Travel guide · Central Pacific
Jacó
The closest beach to the airport: surf, sunsets, and a lively little town.
Gonzalo’s picks
What to do in Jacó
A few favorites to get you started. Tell Gonzalo what you love and he’ll suggest more, plus the hotels and restaurants he trusts.
Surf
Surf at Playa Jacó
A long beach with steady waves and plenty of surf schools. A great place for your first lesson.
Nature
Carara National Park
Just north of Jacó, one of the best places in the country to see scarlet macaws. Short, flat trails through the forest.
Sunset
Sunset on the beach
In the evening, everyone heads to the sand to watch the sun go down behind the headland. For darker sand and bigger waves, try Playa Hermosa, a few minutes south.
Calm water
Playa Herradura
A calm, sheltered bay next to the Los Sueños marina. Good for families and for heading out on a fishing trip.
Getting there
Airport → Jacó
A private transfer from SJO airport takes ~1.5 hrs, door to door.
On the wayCrocodile Bridge at Tárcoles
Plan your transfer
Plan your days in Jacó with Gonzalo
Gonzalo drives you there and shares his favorite picks along the way: trusted hotels, tours and activities, and the spots only locals know about.
Photo credits. Activity photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under their licenses.
- View over the long curve of Playa Jacó and the town from a hillside lookout. · Pantar at Italian Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Scarlet macaw (Ara macao) perched in a tree at Carara, Costa Rica. · Dominic Sherony · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pacific sunset over Jacó beach with the headland in the distance. · Passengerpigeon · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Herradura Bay seen from the gardens at Los Sueños, with the forested headland beyond. · Michelle Maria · CC BY 3.0