This beach town in Costa Rica has my heart. We were able to stay RIGHT on the ocean, and it had a good mix of chill and adventure. For being close to the airport, affordable and fun, let’s call this one of my favorite stops.
Eating & Drinking
Evening drinks – Puddle Fish Brewery. We came here almost immediately after getting into the city. It’s a great vibe there. Everyone was super friendly & welcoming. A perfect first stop in Jaco.
Green Room. It was almost like being transported back to Tulum. Indoor/outdoor seating available. The night we went a DJ was playing. Coming here is a MUST.
The Pizza Shop. We grabbed some pizzas to go & ate at the AirBnB! Decent pricing & good quality.
Aloha Beachfront Bar. Grabbed a quick breakfast here. It wasn’t, like, directly on the beach, but you could see the water from our table.
Restaurante Vista Hermosa. Head upstairs and grab some lunch while overlooking the ocean.
Things To Do
The ultimate to do: Drive 20 minutes to Hotel Caletas. This is deserving of its own blog post. It’s like traveling to Italy. The most breathtaking views. Someone please get married here so I can visit again.
Second fave: visit the abandoned hotel called “El Miro.” We headed there right in the morning, around 8am, and it was pretty quiet. You need to park on the street and hike up to view. After parking, enjoy a short but steep walk up to the hotel. On the way there, you’ll grab some incredible views of the Jaco beach line. We spent a good hour exploring the abandoned hotel. It’s creepy but also insanely spectacular at the same time.
Sunset on Playa Jaco. Their sunsets are some of the best in Costa Rica.
Jaco Walk Shopping Center. All the shops and restaurants here. The only thing I’ll tell you NOT to do in Jaco is try the Indian place here. One of our friends didn’t feel good after it. DO grab some churros from the dessert cart there. Seriously to die for.
Ride ATVs. We coordinated our tour through “ATV Adventure Tours Costa Rica” on Viator. We went with another couple and sat two per ATV. This was probably the most magical part of our Jaco stop. We were able to see jungle, city views, history, waterfalls and more.
Playa Herradura. We drove about 15 minutes from the city center to get here. Pretty views. Minimal people. Also minimal waves.
Getting Around
The city is about an hour and a half drive from the main airport in San Jose. We rented a car. The main strip (Pastor Diaz Avenue) is easily accessible and easy to walk. We only needed our car a few times.
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