Things to do in and around Jaco, Costa Rica

In January 2010, Scotty and I made a second trip to one of our favorite countries, Costa Rica. On our first trip there together in 2008, we'd spent about two weeks in both Jaco and Dominical combined. This time, we had plans to venture further south down the Pacific Coast to explore some new, less visited and more remote places and also hike to the summit of Costa Rica's highest peak, Cerro Chirripo. 

Sometimes, we can be just a tad ambitious. ;)

But after several long flights to get from Alaska to Central America, we were in need of some serious r&r and decided to stop in the nearest beach town to San José- Jaco- to decompress for a few days.

In Jaco, this was my favorite way to begin the day: hanging out with my love over a homemade breakfast in our studio room at ApartHotel Vista Pacifico in Jaco. 

The vase on the table is ours too, purchased from a man who sold them out of his backpack while we sat at an open-air restaurant in the heart of Jaco Beach. 

This is one of the few souvenirs we've ever bought while on trips together. While traveling, we try to keep our bags as light (or not) as we packed them and limit shopping for souvenirs. But sometimes it's a treat to take home something locally-made to remember our trips by.

On our second trip to Costa Rica in January 2010, we didn't mess around with taking the bus and rented a car right at the airport. It made all the difference in allowing us to see small towns and stop whenever, wherever. Like here:

 Overlook above Jaco Beach- January 2010

Since our first trip in 2008, construction had begun on a new highway that left the route to the coast faster and more direct than the old windy mountain road. We were able to reach Jaco in around two hours with little traffic.

Grocery store on the edge of town in Jaco

Jaco is a great place to unwind, eat some good food, and even enjoy some nightlife if you're looking for it. This is our kind of fun:

We enjoyed watching the sun sink into the magnificent Pacific (and watching for a "green flash")...

... from Clarita's Beach Bar (and serving the best shrimp ceviche I've ever had!).

And they have a pool table so of course I had to get my hustle on. ;)



The environment at Clarita's and other bars and restaurants is mostly relaxed and casual. Local and tourists frequent the same places (for the most part) and one night we even went to a karaoke bar where we seemed to be the only tourists. A gimicky theme park Jaco is definitely not, and that, my friends, is a very good thing.



It means that the beaches are beautiful and uncrowded, even if no one is sweeping away the driftwood.


When I see new high rises being built, I wonder how long it will stay that way. One thing Costa Rica has going for it is its relative remoteness in comparison to places like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. But when tourism is your lifeblood, one might see it differently.



On an exploratory drive one afternoon, we saw evidence of old abandoned buildings in the mountainous area above town.

Costa Rica is a place where you really don't have to venture far away from town at all to be completely surrounded by nature.

Cutter ants

On a small jungle road we also saw these little guys (and narrowly missed running over their leaf assembly line)!

Check out the video below to see them (and Scotty) in action. Just ignore my narration- evidently I was a "little" excited about the leaf-cutters...

On the road south out of Jaco are the towns of Playa Hermosa and Playa del Coco, communities with many beachfront restaurants and both small and larger hotels. We've been to one restaurant in the area several times, Restaurante and Bar Vista Hermosa. The food was good, but the view is what I remember most: spectacular waves and some seriously skilled surfers. Next time we're there, I'd love to try out this local place, too, and possibly stay here at Surf Inn Hermosa.

A forty-five minute car ride south of Jaco leads to another remarkable beach that isn't just fun for people... I'll be back with more tomorrow!