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Фотогалерея ‒ Jaco, Costa Rica

Guide to Jaco

Virtual tour in Jaco

The distant shores of the Pacific beaches beckon many visitors from Europe. Firstly, visiting exotic and joyful Costa Rica is already interesting in itself. And secondly, many crave the entertainment and fun of Jaco! However, the resorts on these shores are still not too overpopulated and even not very expensive.

So, it makes sense to wake up one day and say to yourself - today we fly to Jaco! Safari along the river flowing through the lush jungle, walks on the turtle island, and an introduction to the unique nature of these lands await guests. The Kararu Nature Reserve alone is worth a visit!

And, of course, in Jaco, travelers seek simple and lively fun; the club atmosphere of local cheerful parties is known all over the world. Travel to the shores of Costa Rica and not dance under the light of tropical stars? No way!

People strive to visit during the peak tourist season - from December to April - in these warm lands. But even during the rainy and windy season, you can hear loud music and see the bright lights of parties here. That's Jaco's way of saying that life is good!

What makes this provincial town great is the ability to travel halfway across the country and be back by evening. Although this is more of a priority for Costa Rica itself. So do not limit your trip to the beaches and clubs of Jaco, strive to see more. And we will help you...

Tips for tourists

Population
41624
Time zone
(UTC-6)
Language
Spanish
Currency
Colón (CRC).

Tours to Jaco

A small town in Costa Rica initially seemed like the perfect place for a family vacation. Infrastructure development began here for couples, but it turned out that Jaco became a youth resort, attracting the best surfers to practice and share their experiences.

It is logical that the city opened various nightclubs, discos, restaurants, and hotels, with service costs above average. Accordingly, the price of tours in this direction is not small. Even hot trips for 10 days are offered from 7800 USD and more for two people.

The advantage of the resort is that vouchers can be purchased all year round. There are only two seasons in this climate zone - dry and rainy. Based on air and sea temperatures, Jaco enjoys summer year-round.

The rainiest season is from May to November. You can find cheap hot tours for these months. But don't worry about seeing the city from your hotel window through the rain.

Long-term rainfall occurs in the afternoons, so you can spend the morning lounging on the beach and going to a budget-friendly café for lunch. There are no special sights in Jaco, so sightseeing tours are limited to visiting the turtle island and a natural park. And you can always explore miniature Jaco on your own.

Interesting places in Jaco

Excursions in Jaco itself are not as significant compared to the notable sites in the surrounding area. These are exactly the reasons why you should book a tour program and head out to explore the jungles, volcanoes, and evidence of past civilizations. Once you've covered all the hiking routes in Jaco, swam, and dived, it's time to pay attention to the possibilities of ecotourism or extreme adventures for thrill-seekers. What are the things to look out for?

Sights

Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

There are no direct flights to Jacó or even to Costa Rica itself. The closest airports are in Tambor and Quepos, approximately 54 km and 70 km from Jacó. One or two layovers usually take place within Europe, and another one or two likely in the USA. The most common final connection is in San José.

Flights from Warsaw start at €740, from Lyon — from €780, from Budapest — from €760, from Naples — from €795, from Prague — from €770, and from Manchester — from €735. Airlines operating on these routes include Iberia, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, United Airlines, JetBlue, and Copa Airlines. Booking early helps avoid long transfers and get better deals.

The best hotels in Jaco

In this provincial resort, you can find solid four-star hotels for 90-100 USD. There are more economical options for as little as 70-75 USD for the same star rating, and luxury from 300 USD and up. Quality three-star hotels are available for 50-55 USD per room. This is one of the most inexpensive options in Costa Rica, so you can try looking for something even more economical. But if you don't want less comfortable conditions, problems with air conditioners and other minor inconveniences, orient yourself to the amount from 50 USD and higher. Hotels closer to the shore are much more expensive, but here you can find accommodation for 50-60 USD. Look out for apartments and large hotels - they are cheaper, and small cozy boutiques are overpriced, especially in high season.

The cost of vacation

The most expensive thing when traveling to Costa Rica is the flight. If you fly to the capital, the cost of the flight falls to 750-800 USD, and the flight to the cities closer to the goal is more expensive, from 1500 USD and more. But accommodation here is comparable to life in European resorts, and you can eat very inexpensively.

Perhaps the most expensive after the flight are adventures and various excursions, and without them the study of Costa Rica is meaningless. If you are just going to lie on the beaches of Jaco, sunbathe and swim, then prepare only 400-500 USD for three or four days. If you are also interested in excursion programs, raise your budget to 800-900 USD.

The budget for a trip to Jaco
Flight From 1550 USD Accomodation From 50 USD
Average check in a restaurant From 10 USD Transportation fare From 200 CRC, that's about 0.3 USD.
Excursion Up to 100 USD
Total: about 2600 EUR for a week for two people

Jaco: tips for tourists

Find out as much as you can about Costa Rica's Pacific coast vacations on tripmydream. The small town of Jaco awaits you and you can find a lot of information about it here.

Visa to Jaco

Citizens of EU countries can enter Costa Rica without a visa for up to 90 days if:

  • a valid passport (its validity must cover the entire period of stay),
  • a return ticket or a ticket to a third country,
  • proof of financial capacity (recommended, although not always checked),
  • a reservation for accommodation (may be requested at the border).

Airports near Jaco

Haco is more convenient to get to by air and cheaper by land. The nearest airports are Tambor (TMU), 54km from the city, and Quepos (XQP), 70km away. And the easiest way is to fly to the capital of the country - San Jose. Tickets are cheaper and domestic flights are available, but you'll need to book them locally.

Transfers to Jaco from airports

There is a direct bus from San Jose to Jaco, and it costs about 5 USD. You can rent a car or take other shuttle buses that connect all cities in the country. If you fly into one of the nearby airports, there are direct routes from there too and the bus service is quite valid.

Car rental in Jaco

You'll find both local and international rental companies here. The price ranges from 25 to 100 USD per day. When you drop off your car, the tank must be full. The cost of gasoline is not included in the rental initially. You need an international driver's license, passport, age must be at least 21 years old. The roads in the country are bad, especially in provincial towns like Haco.

Transportation in Jaco

There are buses and shuttles, and tickets are inexpensive, around 200 CRC, which is less than 1 USD. Recently, there are many private cabs, which are a bit more expensive, but not prohibitively so, as the town is quite small and you can walk there in half an hour. It's easier to rent a bicycle or bike.

Security in Haco

Besides petty theft, there's not much to be afraid of. Take your luggage with you on the bus, otherwise there is a risk of it being stolen at the bus stop. Lock your rental car, even if you're sitting inside. Be wary of direct sun at the height of the hot season and humidity and heat during the rainy season.

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