About Jaco
On the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, towards the north of the Puntarenas region, you find one of the best and most developed beach towns, its name is Jaco. located 80 miles from the capital city of Costa Rica, Jaco has a population of around 10,000 residents.
The 4 kilometers of Jaco area is covered by the Jaco black sand beach which is located to the west of Jaco area. Towards the North is the Carara National Park.
Jaco is best known for its beaches, nightlife and its wildlife. Jaco should definitely be in your bucket list. Read along to know things that will help you as you plan to visit Jaco, Costa Rica.
How do you get to Jaco,Puntarenas?
If you would like to visit Jaco internationally, it is important to know that you should fly into San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport located in Alajuela province.
From San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, there are 5 major means of transport to Jaco:
⦁Public bus- It is the cheapest mode of transport. The bus operates from 7am to 7pm and costs $3 per person one way.
⦁Shuttle bus- The shuttle is a more comfortable bus that goes to Jaco from San Jose. It costs $30 per person and half the price for children. It has 2 major departure times: 6 am and 3 pm.
⦁Taxis- The taxis charge between $100-$145 depending on traffic and the number of occupants.
⦁Rental cars – You can also rent a car as long as you fill in the necessary documents needed. The charges for renting a car per day are approximately $30. The charges can be more depending on the type of car and GPS installation on the car.
⦁Cars- Cars are the fastest means of transport to get to Jaco and they charge $5-$10. With the roads now well established, within one and a half hours, you will arrive in Jaco.
NOTE: All payments in Jaco are made in Costa Rican Colons.
Best Time to Visit Jaco.
The Jaco climate is mostly divided into the dry season and the wet season. The best season for visiting Jaco is during the dry season which is between late December and Early April. At this season, the weather is ideal for most aquatic activities like surfing.
With bright blue skies and temperatures of up to 91.4°F, it is very conducive for holidays. Did you know that when it is winter in North America, then it is summer in Jaco?
Things to do in Jaco, Puntarenas.
Other than the sandy beaches which we will talk about later, here are some of the very many things that you can do in Jaco:
⦁Visit a park
One of the most famous parks in Jaco is the Carara National park. It has over 400 different species of animals and trees and an entrance fee of $10 only for foreigners.
The largest remaining species of the scarlet macaw are found there!
Other parks are the Manuel Antonio national park, the park at Ocean Ranch, Neo Fauna and El Encanto waterfall.
⦁Hiking
One of the most famous mountains for hiking in Jaco is Mount Miros. Not only does it have spectacular views but also you will get to view some colorful arts on a section of concrete walls on the trail.
⦁Surfing
There are many places to surf and the places vary with one’s expertise. Places like Playa Jaco have small waves and places like Playa Hermosa have strong waves of up to 13 feet which is suitable for experts. You should be knowing that Jaco has the best surf beaches.
If you do not know how to surf, you should be pleased to know that there are schools for learning how to surf. The Jaco surf school and the Del Mar Surf camp have well trained staff who teach surfing. They are usually open from as early as 6:30 am – 7:00 pm. Just imagine learning a new skill on holiday! Sounds exciting.
⦁Zip Lining and rope activities.
The Chiclets Zipline is one of the best places you should go to in Jaco. The view of the rainforests when ziplining is spectacular and it also allows for children to Zip line.
If you are an adrenaline junky, then Jaco ropes is also a good place as you will go through guided high rope courses through the jungle. Activities such as the free fall and rappel are also offered there.
Adventures
You can go see the world’s biggest crocodiles in Jose’s Crocodile River Tour.
You can also go for an adventure at the Howling Monkey adventures where the TOMCARS available will take you through jungle, rivers, streams, mountains, and waterfalls.
Ever visited a butterfly farm? The Royal Butterflies is packed with incredible amounts of butterfly species.
Shopping
If you desire to come out of Jaco with a souvenir, then Tico Pod Art house and gifts is the place for you. There, you will find a variety of art collections and gifts displaying the culture of Jaco.
Beaches.
As mentioned earlier, Jaco is one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica. Some of the most famous beaches are Jaco beach where one can go scuba diving and it is adjacent to the surfing school and nearby bars hence a fantastic night life, Hermosa Beach where one can also swim and surf and Herradura beach.
If you are a private person and would like a more secluded beach, then, Playa Esterillos Oeste is the beach for you, however, there are no supermarkets and restaurants near it.
Tips: Jaco beach is a black sand beach and its waves are fantastic for beginner surfers.
Restaurants in Jaco.
There are many restaurants in Jaco due to the fact that they experience very many visitors in the area. The menus are very children friendly as well. Some of the restaurants to look out for are:
Hotel Villa Caletas– best known for its exotic cocktails and amazing view of the sunset.
⦁Pizza shop– best known for its affordable pizzas which range from $8-$30.
⦁Heladeria El Barco– Best known for its desserts.
⦁Panaderia Artesanal– Best known for its pastry which cost from $5- $10.
⦁Zona K Bistro– Best known for its Italian and Asian influence
Others include: Jaco Rustico restaurant, Green Room Café whose meals begin from $8, Graffiti Restro Café and Wine Bar whose meals begin from $10, and so much more.
There is also an open air market known as Jaco Walk that has fresh fruits and vegetables.
Where To Stay
Room2Board is a superb backpacker alternative from $16 USD a night, just steps away from the amazing beach and walking distance to the vibrant surf town of Jaco.
But that’s not all. Our review of ‘Jaco Best Backpackers Hotels’ is a must-read before you come to Jaco.
Jaco is a renowned destination for tourists hence there is accommodation for all sorts of people depending on one’s budget. From high end hotels to Airbnb’s, there is something for everyone!
⦁High end hotels – The prices begin from $200+ per night. They have easy access to the beach.
Example- Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf resort and Hotel Villa Caletas
⦁Middle range hotels – This range from $100- $200 per night. They have pools and restaurants nearby and are walking distance to the beaches.
⦁Airbnb- There are luxurious apartments with pools and the prices go to even as low as $20 per night depending on the number of rooms one needs. It is very conducive for large families as they can book a whole bungalow for themselves.
TIPS- It is important to book accommodation early as during the high peak season, the accommodations are highly likely to fill up early.
Conclusion
Filled with friendly people who speak English and a conducive climate then Jaco is definitely a place you must visit by yourself or with family.
There are many tour guides around as it is a tourist attraction area and hence you can never get lost.
The night life is one of the reasons you will love Jaco, it is a very safe place.
Happy Travel!!