off before your return to speed around the beach.
