Where to stay in Jaco Costa Rica – Best 5 AREAS and hotels

Thinking of riding the waves in this corner of Costa Rica? Great choice, but where to stay in Jaco? The town is actually quite big and it offers a lot besides some amazing surfing.

Whether you’re on a family holiday, seeking tranquillity, going for some nightlife, or mindful of the budget, there’s a spot just for you. In this post, I unveil the 5 best areas to stay in Jaco and nearby.

I’ve got all the pros and cons mapped out, a few suggested quiet hotels, plus a quick comparison table to find your perfect place.

Where to stay in Jaco – Key Points

Here is the quick comparative table. Click on the area name to jump to the full description including all the pros, cons, and a few suggested hotels and accommodations.

On a mobile, swipe left or right to see all the columns.

Area/Town	Ideal for	Pros	Cons	Accessibility	Restaurants	Families	Nightlife	Character of the area
Town & Beach Center	First-time visitors	Close to everything, vibrant nightlife	Can be noisy	Easy	Plenty	Fear	Lively	Vibrant, bustling
South of Town	Budget travelers	Quiet, laid back, smaller waves	Lack of supermarkets, bars, and restaurants	Moderate	Poor	Good	Fear	Quiet, relaxed
Barrio Ricos Y Famosos	Families	Well-organized condos	Not next to the beach	Moderate	Few	Great	None	Residential
Playa Herradura	Relaxing time	Tranquil, unique grey sand, resorts	More isolated	Moderate	Few	Good	None	Peaceful, coastal escape
Playa Hermosa	Seclusion	Secluded paradise, palm trees	Strong sea current, not for swimming	Moderate	Few	Not suggested	None	Secluded, dreamy, strong surf character

If you are in a hurry, here are my 3 suggested places to stay in Jaco and around.

Driving in Costa Rica is honestly not as complicated, however, you do not need a car if you plan to visit uniquely Jaco and nearby. The town itself is well connected to San Jose, the capital, and the International Airport too, with a trip around 1.5-2 hours long.

In saying that, I always suggest hiring a car in Costa Rica. It’s going to take your vacation to another level. You will be able to discover amazing beaches, hidden forests, unique waterfalls, and outstanding coffee plantations hardly reachable by public transportation, if any.

I usually rent my cars through DiscoverCars, a great comparative site that works with international and local rental companies providing the best deal in Costa Rica, a real money saver. Plus, for just $7 a day, I get full insurance (watch out of the types of insurance in Costa Rica, avoid these scams).

Town & Beach Center – Best place to stay in Jaco for first-time visitors

Jaco is one of the most accessible surfing destinations to stay in Costa Rica, less than 2 hours from San Jose and its International Airport. The town is actually a popular weekend destination for the Costa Rican living in the capital.

Jaco Beach is one of the best places in Costa Rica for beginner surfers. The waves are long and forgiving and the seabed is sandy, really the easiest condition. It actually reminded me a lot of Tamarindo, although Jaco has more of a city background with a few buildings scattered in the bay, meanwhile, Tamarindo is more of a tropical destination.

The beach has plenty of surf and body boards renters, expect to pay around $15 for the entire day. Surfing lessons are also offered for around $80-90 for 2 hours.

If you are looking for a more challenging set-up, head north of the beach or even better in Playa Hermosa, just 8km south of Jaco.

I loved Cocalito, the main surf center, right in the middle of the beach, playing music at sunset time. It was such a blessing being out in the water, with great tunes in the background and plenty of small Manta Rays flying out of the sea on the horizon. Pure paradise.

Parallel to the beach is Jaco’s main avenue, bustling with life and energy. This is where you will find most of the restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops. Nightlife in Jaco is notably lively, and the town is known for its vibrant party scene, a contrast to other quieter surfing towns like Santa Teresa.

Shopping in Jaco leans more towards souvenirs and local crafts with a few places where you can buy and rent your surf gear. Side streets branch off the main road, leading to various accommodations ranging from budget-friendly hostels to luxurious resorts.

Accessibility is easygoing in Jaco, with well-paved roads and no significant issues reaching most accommodations with a 2WD vehicle. While Jaco’s main avenue can be noisy and bustling, accommodations set back from the road offer peaceful retreats.

The center of town is a great place to stay in Jaco on your first-time visit. You will be close to everything, within walking distance of the beach, and next to the bars and restaurants.

And if you are wondering where to stay in Jaco for nightlife, then this area has to be. Just a quick tip here. Most of the clubs are close to the main avenue. A few accommodations unfortunately are right next to that. In my hotels’ suggestions below I have filtered out only quiet places for a quiet night.

I particularly loved my stay north of the central area, next to the very handy Mega Supermarket and far enough from the noisy bars area. However, don’t shy away from the central area either; it’s where you’ll find the heartbeat of the town.

South of Town – Where to stay in Jaco on a budget

Wondering where to stay in Jaco on a budget, where you can find the best value for your money? Head to the southern side of the long bay, around 1 mile from the center.

This part of the town is a total contrast to the center, so quiet and laid back. New condos are coming up and the infrastructure seems to be much more modern in this area of Jaco.

On this side of the beach, the waves tend to be much smaller, which is great on those days when the sea becomes too rough or if you are traveling with smaller kids.

Unfortunately in this area, you will not find supermarkets and there is a clear lack of bars and restaurants. In saying that, I had a great sunset time with awesome cocktails at the Aloha Beach Bar, with a memorable time by the big fire on the beach.

Another place to check out is the PuddleFish Brewery, especially if you are after a craft beer. Prices are similar to the American standard, therefore higher than Costa Rican average, but the quality of both food and beers is very high too. Expect to pay $6-8 for a taxi from/to the city center.

Once again, I have listed below two great value accommodations that are gentle on the budget and they are perfect for a quiet night’s sleep.

Barrio Ricos Y Famosos – Best area to stay in Jaco for families

I have stayed multiple times in Jaco, I loved my stay in the center of town, however, space is always limited with the accommodations.

On our recent trip with the kid, we booked in the Barrio Ricos Y Famosos, one of the best areas to stay in Jaco for families. Barrio Ricos Y Famosos translates as Neighbour of the Rich & Famous People, however, do not expect any VIP infrastructure.

What you will find are a few well-organized condos, small in size, with communal pools, security, and overall great accommodations if you are traveling with children because the apartments have usually 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms.

You will not be next to the beach, however, still within walking stance, 10-15 minutes. On the way, you will find also the Palí Supermarket, with the best prices in town.

In this area, I also found the best local restaurant in Jaco. This soda, called Garabito, is a real gem with lovely ladies serving the food and fantastic quality for a very small price. Moreover, you can bring your own beers, adding even more to the saving (they do not have any alcohol license)

Playa Herradura – Where to stay near Jaco for a relaxing time

Playa Herradura is a splendid coastal escape with a character all its own. Located just 10km north of the bustling Jaco, Playa Herradura stands out as an oasis of tranquillity, offering visitors a unique blend of nature’s charm and modern comforts.

One thing you will notice straight away from the beach is its striking grey sand and of course its shape, of a horseshoe (English for “Herradura”). You can do plenty of activities in the beach’s calm water, however, ultimately the few people there just relax and have a swim.

Playa Herradura is one of the best places to stay in the Jaco area for a relaxing time. You’ll find shaded spots to lounge without overindulging in the sun, letting you enjoy Costa Rica’s pleasant climate to its fullest.

The northern side of the beach is more popular with resorts, located all next to the Marina and the sailing club. This is where you can book your sunset sailing or a day trip fishing in the sea (plenty of fish, you can literally organize a party with the catch).

The southern side of Playa Herradura has a few restaurants and souvenir stalls by the beach, once again immersed in a super relaxed palmy environment.

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Playa Hermosa – Where to stay near Jaco for Seclusion

Playa Hermosa is certainly the best place to stay near Jaco for seclusion. You will be just 8km or only 10 minutes by car from the center of the town, however, you will be in another world, in fact, a small paradise.

In true honesty, there is not much around, just a bunch of bars and restaurants and that’s pretty much it. The beach is fantastic, with plenty of palm trees to rest in the shade and once again some lovely water.

There is however a quibble, there is a strong sea current and plenty of signs that do not suggest swimming there. For this reason, surfing is only suggested for intermediate or expert surfers. If you are beginning, head back to Jaco, on the south side of the beach, just 6km from here.

I also do not suggest Playa Hermosa to families with kids, you will have a hard time stopping the children from entering the sea. The strong current is more than a quibble in this case, it’s a safety concern.

On the back of the Playa Hermosa I also found one of the best zip lines in Costa Rica with an amazing view of the long bay between the trees. I have organized the afternoon experience directly at Cafe Bohio, a great place to test the best coffees in the country.

At the same cafe, you can also organize trips to the coffee plantations. I have not personally done it, however, it was highly suggested to me by other travelers I met at the zip line.

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