Jaco is located on the Central Pacific Coast just a little bit more than an hour south of San Jose. It’s one of Costa Rica’s largest beach towns and is famous for its great fishing, surfing, restaurants, and nightlife. The main road in town runs parallel with the beach, and the sidewalks are nicely decorated as you stroll past the many restaurants. The town itself is one of the most developed towns in the country from an infrastructure perspective. You’ll find the regular tourist businesses such as hotels, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, etc., but also hardware stores and even a movie theatre!
If you want to spend time on the beach and get tanned and swim, the main beach is always close if you are staying in the town center. There are several beachfront restaurants offering everything from local Costa Rican food to international fusion cuisine. A hidden gem that not a lot of people know about is Playa Blanca (or Punta Leona as some people refer to it) that is located just 15 minutes north of Jaco. This is one of the absolutely most beautiful beaches in the country. It’s a public white sand beach with tall palm trees and is well worth a visit. If you are into discovering more beautiful beaches you should make a visit to Playa Esterillos on the way to amazing Manuel Antonio. It’s about a 30-minute drive south and is not very crowded. You can eat at a restaurant right on the beach.
The main beach in Jaco is known for its surfing and many people take the opportunity for beginner classes in surfing when they come here. If you are a more experienced surfer there are many great surf spots in the surrounding area such as the famous Playa Hermosa, which gets overhead waves with strong power.
The fishing in the Central Pacific is absolutely world-class, and many of our fishing boats depart from the beautiful marina of Playa Herradura. There are all sizes of fishing boats available. Let our fishing experts help you find the best options that fit your preference.
There are many bars in Jaco. You’ll find bars and sport bars in the area. At night some clubs open up so you can stay out late if you want to!
