The closest beach town to San José and the Central Pacific's busiest hub for surf, nightlife, and tours, paired with the quieter Herradura bay just to the north. Herradura is home to the Los Sueños resort and marina, a major sportfishing and yachting base on this coast.
Jacó is the closest real beach town to San José, about 90 minutes by car, which makes it the default first stop for a lot of Costa Rica trips. The long gray-sand beach has steady, forgiving surf that built its reputation as a place to learn, and the strip behind it is packed with restaurants, bars, and tour operators. Just north, Herradura's calm horseshoe bay holds Los Sueños Resort and Marina, the Central Pacific's main sportfishing and yacht base. Carara National Park, 20 minutes north, is one of the best places in the country to see wild scarlet macaws.
Jacó works as a base because so much sits within a short drive. Carara National Park and the Tárcoles River crocodile bridge are 20 to 30 minutes north, Manuel Antonio is about 90 minutes south, and the waterfalls and ATV trails of the Vista Los Sueños hills are right above town. You can fish or golf out of Los Sueños in Herradura, surf the more advanced break at Playa Hermosa 10 minutes south, and still be back for dinner. San José and the airport are close enough for an easy first or last night.
From San José it is about 90 minutes by car or shuttle down Route 27 and the coastal highway, and the nearest international airport is Juan Santamaría (SJO). Public buses run from San José's Terminal 7-10, and shared and private shuttles connect Jacó to Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and La Fortuna. Central Jacó is walkable along Avenida Pastor Díaz, while taxis, golf carts, and ATVs cover the longer stretches to Herradura and Playa Hermosa.
The dry season runs roughly December through April, with reliable sun and the busiest, priciest weeks around Christmas, New Year, and Easter. The green season from May to November brings afternoon rain, lower prices, and bigger, more consistent surf, with September and October the wettest. Mornings stay mostly clear even in the rainy months, so plan tours early. Jacó is hot and humid year round.
Town guides with feria days, festivals, and local listings. Full feria calendar.
A map and checklist of every beach along this coast. Beach guide.
Boutique hotels, jungle lodges, hostels, and private villas, verified and current. See all 17.
Jacó
All-inclusive beachfront resort on Pastor Diaz Avenue in downtown Jaco with 125 guest rooms, an infinity-view beach pool, and a splash pad for children. The hotel is independently owned under the Best Western franchise and includes unlimited food and drink packages.
Herradura
Ten-bedroom private estate home in the Vista Tres Bahias neighborhood of Los Sueños Resort, with 10.5 bathrooms, a private pool, and ocean views, sleeping up to 20 guests. The home is managed as a short-term rental by the resort's licensed vacation rental agency.
Jacó
A small oceanfront hotel and condo property in a quiet cove at the southern end of Jacó Beach. It has roughly 10 guest rooms plus condo units across about two acres of beachfront, with a pool and the open-air Las Sandalias restaurant. The location is about a ten-minute walk from downtown Jacó.
Fine dining, beach bars, local sodas, and cafes worth your time. See all 40.
Jacó
Aloha Beach Front Bar & Grill is a family-run beachfront spot at the south end of Jaco serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with dishes like seared tuna, mahi mahi, shrimp and rice bowls. It sits on the sand with a daily happy hour timed to sunset and occasional live music or DJ sets.
Jacó
Amancio's is an Italian-owned restaurant on Jaco's main strip serving wood-oven pizza, handmade pasta, and antipasti. The kitchen prepares pasta dishes tableside, finishing sauces in a hollowed wheel of Parmesan. It is located in Centro Comercial El Jardin and is closed on Wednesdays.
Herradura
Sushi and pan-Asian restaurant in the Los Sueños Marina Village blending Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese dishes. The kitchen builds sushi and sashimi around the marina's fresh daily catch and overlooks the harbor. Open for lunch and dinner.
Park guides, catamarans, sportfishing, ziplines, rafting, and more. See all 34.
Featured
Herradura
Sailing Los Sueños offers fully private catamaran and yacht charters from Los Sueños Marina, serving Jacó, Villa Caletas, and Playa Hermosa. Trips include half day coastal sails, full day tours to Tortuga Island, and sunset cruises with snorkeling, paddle boarding, meals, and drinks. Every charter is exclusive to a single group.
Jacó
Long-running tour operator and travel agency based in the Jacó and Los Sueños area, booking ATV tours, ziplines, white water rafting, wildlife trips, surfing lessons and sport fishing, plus custom multi-day vacation packages across Costa Rica. It is one of the older operators on the central Pacific and handles both single tours and full itineraries.
Herradura
A yoga operator offering sunset classes at the Los Sueños Beach Club in Herradura, open to all levels with mats provided. A relaxed, drop-in option for visitors staying around the marina.
Transport, property management, concierge, chefs, spas, and practical help. See all 55.
Jacó
Internationally accredited Spanish language school with a beachside location in Jaco, offering group lessons starting at 20 hours per week plus private tutoring. The school also has a second campus outside San Jose.
Jacó
Salon and spa operating in Jaco since 2007, offering hair styling, nails, massage, body treatments, and skin care. Founder Giovanni Zuniga's team is well regarded locally for its consistency and cleanliness.
Jacó
Costa Rican car rental company with over 30 years in business and 14 offices nationwide, serving Jaco travelers primarily through its SJO Airport and Quepos offices. Offers transparent pricing with no hidden fees and roadside assistance included in rental agreements.
Yoga studios, spas, and wellness in Jacó.
Jacó
Salon and spa operating in Jaco since 2007, offering hair styling, nails, massage, body treatments, and skin care. Founder Giovanni Zuniga's team is well regarded locally for its consistency and cleanliness.
Herradura
A yoga operator offering sunset classes at the Los Sueños Beach Club in Herradura, open to all levels with mats provided. A relaxed, drop-in option for visitors staying around the marina.
Jacó
In-home and studio massage service in Jacó Beach offering relaxing, sport, couples, and hot stone massage along with manicures and pedicures. It provides same-day mobile bookings to hotels and vacation rentals as well as in-studio sessions.
Jacó
Wellness practice serving Jacó and the southern central Pacific that offers yoga, breathwork, meditation, sound healing and cold water (ice bath) sessions. Sessions can be booked at a location or brought to a villa or group, and online sessions are also available. It works with private groups as well as individuals.
Jacó
Yoga studio in Jacó offering bilingual drop-in classes in several styles, including Ashtanga, along with monthly workshops and visiting guest teachers. The studio runs a regular weekly class schedule and also hosts occasional retreats and cacao ceremonies.
Herradura
The full-service spa at the Los Sueños Marriott, offering massages, facials, and body treatments that draw on local rainforest ingredients. Open to resort guests and outside visitors by appointment.
July 10, 2026 to July 12, 2026 · Playa Hermosa, Jacó
Season-ending grand final of Costa Rica's national surf circuit, the highest-value stop, where the national champions are decided.
Annual, mid-July (sea procession near July 16) · Puntarenas
Costa Rica's signature maritime festival, where decorated fishing boats parade across the Gulf of Nicoya to honor the patron of fishermen, with concerts and food on the waterfront.
More on the Costa Rica events page.
Banks, ATMs, and medical help in Jacó, checked against live sources.
State bank on the main avenue with ATMs; state-bank machines (BNCR, BCR) charge the lowest fees for foreign cards. Phone is the national call center.
State-bank ATM on the main avenue, a low-fee option for foreign cards. Location from mapping data.
Private bank with ATMs in Jacó Walk; accepts the widest range of foreign cards but charges higher fees than the state banks.
Nearest public CCSS hospital for the Garabito zone; where 911 takes serious emergencies. Call 911 first in a life-threatening emergency.
Public CCSS clinic and EBAIS for the Garabito canton; primary care and stabilization, serious cases referred to Puntarenas. Phone from mapping data, re-verify before relying on it.
Private walk-in urgent care serving Jacó, Herradura, and Garabito, with a ground and air ambulance service. WhatsApp +506 8670 6441.
Long-running pharmacy on the main avenue; a doctor is often on site for basic consultations.
In an emergency, dial 911. See the full emergency numbers page.