How To Get To Jaco Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a beautiful country known for its stunning beaches and adventurous activities. One of the most popular beach destinations in Costa Rica is Jaco Beach. If you’re wondering how to get to Jaco, Costa Rica, it’s conveniently located just an hour from the Juan Santamaria Airport in Alajuela along the Central Pacific coast facing the Pacific Ocean.

Jaco Beach has plenty of things to see and do and provides access to some of the best Costa Rican beaches.

How to get from San Jose to Jaco

If you’re in San Jose and you are looking for the cheapest option for how to get to jaco costa rica, a bus ride will be the best choice and the indirect route takes 2 hours and costs around $10 per person.

The address of the bus station is: Terminal 7-10 on the west side of the Central Market 500 meters north of 8th Street boulevard.

You can buy the tickets in the terminal and the name of the bus company is Transportes Jacó S.A

Taxis or Ubers are a great option. The drive takes around 1.5 hours and costs around $130 -$180. Groups can opt for the shuttle service, which is cheaper and costs around $90. If you plan on booking a rental car to get around Costa Rica, you may have to rent a 4×4 vehicle as some roads outside the Jaco area may be unpaved or rough. Hermosa Beach is the closest beach near Jaco. Explore Jacó Costa Rica and other beaches along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

If you book with us we can provide you with transportation service throughout your stay in any of our vacation homes.

What to do in Jaco Beach

Surfing in Jaco Costa Rica

Jaco is considered one of the best places to learn surfing in costa rica. For beginners waves can be very noble and well shaped on the south side, while experienced surfers can try beach breaks on the north side near the mouth of the river.

There are plenty of Surf Schools, and we have just the best for you. When you book with us we will give you a list of the best tours including surf lessons with our preferred instructors.

Carara National Park

For nature lovers, visiting Carara National Park is a must while in Jaco. Just 31.5 km from town, this park spans the provinces of Puntarenas and San José and is home to diverse wildlife and stunning flora. To get there from Jaco, you can take a bus, taxi, or shuttle. It takes about 26 minutes via Avenida Pastor Díaz (Route 34). The bus leaves from Jaco’s main street and costs around $1, while taxis charge about $10.

But of course, if you book with us you got this covered with our private shuttle.

Activities

Carara National Park is one of the best birdwatching spots in Costa Rica, especially for the endangered Scarlet Macaw. Explore the park’s trails to see monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and birds. Don’t miss the huge crocodiles under the Tarcoles River Bridge near the park entrance. The park has two main trails: Laguna Meandrica and Quebrada Bonita, each about 4.5 kilometers long and taking around 2 hours to complete.

This park is very unique as it is the only national park in costa rica that has a transition forest, which includes the transition from dry to humid tropical forest

Tours

Join a guided tour to learn more about the park’s plants and animals. You can book a tour online or through our prefered tours. Here are some options:

Guided Visit (Ticket included): This $44 per person tour includes the entrance ticket, telescope, air-conditioned vehicle, and a bilingual guide. Maximum 10 visitors per tour.

Crocodiles & Carara: Combine a boat trip on the Tarcoles River with a hike in the park. This $125 per person tour includes transport, lunch, beverages, and a guide. Minimum group size is 4 tourists.

VIP Carara Canopy: Enjoy a zip-lining adventure in Carara National Park. This $75 per person tour includes transportation, equipment, and a guide, with a minimum of 4 visitors required.

You can ask our managers for the Homeaway tours and their respective prices*

Beaches that you might like that are south of jaco

Playa Hermosa Costa Rica

The beauty and diversity of Playa Hermosa is amazing. Consider the best spot for surfing in Costa Rica and also the first World Natural Surf Reserve in the World

Playa Hermosa: It’s a dark sand beach and famous for its big and tubular waves. It’s not great for swimming but perfect for watching surfers and enjoying stunning sunsets. It’s just a 5-minute drive from Jaco.

Playa Esterillos

Playa Esterillos: Esterillos consist in a group of three beaches (West, Central, and East) about a 25-minute drive from Jaco. These beaches are quieter and less developed than Jaco, with lovely tide pools and rock formations. In Oeste, you can see a statue of a mermaid in the ocean, accessible during low tide.

Playa Bejuco

Playa Bejuco: A secluded beach surrounded by palm trees and mangroves, about a 35-minute drive from Jaco. It’s a great spot to relax and enjoy nature. From July to December, you might see sea turtle hatchlings as it’s a nesting site.

Playa Palo Seco

Playa Palo Seco: A long, narrow beach located about a 45-minute drive from Jaco, between a river and the ocean. It has a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for birdwatching, kayaking, and fishing.

Is jaco beach a good place to visit?

Absolutely! Jaco is just a 1.5-hour drive from San José, Costa Rica’s capital, making it incredibly convenient compared to other beaches.

Jaco is one of Costa Rica’s top beach towns on the Pacific side. It offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants, shops, and nightlife options.

Surfers flock to Jaco for its great waves, but there’s more to explore. Carara National Park, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Esterillos are nearby attractions.

In summary, Jaco is a fantastic destination that combines the thrill of surfing with the beauty of nature, making it perfect for both adventure seekers and nature lovers.

So, now you know how to get to jaco costa rica. Would you give it a try?