Between May to October, as the rain gathers force, the flow of tourists dries to a trickle, relieving the congestion in its famous hotspots. Be sure to kick your night off with a few Chili Guaros. On the brighter side, Jaco is a perfect place to buy some custom-made products that you can take back home as souvenirs for your relatives, friends, or yourself. More people came to sit in the sand around sunset. Canyoning, ATV tour, ziplining, Jaco has it all. If you have a rental car, you can drive from Jaco to the national park in approximately one hour an half depending on the traffic. Each unit has a full kitchen and living area, making it a good option for families. Recently traveled to Jaco beach with friends and had a great time. For adventure tours, consider taking a waterproof camera with you. POPS is an ice-cream shop near the center of the strip. Both Quepos and Puntarenas are roughly about an hour's drive from Jaco. If you are traveling to Costa Rica anytime soon, I highly recommend using Pikotravel to assist you in planning your tours! instead. Jaco Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos). Across from Economy Rent a Car. Glad we did. Jaco is a bustling beach town on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Located on the northern end of town, across the street from Best Brands shoes. Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour. There are plenty of small stores and galleries selling locally made souvenirs ranging from canvases, indigenous masks, Costa Rican coffee, chocolate, jewelry, folk art to wood carvings from local artists and artisans. 15 BEST Things to do in Jaco, Costa Rica - Destinationless Travel Its location, only 1.5 hours from San Jose airport, makes it a favorite with everyone from first-timers to Costa Rica to locals wanting to escape the city for a beachside break. Trying local cuisine is one of the best parts of traveling, and you can find some affordable 'sodas' on the main strip. Is Jaco Costa Rica worth visiting? Visit Jaco Costa Rica. The main beach in town isnt one of Costa Ricas most beautiful, but its convenient location makes up for it. The Jaco area has over 100 different restaurants serving everything from typical Costa Rican fare and bar basics, to gourmet cuts of beef and other gastronomic delicacies. Official language is Spanish and many indigenous languages are spoken. Explore different ways to experience this place. Some travelers arrive there with unrealistic expectations and often leave disappointed. And here is our final tip, it's still a town beach at the end of the day, and you can indeed find better places in Costa Rica, but they are not located in the town. And that is . SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads. Rooms have ocean, pool, or jungle views, and the property is spread out so be sure to inquire when booking. No, this area is not super hot and humid, I live here and never seen it over 90 degrees at any time of year and the humidity is average, I relocated from the Gulf of Mexico (Mississippi/Louisiana) where 95-107 degrees is common in July and August with humidity so high you can't breath. Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more. If you really want to see them up-close, take this guided Crocodile and Bird Watching Tour What did you think? Chalkboard dinner specials include lots of choices for surf and turf, and the standard menu has burgers and lighter options like tapas, fish tacos, and a poke bowl. The main drawback was the cost. Jaco is one of those towns where you should be prepared to spend some money on food, drinks, or tours to get the most of the town's perks; otherwise, this place might not be exactly for you as you can find it a bit obnoxious. $6-8 for most plates, includes a drink. is made fresh, from scratch and a lot of love. . When you pay in cash the change will be given in the local currency. The hike is relatively short (it's less than one kilometer long, and it takes about 20 minutes to get there), and the climb is not strenuous, but you should bring some water to stay hydrated. Thoughts of anyone who's been there in August.. Report inappropriate content 1-10 of 11 replies Sorted by 1 2 xelas Ljubljana, Slovenia This is one of those resorts that offer all services you will ever need. And one of Jacos biggest draws is the almost endless array of activities, trips, and tours on offer to explore it. Surf shops are scattered all around town so it is easy and affordable to rent a board or take a lesson. If you are wondering whether Jaco is safe for families with kids, then we would say yes, if you use your common sense and follow the typical tourist routine. We use this as a point of reference because like most towns in Costa Rica, Jacodoesnt use standard addresses. Lunch, Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman, Shore Excursion Zipline Tour and other Attractions from the countryside, Safari One Day Tour with Butterflies Monkeys Crocodiles Birds, Beach Day Tour in Pacific Ocean. Call ahead for reservations. 11 years ago Save August is the only time I have to go on Vacation, ,.not sure if it's the best month to travel to Costa Rica .is this the rainy season??? Costa Rica is a beautiful country full of rich culture and stunning scenery. We were actually quite surprised as we enjoyed our time there more than we had expected, which is always a good sign. For more information, read our post A Rainforest Tram Ride in Jaco. Surf Costa Rica is known for its surf and yoga schools, and Uvita is no exception. Visit Manuel Antonio National Park. Ave. Pastor Diaz, a few doors south of POPS. Jaco is a top surfing destination, and although you can get almost everything from the local rentals, consider bringing a rash guard, water shoes, and swimwear. There are lots of pebbles on the beach during the low tide, so you might want to wear at least water shoes to cover longer distances. The main drive for its popularity is its location near San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. If you are looking for the best club in Jaco, then know that every night is different, and some places can be great one day, but not so much the next one. For more information about visiting, read our post, Tortuga Island Catamaran: Beach & Snorkel Tour from Jaco. All Ya'll come on down and see for yourself, leaving the States 6 years ago and moving to the Pacific in Costa Rica was the smartest thing I ever did :), First Visit to CR, Stayed in this Condo 7th floor, Amazing Views. At lower tides, you can keep walking south, crossing some rocks and a point to access the beautiful white sands of Playa Blanca. The property has an outdoor pool and spa. Had a good time in Jaco with friends for a relaxing, adventurous and party filled weekend. All rights reserved. We didn't visit any other beaches in Costa Rica, so it's hard to compare how this ranks with those, bit we had a great time here. Do as the locals do and take a blanket and few beers with you to make a night of it. Definitely worth a visit. Away from the beaches, head to Carara National Park to hike through the tropical fauna and spot armadillos, howler monkeys, poison dart frogs, and over 400 species of birds. I had a PHENOMENAL time in Jaco - Review of Jaco, Costa Rica - Tripadvisor Piko held true to the excellent service they provide with this tour! You can always go there as a last resort, or if you are curious what fast-food chains look like outside your country. My family and I have visited Costa Rica on several occasions. When visiting the local beaches, lock your rental car and never left any valuables inside. Here the sand is dark, having an almost dirty look to it. Were Matt & Jenn, a couple who left Boston to pursue a dream of traveling, living, and starting a family in Costa Rica. Tripadvisor. After you fly into the capital city of San Jose, this town is only a convenient 1.5 drive away. Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld. In the dry season, you can expect endless days of sunshine with temperatures of up to 34C (93F). Ave. Pastor Diaz, across the street from POPS. The principal two hotspots in Jaco are the beach and the main tourist strip (Pastor Diaz Avenue). Jaco Beach - Travelers' Guide to Costa Rice - TripSavvy We also did an ATV tour in Puntarenas province to Bijagual waterfall rainforest and river with ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica. What would you recommend? Not true at all, our beaches here are smooth sand all along the beach area but the north beach does collect some egg sized pebbles at the high tide line (maybe 5 feet of pebbles) then sand to the waves at low tide and there is 100 feet or more of solid sand with no rocks to be seen! To get there, head north along the Costanera highway, then take a left onto the road shortly before the Punta Leona Resort. Watching the sun come up over the beautiful green end of this pristine beach is priceless. If you are looking for a family-friendly activity to do in Jaco, you should definitely go to this beach and spend some time there. Youll find plenty of surf schools and rental shops to help you get kitted out and onto the water. So this all leads to an inevitable question of whether you should pay in U.S. dollars or colones. Jaco. I was a little bit leary at first because I heard some stories that spooked me, but it is SO worth visiting Jaco. If you have a rental car and don't want to base yourself in Jaco for a few days, you might want to visit either Manuel Antonio National Park or Carara National Park on the way in or out. Seafood is the house specialty. . For a more robust list of options, check out our. This world-class surfing beach is known for having the most consistent waves in the country. It can be wonderful traveling during the rains, they are the reason that Costa Rica is so lush and green, they replenish the rivers and waterfalls and bring out much of the wildlife. It took two of them to do so. 26 Fun Things to Do in Jaco Costa Rica for All Interests Named after Christopher Columbus, Costa Rica's official currency is the colon. Theyre still much cheaper than staying in a hotel or resort. Being said that, if you need to cover a longer distance after dark, you might consider taking one. So it's better not to bring any valuables in the first place. Embrace a life without borders! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Walk towards the southern end of Jaco beach, and then turn left onto Calle Madrigal until you reach a gas station. For the more advanced, theres Playa Hermosa just to the south. Map Spread out on 1,100 acres, Los Suenos is one of the only all-inclusive resorts on this stretch of Costa Ricas Pacific coast. On the way down, you can see the Pacific Ocean in the distance. And of course, no trip to Jaco would be complete without at least one surf lesson! It's probably not the most welcoming destination in the world, and you will find far better places for families in Costa Rica, but it's perfectly fine to visit it. They know the rainforest by heart, and you will learn a lot about the Costa Rican fauna and flora. Is Jaco Worth Visiting In 2023? Costa Rica's Booming Party Town It's not that far from San Jose, so you also get a lot of local tourists coming down from the city for the weekend. There are plenty of taxis in Jaco; the red ones are official and safe. Located on the southern end of town, about a block from Mas X Menos grocery store. Gets very hot in March. Best Things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica - Drink Tea & Travel This hip spot has live music every night; check out their Facebook page for details. But honestly, if youre in Jaco after dark, youre never very far from the party. The beach is a long gray arc that has a backdrop of palm trees, surfside hotels, souvenir and boutique shops, a huge selection of restaurants and bars, and the occasional mid-to-high-rise condo complex. We used a Visa and we were never turned away. Frolicking in waves is loads of fun, however it tires the body. The most developed beach town in Costa Rica, Jaco is packed with all the conveniences you might need but is still small enough to explore on foot. The Top 9 Reasons To Visit Uvita, Costa Rica | TravelPulse