Club del Mar
In a small cove at the quiet southern end of Jacó beach, with condos that have full kitchens, a large pool by the ocean with a children's pool, a spa and Las Sandalias restaurant.
4-starView hotel
Jacó, Herradura and Carara
Surf beaches 1.5 to 2 hours from San José, with scarlet macaws in Carara National Park and crocodiles in the Tárcoles River on the way. Most of our clients spend 3 nights here.
- Fly into
- SJO
- San José 1.5 to 2 hours
- Stay
- 3 nights
- What most of our clients choose
- Best weather
- Dec to Apr
- Dry season
- Region
- Central Pacific
- Surf beaches, macaws, crocodiles
- Pairs with
- Arenal
- Private transfer, about 4 hours
Why go
Macaws, crocodiles and surf, close to San José
Jacó is one of the most developed beach towns in Costa Rica, with a long surf beach, restaurants and shops. The coast around it is quieter: Herradura to the north, home of Los Sueños and calmer water for swimming, and Playa Hermosa to the south, known for its surf. On the road from San José, the bridge over the Tárcoles River looks down on dozens of crocodiles, and Carara National Park, close by, is where to see scarlet macaws and trogons.
Carara National ParkScarlet macaws and trogons
Tárcoles RiverCrocodiles from the bridge or a boat
SurfJacó and Playa Hermosa
Four places to stay along this coast
- JacóThe town itself: a long surf beach, restaurants and shops, with Club del Mar at its quiet southern end.11 hotels we book
- HerraduraNorth of Jacó, home of Los Sueños, with calmer water for swimming.2 hotels we book
- Playa HermosaSouth of Jacó, a beach known for its surf.2 hotels we book
- CararaThe national park and its scarlet macaws, beside the Tárcoles River.2 hotels we book
The map
Every hotel we book in Jacó
17 hotels, our favourites numbered.
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
Hotel Punta Leona
In one of the country's last transition forests, just before Jacó, with its own white sand beach, three pools, three restaurants and shuttles between the rooms and the sand.
3-starView hotel
Cerro Lodge
A birders' lodge about 10 minutes from Carara National Park, where scarlet macaws fly over the valley in view of the hotel, with a pool and its own small organic farm.
4-starView hotel
What our clients book most in Jacó
Ranked from the trips we planned in the last 12 months.
- 01Carara National Park and its scarlet macawsPrivate or shared, 6 hours
- 02Birding hike at Macaw LodgePrivate or shared
- 03Tortuga Island by boat, with snorkellingTour
- 04Canopy zip lines at Vista Los SueñosShared, 2 hours
- 05Catamaran adventure from JacóShared, 3 ½ hours
- 06Crocodile boat safari on the Tárcoles RiverShared, 2 hours
When to go
Dry season December to April
May to November is the green season, with more rain. The sunsets over the Pacific are a reason to come in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Dry seasonGreen season, more rainSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
1.5 to 2 hours from San José
From San José (SJO)1.5 to 2 hoursPrivate transfer, with a stop at the Tárcoles River bridge
From Arenalabout 4 hoursPrivate transfer down to the Pacific
From Monteverde2 to 2.5 hoursPrivate transfer down from the cloud forest
Where to go next
Where our clients go after Jacó
Good to know
Jacó questions we answer every week
Is Jacó good for swimming?
Jacó Beach has strong riptides, so it is better for surfing than swimming. Playa Herradura, just to the north, has calmer water.
How far is Jacó from San José?
1.5 to 2 hours by private transfer. On the way you can stop at the Tárcoles River bridge to see the crocodiles.
How many nights do I need in Jacó?
3 nights is what most of our clients choose: a morning with the macaws in Carara, a day on the water around Tortuga Island and time on the beach.
Where can I see scarlet macaws?
In Carara National Park, beside the Tárcoles River. For birders we recommend Cerro Lodge, about 10 minutes from the park.
When is the best time to visit Jacó?
December to April, the dry season.
Your Costa Rica, planned by people who live here
Tell us what you love. A Costa Rica Specialist builds a custom itinerary around it, with private transfers, hotels we know and our team on call 24/7 while you travel.
Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística