Jacó Beach

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Jacó is Costa Rica’s most visited beach. Located in the Puntarenas province along the central Pacific Coast and less than 2 hours from San José, Jacó is a top destination for surfers, backpackers, and land-loving resort travelers alike.   

Jacó Beach is known for being a wild party beach.  Its streets seem to be a never ending line of restaurants, bars, casinos and clubs.  As well, Internet cafes are plentiful, as are banks, tour operators, and restaurants serving international cuisine.  Once a peaceful and sleepy town, Jacó has now transformed into one of the touristiest areas in the country, filled with beach parties, surfing and adventure.

One of the most convenient things about staying in this Costa Rican beach paradise is the incredibly long list of accommodations.  There are hotels to suit every budget – from the wealthy tourist to the budget traveler looking for party.  The further south you travel, the quieter it gets and only the most exclusive resorts require reservations in advance. 

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Jaco Video

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Some of the most popular mid-range and high-end Jacó beach hotels are the following:

• Best Western Jacó Beach Resort
• Hotel Canciones del Mar
• Apartotel Costa Arenas
• Arenal Pacífico Hotel
• Hotel Poseidon
• Club del Cielo Apartments
• Monte Rey del Mar Hotel
• Terraza del Pacífico Hotel
• Pochote Grande Hotel

What to do in Jacó

For those interested in activities such as horseback riding, hiking, kayaking and sport fishing, Jacó is a great place to do so.  There are plenty of tour operators in the area that can arrange your Jacó Beach adventure tours at very reasonable rates.

Despite the many activities that visitors can enjoy while staying in Jacó, the beach’s main attraction is definitely the surf. Here the waves are consistently big and the breaks are very good.  Surf lessons and rentals are many on Jaco Beach, and anyone can try their hand in the choppy waters for only a few dollars an hour.  You need to be careful about swimming here though, as riptides are common along the beach shore.

Besides Jaco Beach itself, more of Costa Rica’s best surfing beaches are adjacent.  The most experienced surfers head to Playa Hermosa, just south of Jacó, to take advantage of its consistently huge waves.  A yearly international surf contest is held in Hermosa, attracting a great number of surfers and tourists from all over the world.

Less than four miles north of Jacó, Playa Herradura is also becoming a top surfing beach – ideal for those looking to escape the crowds.  Also, the beautiful oceanfront resort Los Sueños Marriott is located in Playa Herradura, featuring a wonderful golf course, casino, luxurious spa and several gourmet restaurants.

How to get there

Due to Jaco’s easy access, as it is about 1.5 hours from Juan Santamaría International Airport, many travelers rent a car at the airport and drive out to the beach themselves.  The areas around Jacó are some of the most picturesque in the country, with breathtaking ocean views.
Once there, you can get around by foot, or rent a bike or a scooter.

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Need accommodation in Jaco Beach. Visit our selection of hotels and let us help you with your Jaco beach vacation. See selected Jaco Beach accommodation Best Western Jaco Beach Punta Leona Hotel Apartotel Canciones del Mar