Tours and things to do in Jacó & Herradura

Featured

Catamaran & Sailing $$$$

Sailing Los Sueños

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.

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Tour Agency $$

Adventure Tours Costa Rica

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.

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Yoga & Retreats $$

Aurora Yoga

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.

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ATV & UTV $$

AXR An Xtreme Rider

Jacó

Jacó-based off-road tour operator and rental company running guided ATV, side-by-side buggy, and dirt bike tours into the jungle and to waterfalls. The fleet also includes scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles for rent. Bilingual guides lead the tours from a shop on the main avenue in town.

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Sportfishing $$$$

Blue Marlin Sportfishing

Herradura

Blue Marlin Sportfishing books a range of charter boats out of Los Sueños Marina, from mid-size sportfishers to offshore vessels over 40 feet. Charters target blue marlin, sailfish, dorado, and roosterfish on both offshore and inshore trips. Boats come with bilingual crews and tournament-grade tackle.

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Sportfishing $$$

Bob Marlin Sport Fishing

Herradura

Owner-run sportfishing charter operating from Playa Herradura near Los Sueños Marina, about 4 km north of Jacó. Trips run on a 35-foot express boat with air conditioning, a private bathroom and a full galley, seating up to 6 anglers. They target offshore species like marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi and tuna, plus inshore roosterfish and snapper.

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Sportfishing $$$$

Captain Tom's Big Game Sportfishing

Herradura

Captain Tom Carton runs big game charters from Los Sueños Marina aboard My Girls, a 43 foot custom convertible, and a second boat, DreamWork. Offshore trips target marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, and tuna, with inshore options for roosterfish. The operation has run charters in the Herradura and Jacó area for more than 33 years.

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Zipline & Canopy $$

Chiclet Tree Zipline

Jacó

Canopy zipline tour in Playa Hermosa just south of Jacó, running roughly 2 hours across cables and platforms built high in large chicle trees, with one line about 300 meters long and ocean views. The tour starts with a hanging bridge and is guided in English and Spanish, with a minimum age of 5. The company has operated since 1999 and meets guests at Cafe Bohio before shuttling up the mountain.

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Catamaran & Sailing $$$

Costa Cat Cruises

Herradura

Costa Cat Cruises runs catamarans out of the commercial dock at Los Sueños Resort and Marina, led by Captain Jim Kitchell, who has worked the marina since 2001. Tours include full and half day trips to Tortuga Island plus snorkel and sunset cruises. Vessels are built to U.S. Coast Guard safety specifications and fully insured.

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Canyoning $$$

Costa Rica Waterfall Tours

Jacó

A Jacó-based adventure operator known for canyoning and rappelling down jungle waterfalls in the coastal mountains, with live online booking through FareHarbor. It also runs ATV, mangrove, and combination adventure tours around the Central Pacific.

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Mangrove Tour $$

Crocodile Man Tour

Jacó

Boat operator on the Tárcoles River running a 1 hour 45 minute wildlife trip past American crocodiles, roseate spoonbills, herons and other water birds. Tours depart on a set daily schedule from the company's riverside office near the Tárcoles crocodile bridge, about 20 minutes from Jacó. The same office also books Carara National Park, birdwatching, ATV, horseback and sport fishing outings.

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Surf School $$

Jaco Beach Surf School

Jacó

Surf school teaching two-hour lessons on Jacó Beach for all levels. It also runs five-day surf camp packages that start Monday morning and end Friday afternoon, with overnight options that bundle accommodation, equipment and lessons. Group and private instruction are both available.

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Horseback Riding $$

Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours

Jacó

Local horseback riding operator running roughly 2 hour rides from open range into beach and jungle trails around Jacó, with an English-speaking guide. Rides suit all levels and often pass sloths, monkeys and other wildlife before reaching the beach. The tour is run by a small owner-operated outfit.

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Jet Ski $$$

Jaco Jet Ski

Jacó

Jet ski rental and guided tour operator on Jacó Beach running a fleet of Yamaha, Sea-Doo and Kawasaki skis. Rentals are available by the hour, half-day or full day, with safety briefing, life jacket and fuel included. Guided tours cruise the coastline to nearby beaches.

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Whitewater Rafting $$

Jaco Rafting

Jacó

White water rafting operator running trips on the Naranjo River, including a Class III-IV run and the more demanding Chorro (El Chorro) Class IV-V section, plus a Savegre River rafting and waterfalls day trip and calmer family float options. Hotel pickup is offered from Jacó, Los Sueños, Herradura and nearby beaches. The company also runs mangrove monkey boat and kayak tours.

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Tour Agency $$

Jaco Tour Desk

Jacó

Booking desk and tour agency in downtown Jacó that packages the area's main activities: ATV and waterfall tours, ziplines, Tárcoles crocodile and mangrove boat trips, rafting, Tortuga Island trips, paragliding and surf lessons. It also arranges private airport transfers, vacation rentals and concierge services and builds custom multi-day packages.

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Mangrove Tour $$

Jose's Crocodile River Tour

Jacó

Family-run river boat tour on the Tárcoles River near the crocodile bridge, running roughly 2 hour trips to see American crocodiles along with herons, kingfishers, ibis and other water birds. The operation is based in Tárcoles, about 20 to 30 minutes north of Jacó, with its own dock and secured parking. Naturalist guides narrate the wildlife along the mangrove-lined banks.

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Kayaking & SUP $$

Kayak Jaco

Jacó

Sea kayaking and snorkeling operator running half day tours from Playa Agujas on the Central Pacific coast since 1998. Trips include ocean kayaking, outrigger canoeing, and snorkeling, plus private sailing charters. The company is built around small-group coastal tours.

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Sportfishing $$$$

Maverick Sportfishing Costa Rica

Herradura

Maverick runs a fleet of custom cold-molded sportfishers based at Los Sueños Marina, ranging from 36 to 50 feet, including the well-known Fly Boats such as Spanish Fly and Super Fly. Captains and bilingual crews target sailfish, marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna, and roosterfish on offshore and inshore charters. The company also builds its own custom sportfishing yachts.

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Yoga & Retreats $$

Niyama Wellbeing

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.

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Zipline & Canopy $$$

Ocean Ranch Park

Jacó

Private adventure park of about 850 acres in a river valley beside Jacó, offering combined tours of ziplining, waterfall rappelling, ATV rides and horseback riding through primary rainforest. Half-day, full-day and nighttime tours are available, some ending with a bonfire and dinner. Guides point out monkeys, birds and other wildlife along the trails.

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Yoga & Retreats $$

Padma Yoga Center

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.

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Zipline & Canopy $$$

Rainforest Adventures Jaco Beach

Jacó

Adventure park near Jacó combining an aerial tram (cable car) ride through the forest canopy with a zipline circuit of about 9 cables, a high ropes course, a descent wall, a butterfly garden and a short guided hike. Half-day and full-day passes are available, with optional naturalist guide, cafeteria, restaurant and transportation. The park is part of the Rainforest Adventures group.

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Turtle Watching $$

Save Turtles in Playa Hermosa (First Hand Costa Rica)

Jacó

A community-based sea turtle conservation camp at Playa Hermosa, inside the Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala wildlife refuge south of Jaco, run by the organization First Hand Costa Rica since 2006. Participants patrol the beach at night for nesting olive ridley and other turtles, relocate eggs to a hatchery, and help release hatchlings, alongside beach and hatchery maintenance work. The program runs July through December during nesting and hatching season.

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Surf School $$$

School of the World

Jacó

A long-running surf camp and Spanish immersion school in Playa Jacó that also offers yoga, photography, and video courses with on-site lodging. Programs combine surf lessons with language classes and other electives for multi-day stays.

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Catamaran & Sailing $$$

Sealounge Catamaran

Herradura

Sealounge Catamaran departs from the Herradura area for sunset and daytime cruises up the Gulf of Nicoya. Trips reach the secluded Playa Fantasia and include a chef-prepared meal, open bar, snorkeling, and water activities. Shared and private charters are available.

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Surf School $$

Sunrise Surf School

Jacó

Jacó surf school offering lessons for beginners through advanced surfers, including private, kids and group formats, plus surfboard rentals. Instruction covers technique and ocean safety. It is located near Hotel South Beach Jaco.

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Surf School $$

Surf Jaco Surf School

Jacó

Jacó surf school offering private, semi-private and group lessons plus 3, 5 and 7-day courses. Add-on services include board rentals, surf photography sessions, yoga and ATV tours. Group lessons start around 59 dollars and private lessons around 89 dollars.

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Surf School $$

Surfer Factory Surf School

Jacó

Beachfront surf school in Jacó offering lessons for all levels, board and stand-up paddleboard rentals, and all-inclusive surf camps. The shop also sells boards and arranges surf tours along the Central Pacific coast.

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Cooking Class $$

Taste of Costa Rica Traditional Food Tour

Jacó

Guided tasting experience in Jacó that walks small groups through traditional Costa Rican dishes and drinks, including a chiliguaro shot and local beer or non-alcoholic options, with all food tastings and fees included. A guide explains the ingredients and preparation behind tico staples as the group samples them. It is a food and culture experience rather than a hands-on kitchen class.

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Surf School $$

Tico Surf Lessons

Jacó

Jacó-based surf school offering lessons and guided surf tours to nearby breaks including Playa Hermosa and Playa Esterillos. Options range from single two-hour sessions to week-long packages, in group or private formats for beginner through advanced surfers. It is located on Calle Bohío in Jacó.

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Surf School $$

Tortuga Surf Camp

Jacó

Surf and stand-up paddle camp in Jacó operating since 2007. It runs surf lessons, surf retreats, paddleboard tours and coaching for all levels, and offers on-site lodging. Programs range from single lessons to multi-day retreats.

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Turtle Watching $$

Tortugas Costa Rica

Jacó

A licensed conservation foundation running guided sea turtle patrol walks and hatchling release tours on Playa Hermosa and nearby beaches south of Jaco. Volunteers and visitors join dusk or dawn patrols to spot nesting olive ridley, green, and other sea turtles, then help relocate eggs to a protected hatchery. The season runs June through January, with hatchling releases peaking July to January.

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Zipline & Canopy $$$

Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park

Herradura

Adventure park in the hills above Herradura offering a zipline canopy tour, ATV jungle rides, horseback riding to waterfalls, and canyoning. The zipline course runs 12 platforms and 10 cables totaling about 3.5 kilometers, with views over Herradura Bay and the Gulf of Nicoya. ATV routes cover roughly 300 acres of dirt roads and river crossings.

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