Many individuals come to Costa Rica to turn everything off and just take it easy. Others are looking to do a lot of things to do, get out over the city, and of course get within the region’s renowned beach locations and lush jungle. In the event the latter looks like you, then Jaco may be the right fit. Within this post, we’ll deal with every little thing you have to know concerning this well-liked central Pacific coast place, such as our picks for functions, seashores, places to eat, and hotels.

Jaco Pacific Coast Vacation spot | Two Weeks in Costa Rica


About Jaco
Positioned less than 1.five several hours from Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria Worldwide Airport (SJO), Jaco would be the closest key beachside spot on the cash town of San Jose. With rolling green hills of jungle and farm pasture in the space, Jaco sits in a wide cove with rocky details on Just about every stop. The Seashore is a protracted grey arc which has a backdrop of palm trees, surfside inns, souvenir and boutique retailers, a tremendous array of places to eat and bars, as well as occasional mid-to-large-rise condo intricate.

Jaco Beach front | Two Weeks in Costa Rica


Jaco is regarded as considered one of Costa Rica’s most produced Seaside cities, and the principle strip, which operates adjacent into the sand, is bustling, equally working day and evening. The city has designed a name over time for its bash environment (mostly during the bars) and adult-only nighttime actions, but in recent times has set lots of effort into rendering it a gorgeous spot to go to for everybody, including households.

There are a few parks, childrens’ Perform and exercise centers, and many restaurants with kid-welcoming menus all over town. Lots of the households viewing Jaco are locals who Are living close to San Jose and flock to the beach on weekends, holidays, and holiday seasons, injecting a good combination of local tradition into your in any other case touristy city.


Things to do in Jaco
Among the list of principal draws of Jaco will be the seemingly limitless listing of activities offered. Anything from ATV and zip-line tours to catamaran cruises, surf classes, and Activity fishing is often booked with among the list of space’s tour operators. Out from the a lot of things to carry out, Below are a few of our picks.

Sunset Cocktails at Villa Caletas
North of Jaco over a tall ridge overlooking the scenic Gulf of Nicoya and Pacific Ocean is a fantastic place to absorb the sunset above a tropical consume. Lodge Villa Caletas has designed a extraordinary outdoor amphitheater into your facet on the cliff that makes you're feeling such as you’re on top of the earth. You don’t have to be a visitor to expertise this special setting; just explain to the staff you’re there for sunset and seize a drink in the bar.

Sunset at Villa Caletas | Two Months in Costa Rica
The amphitheater at Villa Caletas

Surfing
Costa Rica is recognized for its excellent surf, and also the Jaco space is undoubtedly among the list of nation’s scorching places. Surf shops are scattered all around city so it is not hard and reasonably priced to hire a board or have a lesson. At Playa Jaco, the more compact waves are great for Mastering or shaking from the rust in case you haven’t been out shortly.

For the more Sophisticated, there’s Playa Hermosa simply to the south. This world-class browsing Seashore is recognized for owning probably the most reliable waves during the place. It’s not uncommon to see browsing professionals training or perhaps competing in one of many numerous tournaments held at Hermosa.


Carara Nationwide Park
You would not assume it so near to a highly formulated town like Jaco, but just north and stretching into your mountains is an enormous expanse of pristine rainforest. Carara National Park has a small community of trails that guide through Principal and secondary forest. They also have a loop that is certainly handicap available.

Alongside any of the trails, it is possible to see wildlife like monkeys, leaf-cutter ants, and plenty of birds. In reality, Carara is looked upon as probably the greatest birding places in Costa Rica with more than 400 diverse species identified.

We get the job done with an organization with great naturalist guides that can help you see several of Carara’s several great birds and animals. Guided tours are all around $eighty five for each person for four hours and contain lunch. Call us as a result of our Tour Booking Services webpage or at bookings(at)twoweeksincostarica(dot)com To find out more or to guide a tour.

Carara Nationwide Park | Two Months in Costa Rica
Thick rainforest at Carara National Park

Tarcoles River Boat Crocodile Tour
With your approach to Jaco, you are going to go a bridge with crowds of people leaning around and searching down. Basking alongside the banking institutions from the Tarcoles River below, you’ll find massive crocodiles. Whilst the bridge is a decent place to look at the crocs, better yet is getting a ship tour up the river. We actually enjoyed this tour since not only do you have extremely near to the crocs, but you can find incredible sights and you get to find out a great deal of birds and other wildlife way too.


Go through more details on our vacation along the Tarcoles River and how to book a tour right here.

Neo Fauna Costa Rica
Just outdoors downtown Jaco is often a wildlife center that is definitely truly worth a go to, particularly if you might have Young ones. Neo Fauna normally takes in animals that were hurt or held as pets and really helps to rehabilitate them. Over a tour ($twenty five pp), a guide will get you within the rustic facility to demonstrate different creatures These are now caring for.

On our go to, we noticed quite a few snakes, turtles, some amazing tree frogs, a feisty toddler racoon, a monkey who was kicked out of his troop, and many butterflies inside the butterfly enclosure. Our guide, David, was really educated and taught us a great deal about what we ended up viewing. The tour is interactive and there’s even the opportunity to maintain some of the animals.

Jaco Place Guide - NeoFauna Wildlife Center
A Red-eyed Tree Frog posing for us at Neo Fauna

Aerial Tram Ride
Just a brief generate in the direction of the mountains outdoors Jaco is usually a facility that provides a tram ride through the rainforest. The open up-air gondola takes you higher over the treetops to appreciate some fantastic jungle views. On the way down, you'll be able to see the Pacific Ocean in the space. Rainforest Adventures also has a huge butterfly back garden filled with quite a few sorts of butterflies that live in the tropics.

We really endorse this exercise for people with young youngsters, seniors, those with constrained mobility, and anyone who’s serious about a soothing rainforest tour.


For more information also to ebook a tram tour, read our article A Rainforest Tram Trip in Jaco.

Rainforest Tram click here Jaco
An aerial tram trip through the rainforest in the vicinity of Jaco

Jaco Farmers Current market
When you’re being in city for quite a while, you may want to consider hitting up the weekly farmers market place. In this article, you can get the freshest fruits and vegetables in addition to artisanal breads, cheeses, and various goodies.

The farmers market place, or feria mainly because it is known as locally, is held each Thursday afternoon and Friday morning from the south conclusion of the most crucial way, Avenue Pastor Diaz. Should you’re coming from the middle of city, transform right within the Palacio Municipal, then consider One more appropriate close to the Article Business.

Jaco Farmers Sector | Two Weeks in Costa Rica