Costa Rica

Jaco Attractions

Beaches:

Playa Herradura

Just north of Jaco, Playa Herradura is a favorite among locals and much less crowded with tourists. Dotted with excellent seafood restaurants, the horseshoe-shaped beach has gentle waters perfect for swimming. Herradura is home to Los Suenos Marina, a full-service facility packed with charter boats that ply the seas for big game fish, including marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi and tuna. The beach is also a jumping off point for snorkeling and dive trips to nearby reefs. Visitors can kayak or stand up paddleboard out to the tranquil Herradura Island, which has a beautiful shore.

Jaco Beach

This popular beach encompasses two miles of dark sands peppered with smooth pebbles. Both beginner and seasoned surfers enjoy its year-round breaks and accessibility to nearby surf spots like Escondido and Boca Barranca. Roca Loca, or Crazy Rock, is a tricky rock bottom wave located at the southern tip of Jaco, just beyond the cliff along the Costanera Highway. The beach’s southern end is more suitable for beginner surfers; the waves get larger and stronger farther north. Jaco has its share of riptides, though not as many as neighboring Playa Hermosa. A handful of lifeguard towers are normally manned during the high season months of December-April. 

Playa Hermosa

Meaning “beautiful beach," Playa Hermosa is aptly named: its broad gray shore is contrasted by pounding white surf. In 2009, it hosted the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games, the largest international surf competition in Costa Rica’s history. Just three miles south of Jaco, it is a favorite spot among seasoned surfers, with seven distinct surf points along its six-mile shore. Hermosa is often less crowded than its neighbors, offering visitors a chance to stroll peacefully along silken sands. 

Playas Esterillos

The deserted beaches of Playas Esterillos, about 13 miles south of Jaco, are definitely worth exploring. Divided into Esterillos Este, Centro and Oeste – Estilleros East, Central and West – each section offers long stretches of palm-fringed coastline and both right and left beach breaks with long rides.

The waves along Esterillos Centro and Este are strong, and quite similar to those in Playa Hermosa. Swimmers should stay closer to the northern end of Esterillos Oeste, where a calm tidal pool offers shelter from the area’s dangerous riptides. All three villages have a handful of hotels, cafes and vacation rentals for travelers of all budgets.

Playa Bejuco

Approximately 19 miles south of Jaco, Bejuco is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Isolated and undeveloped, Bejuco’s claim to fame is its raw and untouched beauty. Although strong riptides keep swimmers at bay, Bejuco’s surf is revered within the local community. There are many beach breaks, and fewer surfers competing for them than in Playa Hermosa. Bejuco village has a couple of hotels with restaurants, a mini-supermarket and a small cafe that serves inexpensive and tasty local cuisine.

National Parks, Gardens and Wildlife Refuges:

Carara National Park

Carara National Park is a crucial sanctuary for wildlife in the increasingly developed Pacific Zone. Toucans, anteaters, sloths, wild pigs and white-faced monkeys inhabit its tropical dry forest and rainforest habitats. Carara is also home to nearly 450 scarlet macaws, and is one of the country’s best areas to view these colorful birds. The park's name comes from an indigenous word meaning “river of crocodiles,” and visitors can observe dozens of these mammoth reptiles along the park's Tarcoles River.

Rainforest Aerial Tram Pacific

Situated on over 200 acres of rainforest, each gondola at the Rainforest Aerial Tram Pacific delivers sweeping views of the Central Pacific. Several combo-excursions are available, including the Tranopy tour, a combination aerial tram and canopy tour, and a nature walk through heliconia gardens and a serpentarium. This is followed by a 40-minute gondola ride high above the treetops.

Neofauna Butterfly Farm and Serpentarium

Just ten minutes north of Jaco, this 10,000-square foot facility houses a large butterfly garden, serpentarium and frog garden. Visitors can observe morpho and tiger butterflies as well as many of Costa Rica’s venomous snakes.

Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge 

Three miles south of Jaco, Playa Hermosa is a protected site for nesting Olive Ridley sea turtles. Their nesting season occurs from June through November, while September, October and November see the largest numbers of turtles. For a chance to see nesting mothers or tiny hatchlings, evening turtle tours depart from Jaco.

Pura Vida Botanical Gardens & Waterfalls

Billed as a visual masterpiece, Pura Vida Botanical Gardens has 45 acres of tropical rainforest, where thousands of orchids and other flowers line the paved walking paths. The garden’s 2,000-foot altitude affords beautiful views of the Nicoya Peninsula and Pacific Ocean. The property is also home to one of Costa Rica’s tallest waterfalls, Bijagual. For a unique dining experience, make reservations at the on-site restaurant and enjoy a spectacular sunset view.

Rivers:

The Tarcoles River 

Known for its population of more than 2,000 American crocodiles, the Tarcoles River forms the northern border of Carara National Park. The river boasts one of the planet’s biggest populations of American crocodiles, with an average of 63 crocs per square mile. These prehistoric reptiles can measure more than 12 feet from snout to tail, and are a common sight on safari boat tours. The river's ecosystem is rich in avifauna, with 120 bird species living within its mangrove estuaries. If traveling from San Jose or Puntarenas, be sure to stop at the Tarcoles River Bridge, where groups of 20 or more crocodiles often sun themselves on the river’s edge.

Waterfalls:

Tour operators specialize in ATV or horseback riding excursions to these local waterfalls. Tours often include pit stops swim in natural river pools.

• Bijagual Waterfall: Towering 600 feet, Bijagual is one of the tallest falls in Costa Rica, located 35 minutes north of Jaco.
• Waterfall del Zorro: 35-foot waterfall on the outskirts of Jaco
• Waterfall de la Gloria: A gorgeous sight nestled within Playa Hermosa’s hillsides.

Day Trips:

Cano Island

Discover the tropical beauty of the southern Pacific's most popular dive site at Cano Island. Full-day tours depart Jaco for a scenic boat ride to the pristine waters and palm-fringed shores of this remarkable biological reserve. Guests may snorkel or scuba dive, then enjoy the reserve's unspoiled beaches. Tours include snorkeling and diving equipment, experienced guides, dives at two sites, and a tasty lunch prepared on the island.

Tortuga Island

Arrange a day trip to Isla Tortuga, or Turtle Island, famous for its white-sand beaches and crystal waters. A full-day tour includes roundtrip boat or catamaran transportation from Herradura, guide, snorkeling or scuba diving, beverages and a BBQ lunch on the beach. Dolphins, turtles and whales are sometimes spotted along the way. 

Manuel Antonio National Park

Home to three species of monkey, including the highly endangered squirrel monkey, Manuel Antonio National Park is known for its picturesque beaches and high concentration of wildlife. The park is about an hour south of Jaco, and ideal for hiking, swimming, snorkeling and animal watching. Several tour operators offer full-day excursions that include a bilingual guide, transportation, park entrance fee, lunch and insurance.

Jaco Travel Guide