Jaco Beach is the closest beach to San Jose, about 2 hours on a paved road through lush mountains. Ticos as well as backpackers, surfers and beach party crowds come to Jaco Beach's hotels to enjoy the exciting nightlife and spend some quality Costa Rican vacation time.

It is considered the most developed coastal town in Costa Rica. The main street is where you will find most of the bars and restaurants. Food for every taste can be found in the many bistros. Accommodations that suit every taste and buses that come and go almost every hour make this town the most popular destination for Costa Rican tourists. During Christmas and the Easter Week the area gets crowded with energetic young people looking forward to having fun.

At night you can mingle with the locals and other visitors at a disco. The main street runs parallel to the coastline, and it does get crowded. There are about ten streets that intersect the main street and run west to the shoreline; however, on the outskirts of town there is still plenty of greenery to offset the elements of civilization along the main street. The area is not recommended for swimming due to strong rip currents and polluted areas near the estuary.

This area primarily appeals to surfers. Here you will find a variety of surf shops and many surfers can be found here attracted by the surfing tournaments that are held year round. Many North American tourists that have visited the country on a surfing trip decided to stay and started their own businesses here. The shops in this town provide clothing, souvenirs, surfing equipment and bicycle rentals. There are also real estate offices, pharmacies and internet cafes.

People traveling from San Jose will get there in about 1 hour. Different professionals offer their services here, such as lawyers, doctors and dentists. Some of the bars resemble sports bars back in the U.S., providing TV’s with different sports showing all day long. You will also find foosball games, pinball machines and pool tables to entertain yourself with. If you want to win, or spend a few bucks, then you may want to try out the casinos in the area. After a busy weekend the town usually becomes littered but some community groups keep the place clean.

The sand here is the called “volcanic”. Many people don’t find it very appealing. It is obvious that its main attraction is the closeness to the Central Valley, as well as its nightlife, its budget hotel options and its surf. The town’s coastline extends for 2 miles (3 kilometers) surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Besides surfing you can also go horseback riding with a guide or go on a canopy tour.

Costa Nica Tours, US and Canada: 1-800-517-2430, CR: 22-40-3120
P.O. Box 443-1100, Tibas, Costa Rica / 104 Chesterfield St, Greer SC 29650