Jaco, Costa Rica is one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica for relaxation, adventure and excellent food.
It’s only 1.5 hours from the San Jose International Airport so you can stay in Jaco as your home base in Costa Rica or for just a couple days.
Here are our favorite things to do in Jaco.
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Surfing
Surfing has to be on this list as it’s the top thing to do in Jaco.
Since this beach is said to be one of the best for beginners due to the long consistent waves, don’t miss out on taking a surf lesson or joining a surf camp.
A 2 hour surf lesson runs around $50 per person.
The most popular and best spot for beginners is the south end of the beach called Madrigales. For more experienced surfers, head to the middle and more norther section of the beach.
Waterfall Tour
There are many waterfalls near Jaco, Costa Rica. Right outside town lies lush mountains, home to many rivers and waterfalls.
We did a Jaco waterfall tour a few years ago which took us to those waterfalls right outside town.
We got to trek through the pristine rainforest, jump off waterfalls and swim in the pools!
Miro Mountain View Point
Head to Miro Mountain for an amazing viewpoint of Jaco. It’s an abandoned building a little bit outside the south end of Jaco up in the mountains.
It’s a gorgeous view but quite a bit of a steep hike so not recommended for anyone who cannot walk for long periods of time or have trouble walking on non-groomed steep paths.
This is definitely one of the must do things in Jaco!
The entrance to this viewpoint is across from the southern most road off the highway to Jaco.
EXTRA TIP: If you have a car and want to visit another coastal viewpoint, head to Peñon de Guacalillo in your 4wd, about a 1 hour drive from Jaco.
Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park (ziplining, horseback riding, canyoning, ATV, chocolate)
Looking for adventure? Jaco’s got it! And one of the best adventure parks is just ten minutes outside of Jaco: Vista Los Sueños.
They have an awesome ziplining, fun ATV tour, exciting canyoning tour, interesting chocolate presentation and a lovely horseback riding tour.
Want to do everything? Book their mega tri-combo full day adventure tour.
Birdwatching
Since Jaco is right where the tropical rainforest starts, the wildlife and nature greatly increases. You can see much more wildlife in this area than you would up in the North Pacific.
Bird watchers from all over the world come to the Jaco area to seek out some of the most interesting birds in Costa Rica.
Carara National Park has the largest breeding area of Scarlet Macaws, whose population was decimated years ago from deforestation and hunting.
You can book a birdwatching tour to the national park with a local guide to see toucans, birds of prey and Scarlet Macaws.
If you are an avid birdwatcher, consider staying at Macaw Lodge or Villas Lapas as they were designed for birding.
Stand up paddle board
Stand up paddle boarding is a great way to experience the ocean and enjoy the coastal views.
We did a stand up paddle boarding tour from Playa Agujas, a 20 minute drive from Jaco.
We paddled all the way to Playa Mantas and Playa Blanca, a beautiful white sand beach by the Punta Leona resort.
At Playa Mantas, there were huge groups of manta rays everywhere which is amazing!
Visit Playa Blanca/Punta Leona and Herradura Beach
Even though the Central Pacific doesn’t have as many nice beaches as the North, they are still worth visiting.
Playa Blanca is the sole white sand beach in the area and definitely worth climbing through Playa Mantas at low tide.
You can also purchase a day pass at the Punta Leona resort to enjoy the resort and have easy access to Playa Blanca.
We also really like Herradura Beach. It’s a small beach nearby that has calm waves and a marina. Perfect for swimming, stand up paddle boarding or a sunset fishing/snorkeling tour.
Watch the Surfing Competition at Hermosa
Every Saturday, there is a surf competition at Playa Hermosa where the Backyard Hotel is.
Hermosa beach is widely regarded as the best surfing beach in Costa Rica and all the international competitions are held there.
If you’re there on a Saturday, you can watch the locals battle out the waves while sipping a nice cold beer at the Backyard Hotel and Bar.
Tortuga Island Cruise
If you’re looking for a day trip to see a beautiful white sand beach and more nice scenery, take the Tortuga Island cruise.
Cruise through the Gulf of Nicoya to Tortuga Island on this fun one day trip.
There aren’t many white sand beaches or snorkeling spots in the Jaco area so if that’s what you’re looking for, then you have to go to Tortuga Island.
Transportation is included from Jaco and it’s one of the best day trips from Jaco.
You can more about the Tortuga Island one day tour here and get $10 off with our Tortuga Island discount!
Villa Caleta Sunset and Happy Hour
For an amazing happy hour sunset, head to Villa Caletas. The hotel has a grand amphitheater that faces the ocean and is hands down, one of the most incredible places to watch the sunset in Costa Rica.
They have fine dining restaurants and a bar so you can enjoy happy hour cocktails while watching the sunset.
Street Art & Graffiti Walking Tour
Jaco has garnered a reputation as having awesome street art so if that’s something you’re interested in, take a walking tour to see the various street art around town.
Manuel Antonio and Carara National Park
There are two national parks near Jaco: Carara and Manuel Antonio, both excellent for hiking and wildlife watching.
Manuel Antonio National Park is about 1 hour away driving and Carara is about 15 minutes.
Both are beautiful national parks but each one has their own special characteristics.
Carara National Park is best for bird watching and hiking and they also have a universal access trail. It is not as crowded or touristy as Manuel Antonio National Park.
Manuel Antonio National Park has several gorgeous beaches, hiking trails and is way more touristy and crowded. But it’s one of the best places to see sloths in Costa Rica.
You can take the bus from Jaco to Manuel Antonio or book tours to both parks. A tour is highly recommended for Carara since there is no direct bus and the wildlife is harder to see there.
You can also take a Manuel Antonio National park day tour from Jaco that includes roundtrip transportation and bilingual guide (contact us for bookings and discounts).
Deep Sea Fishing
Head over to Herradura beach to hop on your fishing charter to go deep sea or inshore fishing. Herradura is home to Los Suenos Marina, a luxury resort and marina in Costa Rica.
Fishermen can fulfill their dream of catching a marlin, roosterfish, sailfish or tuna. Herradura is one of the best places to go fishing in Costa Rica.
Herradura’s close proximity to Jaco is one of the reasons why Jaco became so popular among bachelor parties. World class fishing!
Nauyaca Waterfalls
Head down to the Dominical area and hike to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica, the Nauyaca Waterfalls.
These impressive waterfalls require a 4 kilometer (2.5 mile) hike in the jungle but it is worth every step to see with your own eyes!
The waterfalls are on a private property so you can pay the entrance fee to hike, ride their 4×4 tractor or take the horseback riding tour.
It’s about a 1 hour and 40 minute drive to the Nauyaca Waterfalls office from Jaco. If you don’t have your own rental car, you can book a full day waterfall tour that goes to Nauyaca among others.
Things to Do in Jaco at Night
Gamble
Jaco is a party town and you can hit up Croc’s Casino Hotel for a fun “Las Vegas” style night. It’s actually a really nice casino with blackjack, roulette, tournaments and slots.
Hit Up the Bars
Likewise, you can have a very fun night out or two in Jaco hitting up various bars and clubs.
You can dance the night away at Orange Club. Puddlefish Brewery and the Beer House are two great places for craft beer, games and food.
Eat
Jaco has some of the best restaurants in Costa Rica.
Check out Graffiti, Koko Gastro Pub, Arigato’s, Tsunami Sushi, Soda Rustico, Pachi’s Pan, Tacobar, Amancio’s, Lemon Zest, Ridiculous Burgers or Green Room.
Jaco Walk
We love Jaco Walk, the open air shopping center with restaurants and stores.
Sometimes they’ll be live music there which is really nice and a lot of Costa Rican families like to go there with their kids.
We had dinner one night at PuddleFish and there was live music which was very relaxing.
Playa Jaco Hotels Recommendations
Birds of Paradise: Cute boutique hotel with a pool in town
Costa Linda Condos: Condo tower with private pool, parking and comfortable apartments
La Paloma Blanca: Apartments near the beach with two or three bedrooms
Considering moving to Jaco? Check out what I thought about living in Jaco as a foreigner.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Shana says
Hi, we are going to CR in April. Arriving Monday and trying to plan Tues-Thurs with 4 kids (13, 12, 8, 7). We need to be in Jaco for Fri-Sat. Any suggestions? We are considering Jaco as the home base and day trips to Manuel Antonio or Carara but open to other options. Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Shana, this post actually has our recommendations for things to do in Jaco, likewise, our Jaco Costa Rica is here
Tom says
Hi,
Your website is really helpful and informative. Thank you.
I’m planning a 10 day trip in February and am finding it difficult to fit everything in. Arriving at San Jose we were going to take make an early morning trip to La Fortuna for 2 nights before moving on to Monteverde for 2 more. This is were it gets tricky.
I’m trying to figure out the best use of time for the remaining 4/5 days and how much time we should spend in Jaco vs Manuel Antonio as our preferred destinations. Do you have nay recommendations on how to split our time and any activities to suit a couple (28 & 30) that may not have been done already at previous stops?
Assuming it would also be fine to travel back to SJO airport from Jaco to get a late evening / early morning flight.
Best,
Tom
Sammi says
You could stay in Jaco and do a day trip to Manuel Antonio or spend 2 nights in Jaco, 2 nights in Manuel Antonio. But I will say that Manuel ANtonio is way prettier than Jaco (but more expensive) in case you would prefer to spend the rest of your trip in an area with white sand beaches. Manuel Antonio is about a 3 hour drive to SJO compared to 1.5 from Jaco so you can use those factors to help make your decision.
BARB BULGER says
Thank you so much for all of this information. We are traveling to Jaco over Christmas & staying in an Airbnb. I would love to book the Sky Walk tour. One of my favorite things is birding! Also, what is the best swimming beach for kids?
Thanks,
Barb
Sammi says
Playa Herradura is a nice swimming beach nearby
Sammi says
There is a really cool one in Turrialba called Guayabo National Monument, definitely worth the trip there.
Brian says
Hi, I’m planning a trip the last week of August and plan on staying in Jaco. Are there any historical sites or ancient (pre-Spanish) sites to tour in CR?
Mara says
Hello! I am planning a 10 day trip in May and will based out of Jaco. We’d love to do the Pacure rafting trip so was thinking we do that at the start of the trip since we’ll all be flying into San Jose (group has different departure dates). Do you have any suggestions of places to stay near the drop-in point for rafting? We’d be arriving on May 15th and would like to raft on the 16th and then stay another night before heading to Jaco on the 17th. Thanks for all the helpful info!
Sammi says
Hi Mara, doing the Pacuare trip from San Jose is the best idea because the operation center in Siquirres is in a more remote and rural area that doesn’t really have anything around (I don’t recommend to stay in the area it’s not very exciting) and it is difficult to get to without a car.
Carmen says
Thank you. Very helpful!! If we stay at an airbnb/VRBO near town, will it be easy to get around or should we rent cars? Group of 8-9.
yeison says
Hello Carmen,
If you are staying at a walkable distance to downtown (and you like to walk) I don’t see the need to rent a car for those days that you are planning to stay in town, however if you are planning on going to other areas like the Manuel Antonio National Park or other towns I would consider getting a car or a shuttle for those days.
Also, if any member of your group doesn’t walk very well or there is someone that might need to get transportation for small distances you might get a golf car or a small sedan, for the days in town.
Thank you for reading our blog and have a nice day.
Andrea D says
I could use some help. I’m travelling to Jaco with a multigenerational group of 5 in December, 2019. Ages 14-83. The elder is on portable oxygen. He walks unassisted, but not long distances. He would love to watch the younger ones enjoying, e.g., waterfalls, but won’t be able to hike to get there. Are there any tours that get “up close” using ATVs or golf carts, etc. that don’t have the warnings or long walks that will keep him out?
Sammi says
Hi Andrea, I am honestly not sure. There are some adventure parks like Rainforest Adventure, Los Suenos and The Park and you could contact them to see what options they offer since it’s a very specific question that I don’t know the exact answer to.
Bonnie says
Hello Sammi,
Thank you for all the information and advice, reading your blog will help me plan for my birthday trip in Dec. 2019.
I am curious to know if we need to have any vaccinations prior to visiting Costa Rica (ex: for malaria, etc…)??? Also, not including the hotels gifts shops, but is there a marketplace to do some shopping for like souvenirs, pottery, and art.
T.I.A
Sammi says
Hi Bonnie, there aren’t any mandatory unless you are coming from South America then you need yellow fever. It is recommended to check with your country’s travel page (like the USA CDC site for Costa Rica) to see what they recommend.
There is a San Jose central market, the artisan market in San Jose or Sarchi is a nice place for souvenirs.
Adam says
Thanks for the tips on places to check out!
I will be making a trip to Jaco/Manuel Antonio/SJ at the end of June and am wondering if renting a scooter/motorbike is an option if I want to make it to some of these waterfalls and 30-60 min drives out of town? I used to drive a scooter in Vietnam, so I have faith in my ability, I am just curious about the road conditions and parking at some of these locations – the waterfalls, in particular. Any first hand advice on the subject would be greatly appreciated!!
Cheers!
Sammi says
You can make it to Nauyaca waterfalls, that’s about a 45 minute drive or so. The waterfalls outside of Jaco (the one we did on a tour), I don’t recommend to go with a motorcycle because the road down is SUPER steep and even Yeison’s uncle with a 4wd couldn’t make it all the way because it was so slippery and end of June is our rainy season and that area does rain a good amount. Definitely don’t recommend going to those waterfalls on a scooter or motorbike!
Walker says
Hello Sammi and Yeison.
Great blog as I was able to educate myself on all things prior to my first visit to your country. It seems that the Adobe small car rental (as suggested by your site) from San Jose to drive to Jaco with visits to sites in the Jaco area and nearby beaches will be fine. Or will it? Would also like to get in a waterfall or two, rainforest visit and maybe the zoo. Let me know if you can. Thanks again for the information and guidance.
Sammi says
Hi Walker! Yes a sedan is perfect for San Jose and Jaco. The main road goes through the highway actually so everything is all paved and easy to drive. You don’t really need a high car unless you’re going down to the Dominical/Uvita area but you can use a regular car to go to nearby beaches like Playa Hermosa, Playa Blanca, Esterillos, etc. But if you do plan to go down to Dominical/Uvita, we recommend getting a 4×4 because a lot of the waterfalls and beaches require that.
Bryant says
My wife and I will be heading to Playa Bejuco in two weeks. We will be there for a week and then spending a week in Arenal. Really looking forward to spending time in Costa Rica relaxing and exploring. Thank you for all the inside information on where to go and what to see.
Sammi says
Hi Byrant, thanks for reading our blog and we hope you enjoy Costa Rica! Bejuco is such a nice quiet beach!
Sue Longstreet says
Thank you so much for the information you have shared with my boyfriend and myself. We are so looking forward to our trip. We will be doing some of the tours you have suggested waterfalls, forest excursions as well as exploring the area we will post comments on our trip when we return. Thanks again
Sammi says
Have a great time Sue and thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy Costa Rica
stephanie says
Thanks for sharing these tips. I have not been to Costa Rice 😉 but it is on my list.
Looks like a gret country for adventurers.
x
Sammi says
Hi Stephanie, hope you get to one day 🙂
Anastacia says
Mmm, very good to know! I’m planning a surf trip to Jaco, that’s great that will have to do smth.else while having rest from surf. Special thanks for the links of places to stay;)
Sammi says
Oh good! There is tons of fun things to do in and around Jaco. Surfing is great but there’s a lot more to enjoy. Have a great time in Jaco
Miriam says
We almost made it to Jaco, when we were in Costa Rica. Still can’t believe how many national parks and beautiful nature areas this country has. No wonder you decided to live there 🙂
Sammi says
Jaco is an interesting beach town, it’s worth checking out and there’s so many things to do there. 25% of Costa Rica is made up of protected land, isn’t that great? It’s a perk to living here for sure 🙂
Sammi says
Awesome! I hope she has a great time 🙂
Lily La says
I’ve seen lots of your bird pictures recently on Facebook and I’m loving them! They’re all just so colourful!
Sammi says
Thank you Lily! They sure are 🙂