Things not to miss in & around Jaco Town of Costa Rica - Beaches, Birds & Landscapes

When we read about popular beaches in Costa Rica, Jaco town would pop-up and when we were in San Jose, we noticed various things which indicated that planning a day trip from San Jose to Jaco is easy. On top of that our guide offered us a great deal to take us in his own car at a very reasonable price. This blogpost shares more about how to reach Jako town from San Jose or other surrounding cities of Costa Rica, main places to visit around Jaco Town and things to do, along with some tips to save money and make best of your visit Jaco town of Costa Rica.

When we read about popular beaches in Costa Rica, Jaco town would pop-up and when we were in San Jose, we noticed various things which indicated that planning a day trip from San Jose to Jaco is easy. On top of that our guide offered us a great deal to take us in his own car at a very reasonable price. This blogpost shares more about how to reach Jako town from San Jose or other surrounding cities of Costa Rica, main places to visit around Jaco Town and things to do, along with some tips to save money and make best of your visit Jaco town of Costa Rica. 
Jaco is a beautiful city on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in Central America. Above photograph shows one of the streets in Jaco town and it's leading towards Jaco beach. The beach in Jaco town of Costa Rica is perfect for beginner surfers. There are good number of surfing schools and various shops that sell/rent equipment for surfing. Experienced surfers also visit Jaco because it is only a short drive to beaches for more professional surfers, such as Hermosa Beach, which is just five minutes away.

Jaco is a beautiful city on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in Central America. Above photograph shows one of the streets in Jaco town and it's leading towards Jaco beach. 

 Other Blogpost from Costa Rica - Tour of our room at Four Seasons Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica

The beach in Jaco town of Costa Rica is perfect for beginner surfers. There are good number of surfing schools and various shops that sell/rent equipment for surfing. Experienced surfers also visit Jaco because it is only a short drive to beaches for more professional surfers, such as Hermosa Beach, which is just five minutes away.

Let's talk about - How to reach Jaco town from different parts of Costa Rica ? Jaco town is approximately 100 kilometers from the capital San Jose and it takes approximately 2 hours to reach Jaco from San Jose. If you are driving on your own or going there via taxi, there are places on the way where you can stop & make little better use of your time on the way.

Let's talk about - How to reach Jaco town from different parts of Costa Rica ?

Jaco town is approximately 100 kilometers from the capital San Jose and it takes approximately 2 hours to reach Jaco from San Jose. If you are driving on your own or going there via taxi, there are places on the way where you can stop & make little better use of your time on the way. 

 Related Blogpost - Basilica of Los Angeles - Most beautiful place to explore in Cartago, Costa Rica

 Main international airport close to Jaco Town of Costa Rica is Juan Santamaría International, and it takes approximately 1.5 hours from airport to the town via taxi. There are Buses available from San Jose to Jaco, and these are cheapest options to reach Jaco. Take an early morning bus, walk around the beaches of Jaco and can take taxi to visit nearby places. Taxi is generally expensive in Costa Rica, so it depends how much you want to move around. There are options of renting a car, bike or even some of the off-roading vehicles.

Main international airport close to Jaco Town of Costa Rica is  Juan Santamaría International, and it takes approximately 1.5 hours from airport to the town via taxi. 

There are Buses available from San Jose to Jaco, and these are cheapest options to reach Jaco. Take an early morning bus, walk around the beaches of Jaco and can take taxi to visit nearby places. Taxi is generally expensive in Costa Rica, so it depends how much you want to move around. There are options of renting a car, bike or even some of the off-roading vehicles. 

 Related Blogpost - How to reach and main things to do in Monteverde Town of Costa Rica (PURA VIDA)

Jaco Town Nightlife is also pretty popular and I was wondering why. There are various reasons and there are various kinds of things you can do in Jaco during night. Like Gambling in Casinos :) . There are plenty of bars & clubs to explore.

Jaco Town Nightlife is also pretty popular and I was wondering why. There are various reasons and there are various kinds of things you can do in Jaco during night. Like Gambling in Casinos :) . There are plenty of bars & clubs to explore. 

Related Blog-post from Costa Rica - Travel Guide for Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica - Pura Vida !

If you are wondering what all you can do in and around Jaco town, let me share few options : ATV experience in Jaco - probably to some waterfall or just roaming around the hills in Jaco. Canopy Tours (which can be done other places in Costa Rica as well) Don't miss huge Crocodiles around Tarcoles river. Hiking to one of the many waterfalls around Jaco town : May be Mauyaca Waterfalls Miro Mountain View Point : to have aerial view of Jaco Town with ocean/beaches on the front Bird-watching can be a very exciting and rewarding thing to do around Jaco town of Costa Rica. Keep a watch on other wild animals which are native of Costa Rica only. Surfing or Stand up Paddle Boarding

If you are wondering what all you can do in and around Jaco town, let me share few options :
  • ATV experience in Jaco - probably to some waterfall or just roaming around the hills in Jaco.
  • Canopy Tours (which can be done other places in Costa Rica as well)
  • Don't miss huge Crocodiles around Tarcoles river. 
  • Hiking to one of the many waterfalls around Jaco town : May be Mauyaca Waterfalls
  • Miro Mountain View Point : to have aerial view of Jaco Town with ocean/beaches on the front
  • Bird-watching can be a very exciting and rewarding thing to do around Jaco town of Costa Rica. Keep a watch on other wild animals which are native of Costa Rica only.
  • Surfing or Stand up Paddle Boarding

If you are staying in Jaco Town for more days, you would want to plan few trips around. Some of the popular ones can be : Tortuga Island Whitewater Rafting in Savegre River Carana National Park : Hiking and walking Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Vista Los Suenos While in Costa Rica, you would certainly want to visit one of the Volcanos there.

If you are staying in Jaco Town for more days, you would want to plan few trips around. Some of the popular ones can be :
  1. Tortuga Island
  2. Whitewater Rafting in Savegre River 
  3. Carana National Park : Hiking and walking
  4. Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs
  5. Vista Los Suenos

While in Costa Rica, you would certainly want to visit one of the Volcanos there. 

 Other blogpost from Costa Rica - Irazu Volcano National Park - Must visit place around San Jose & Cartago cities of Costa Rica

If we talk about weather in Jaco area of Costa Rica, it varies. Since Jaco town is on the seashore, climate is usually humid. Temperature is approximately 24–34 °C during the day and 24–27 °C at night. During the dry season, away from the water, the temperature may consistently reach above 35 °C. You may have figured out by now that you need to buy a good sunscreen to save yourself from the tan. I am lazy about applying anything on my skin and have had extreme tanning, which would probably take few months to recover.

If we talk about weather in Jaco area of Costa Rica, it varies. Since Jaco town is on the seashore, climate is usually humid.

Temperature is approximately 24–34 °C during the day and 24–27 °C at night. During the dry season, away from the water, the temperature may consistently reach above 35 °C. You may have figured out by now that you need to buy a good sunscreen to save yourself from the tan. I am lazy about applying anything on my skin and have had extreme tanning, which would probably take few months to recover.  

Jaco lies in a tropical climate zone mainly defined by distinct dry and wet seasons. August through early December are wet and late December through early April are dry, the remaining months have irregular rainy spells. We were there in Jaco in May and it was raining during second half almost everyday.

Jaco lies in a tropical climate zone mainly defined by distinct dry and wet seasons. August through early December are wet and late December through early April are dry, the remaining months have irregular rainy spells. We were there in Jaco in May and it was raining during second half almost everyday. 

Above photograph is clicked inside Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, which is one of the awesome properties around Jaco Town of Costa Rica for luxurious and relaxing vacation. It's a beautiful property, even for driving around (like what we did :) ).

Above photograph is clicked inside Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, which is one of the awesome properties around Jaco Town of Costa Rica for luxurious and relaxing vacation. It's a beautiful property, even for driving around (like what we did :) ).

Somehow our guide was very interested in showing some of the coolest hotels/resorts while we were driving around Jaco town of Costa Rica. He took us to Hotel Villa Caletas while we about to reach Jaco Town and he had plenty of great things to say about this property. And he was certainly right, which was validated when we reached at Hotel Villa Caletas. Above photograph is clicked at one of the bars at Hotel Villa Caletas facing Pacific Ocean.

Somehow our guide was very interested in showing some of the coolest hotels/resorts while we were driving around Jaco town of Costa Rica. He took us to Hotel Villa Caletas while we about to reach Jaco Town and he had plenty of great things to say about this property. And he was certainly right, which was validated when we reached at Hotel Villa Caletas. Above photograph is clicked at one of the bars at Hotel Villa Caletas facing Pacific Ocean.

Jaco town of Costa Rica lies between several mountains and is neighboured by the beaches of Herradura Bay to the North and Playa Hermosa to the South.

Jaco town of Costa Rica lies between several mountains and is neighboured by the beaches of Herradura Bay to the North and Playa Hermosa to the South. 

There are few national parks around Jaco Town of Costa Rica and Carara National Park is one the popular ones. This one is recognised for its wildlife and dense rain forest, which seem to be very different that other rain forests in the country. Carara is home to one of the largest remaining populations of wild scarlet macaws in the country. btw, we saw one Macaw in Jaco Town on a high tree and after a while it flew away in front of our eyes. Above photograph shows the Macaw we saw in Jaco Town on a tree very close to the main beach of Jaco.

There are few national parks around Jaco Town of Costa Rica and Carara National Park is one the popular ones. This one is recognised for its wildlife and dense rain forest, which seem to be very different that other rain forests in the country. Carara is home to one of the largest remaining populations of wild scarlet macaws in the country. btw, we saw one Macaw in Jaco Town on a high tree and after a while it flew away in front of our eyes. Above photograph shows the Macaw we saw in Jaco Town on a tree very close to the main beach of Jaco. 

The Manuel Antonio National Park is another park which is around 70 kilomters away from Jaco Town. Manuel Antonio National Park is mentioned one of the top places to visit & explore in Costa Rica country.

The Manuel Antonio National Park is another park which is around 70 kilomters away from Jaco Town. Manuel Antonio National Park is mentioned one of the top places to visit & explore in Costa Rica country. 

If you ask me the place I liked the most, it would be Playa Hermosa which is a beautiful beach and you would see lot of surfers playing with ocean waves all around. On this beach Vibha and I loved collecting some colourful & beautiful stones (although we forgot them in our San Jose hotel :( )

 If you ask me the place I liked the most, it would be Playa Hermosa which is a beautiful beach and you would see lot of surfers playing with ocean waves all around. On this beach Vibha and I loved collecting some colourful & beautiful stones (although we forgot them in our San Jose hotel :( ) 

Whole Jaco Town and I would say even whole country Costa Rica has lot of graffitis. And that makes me think that probably I can do a separate post of Graffitis from Costa Rica, but who cares and why would someone check that post :).

Whole Jaco Town and I would say even whole country Costa Rica has lot of graffitis. And that makes me think that probably I can do a separate post of Graffitis from Costa Rica, but who cares and why would someone check that post :).  

Above photograph shows one of the surrounding peaks around Jaco and this place offers great views of Jaco town & Pacific ocean. We spent around 30 minutes walking around this place and enjoyed different views of the ocean, the town and lush green farms around.

 Above photograph shows one of the surrounding peaks around Jaco and this place offers great views of Jaco town & Pacific ocean. We spent around 30 minutes walking around this place and enjoyed different views of the ocean, the town and lush green farms around. 

Things not to do or avoid in Jaco town of Costa Rica? 1. Want to buy Souvenirs and you are also visiting San Jose? - avoid buying touristy stuff from Jaco town, if you are also planning to visit San Jose city of Costa Rica. There is a Central indoor market where you can find much cheaper options. For example - a fridge magnet which would cost you $4 in Jaco town, you would get it for half dollar in San Jose. Saying it from personal experience and the ones which I bought in San Jose have even better quality. 2. Don't leave your footwear behind if you go to main Jaco Beach. Why ? - There are lot of small & little sharp stones on this beach. We had left our footwear in the car and then had to head back to bring them :). 3. I am sure there would be more such learnings, so will update this section as I recall more.

Things not to do or avoid in Jaco town of Costa Rica?

1. Want to buy Souvenirs and you are also visiting San Jose? - avoid buying touristy stuff from Jaco town, if you are also planning to visit San Jose city of Costa Rica. There is a Central indoor market where you can find much cheaper options. For example - a fridge magnet which would cost you $4 in Jaco town, you would get it for half dollar in San Jose. Saying it from personal experience and the ones which I bought in San Jose have even better quality. 

2. Don't leave your footwear behind if you go to main Jaco Beach. Why ? - There are lot of small & little sharp stones on this beach. We had left our footwear in the car and then had to head back to bring them :).

 3. I am sure there would be more such learnings, so will update this section as I recall more. 

It was lot of fun driving around Jaco Town and while we were heading back to San Jose, we came across this parade wherein lot of locals were dancing on local music. Jaco will remain special for us from our Costa Rica trip this year.

It was lot of fun driving around Jaco Town and while we were heading back to San Jose, we came across this parade wherein lot of locals were dancing on local music. 

Jaco will remain special for us from our Costa Rica trip this year. 


Related Blogposts -

If you start searching for main places to visit and explore around San Jose City of Costa Rica, some of the volcanos will show up in the list and Irazu photographs are usually exciting. I can claim that certainly this is a beautiful place to visit from the capital city of Costa Rica. This is not an active Volcano, but it has huge craters around Irazu hills. This blog-post takes you through some of the details around how to reach Irazu Volcano from San Jose or Cartago, what all to do around Irazu Volcano, entry ticket to the Volcano area and some bonus tips about making this visit even special by some touch or trek into the wild for enjoying nature and colourful birds of Costa Rica. Irazu Volcano National Park - Must visit place around San Jose & Cartago cities of Costa Rica










































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