Considered as one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, Jaco Beach is located in the Central Pacific coast, approximately an hour away from the Juan Santamaria International Airport. Jaco's close proximity to the airport and the central valley (where the capital city is located and most of the population lives) has made it a popular beach destination for Costa Rican and international tourists. Jaco is an ideal location for travelers that want to live and explore up and down the Pacific coast and discover the natural beauty of this exciting tropical destination.
Being one of the most developed and most happening beach towns in Costa Rica, staying in the area of Jaco allows visitors to choose from a wide variety of services. From its central location, diverse activities and proximity to most all of the country´s main attractions up to the town’s wide variety of restaurants, boutique shops, banks, grocery stores, day spas cafes and a nearby full service marina, Jaco Beach has something for everyone.
A Few Highlights
Los Sueños Marina
Los Sueños Marina is located in the area, being the only government sanctioned marina in Costa Rica. With 200 wet slips accommodating vessels of up to 180 feet in length, and 100 dry slips for vessels of up to 35 feet in length, fuel dock, and full-time staff, the Los Sueños Marina is the ultimate full service port, thus being the most important site for sport fishing charters on the mid-pacific coast of Costa Rica. Marina Los Sueños is home to important yearly international tournaments such as Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series and the Los Sueños Marlin Invitational.
Surfing
Considered one of Costa Rica’s most visited surfing areas, the town of Jacó hosts a wide range of surf shops and ding repair facilities. The beach itself is a fun beach break, and it is home to some of Costa Rica´s best surfers. Jacó Beach tends to close out on larger swells but its central location and wide range of amenities make it a good base for surf adventures to nearby surf spots. Roca Loca (Crazy Rock) with its tricky wave breaks right over submerged, shallow rocks is best during large swells; or Hermosa Beach offering the most consistent beach break in the area, where deep waters off the coast and exposure to different swells have built up a variety of sand bars. In 2009 Costa Rica was chosen to host and organize the World Surf Open, the world’s premier event in this discipline. Jaco Bay Condo served as the official sponsor of the event.
Carara National Park
The Carara Biological Reserve, with its 4700 hectares of transitional forest, is home to an amazing display of flora and fauna in Costa Rica. The refuge protects a combination of dry and wet climatic zones and their representative species. The endangered scarlet macaw is one of Carara´s most valued residents. More than 50 pairs are bred in the reserve and can be seen migrating between the tropical wet forest and the mangrove as the sun sets and rises.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the forest on clearly marked trails and spot capuchin, spider and howler monkeys, coatis, ocelots, poison dart frogs, peccaries and great anteaters. Bird watching is great in the park and its surrounding areas where toucans, kingfishers, parrots, fiery billed aracari and scarlet macaws can easily be spotted. The nearby mangrove and wetland systems also provide a home to more than 400 species of birds, considered the largest collection of avian wildlife in Costa Rica and Central America.
