Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about Jaco, Costa Rica! It’s one of the most popular tourist resorts in Costa Rica. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when visiting Jaco, Costa Rica.
Love #1: Natural Beauty in Jaco
You are surrounded by beauty in Jaco. From beautiful beaches to lush hillsides and forests. Costa Rica is one of the original “eco-tourism” destinations because there is so much to see, including a ton of cool wildlife.
Hate #1: Jaco is Very Touristy
Jaco is really the most popular place to go in Costa Rica, which makes it very touristy. If you want to be surrounded by locals and immersed in the culture, you might want to go a little bit more off the beaten path in Costa Rica. It’s not that far from San Jose, so you also get a lot of local tourists coming down from the city for the weekend.
Love #2: Jaco Costa Rica Beaches
The beaches around Jaco are amazing, and it’s a huge reason why this area is so popular. South Beach is a great place to learn how to surf, as there are waves year-round. There are tons of opportunities to sign up for surf lessons; even my nine-year-old learned how!
Hate #2: Jaco is Resort-Centered
Along with being touristy, the tourism here is very much centered around Jaco Costa Rica resorts. Most likely you will stay in a resort in Jaco. There’s nothing wrong with staying in resorts, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in the luxury of your resort and never leave the property to explore! Make sure to sign up for some tours that take you off the resort property at least once.
Love #3: Things to Do in Jaco Costa Rica
One of the cool things about visiting a resort town with lots of tourists is that there are tons of activities for tourists. In addition to beaches and surfing, you can go parasailing, hiking, and wildlife watching. There’s also a pretty good Jaco Costa Rica nightlife scene, too. No matter your age, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Jaco Costa Rica.
Hate #3: No Sodas Like Elsewhere in Costa Rica
One of the best things about visiting smaller towns in Costa Rica is the sodas. No, not soda pop that you drink. Sodas are little mom-and-pop diners that you find all over, with grandma cooking in the back. When you visit Jaco, it’s so touristy that it’s hard to find those little sodas.
Love #4: Tourist Infrastructure
Although it can feel touristy, it’s kind of nice to have such a great tourism infrastructure. It’s so easy to find help, book tours, and have a great time. There are a lot of English speakers, and it’s also an easy area to reach.
Hate #4: Riptides at the Beach
You are probably visiting Costa Rica for the beaches. However, pay attention to the riptides in the water, as they can be very strong. Especially if you are with kids, you need to be super careful about getting dragged out by the riptide.
Love #5: Jaco Ticos
Ticos are the local Costa Ricans, and they are one of the best things about visiting Costa Rica. Despite Jaco being a fairly large tourism destination, the people are still very friendly and welcoming. Now, the culture can be very laidback, so you’ll need to be patient, but Ticos are really very lovely people. We’ve been to a lot of beach resorts and tourist towns around the world, and many of them have a negative attitude towards tourists. That’s not at all the case in Jaco.
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Hate #5: Jaco is More Expensive Than Other Costa Rica Towns
Because Jaco is so touristy, the prices are inflated to reflect the demand. Costa Rica can be a very affordable destination, but Jaco being resort-based, means you will pay higher prices. It’s still pretty affordable, especially if you are comparing it to Western Europe or Caribbean destinations.
Hate #6: High Season Accommodation
If you are visiting Jaco during the high season, it can be tough to find accommodation. Although there are many resorts in the area, they fill up quickly during the holidays especially. As I said, it’s not just international tourists flocking to Jaco, but locals from the cities of Costa Rica are also taking their beach vacations. Alternatively, the low season coincides with the rainy season, and that can be really unpleasant. A little bit of planning will help you avoid this issue.
We loved visiting Jaco Costa Rica; it really is a fun family travel destination with so many fun activities to do. Want more Latin America travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: