Is Jaco Safe?

Yes, Jaco is safe for tourists to visit and have a great time. However, it is good to adhere to safety guidelines for yourself and your belongings so you do not become a victim of some common crimes like pickpocketing, car vandalism, petty theft, mugging, rape, and so on.

The thing is, Jaco has cleaned up a lot compared to ten years ago, when it was notorious for all manner of crimes. However, if you leave your car unlocked or walk alone to isolated areas at night, you will have no one to blame.

It is best to do everything with caution and alertness in Jaco. Getting carried away with the fun may likely not end well.

That is why I have taken time to share all the information you need to know about Jaco and how to remain safe while you enjoy the benefits of the town in this article.

Key Takeaways

• Avoid swimming at beaches with strong waves like Playa Hermosa.
• If you are a beginner surfer, avoid beaches like Playa Hermosa. It’s best you practice at Playa Mantas or Playa Blanca for your safety.
• Always place hygiene first before eating at any restaurant. If the restaurant does not feel or look clean, kindly leave.
• Avoid going to secluded and poorly lit areas at night. If you must, move with a group of your friends.
• Flashing your valuables in public areas will attract criminals to you.

Brief Overview and General Safety

Jaco is a big, famous, and well developed tourist surf town with nicely paved roads that connect all the beaches. There are high rises of banks, luxury hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and so on.

It is located in the Garabito district of Puntarenas Province, and the easiest and fastest route to get to Jaco is through San Jose International Airport, which is an hour and thirty minutes drive to Jaco town.

Because of this closeness, a lot of locals troop into Jaco from San Jose on weekends to chill at the beaches. However, you will also find a large community of expats in Jaco.

Generally, Jaco is safe to move around in the daytime and at night. However, about walking alone at night for your safety, especially if you are coming or going to an isolated area. 

Food and Water Safety

The food and water in Jaco are generally safe for consumption. The food here is not just tasty but fresh and healthy. Most of the dishes in the local restaurants have a lot of vegetables and are suitable for both vegans and vegetarians.

Also, looking at the hygiene, I noticed that most of the restaurants in town took time to properly cook the food and ensure that it was served in a presentable manner.

The water too is very clean and safe to drink, just like in other parts of the country. This is because the government made sure that every tap water is well treated and passes through numerous filtration processes.

One thing that stands out in Jaco for me is that most of the restaurants in town have filters attached to their tap to further purify the water before serving it to guests.

So if you visit a restaurant that does not have filters attached to their tap, you can simply ask for bottled water (which is expensive) or use a water bottle with a filter.

Health and Wellness Safety

Jaco poses a low health risk to tourists. The two or three days you will spend in Jaco will hardly make you fall sick if you become conscious of the food and water you are taking into your body system.

My husband and I stayed in Jaco for more than two weeks because we visited partly for work and vacation and never fell sick of malaria, diarrhea, dengue fever, zika virus, or any airborne and waterborne diseases.

The weather was very fine all through our stay: however, we made sure we were always hydrated, applied insect repellents when visiting the jungle area, wore sunscreen and sunglasses at the beach, and only ate and drank at restaurants that are hygiene conscious.

If you follow our footsteps, you will not fall sick in Jaco town, but I would not rush to conclusions because we all react differently when we come into a new town.

So if you ever find yourself feeling sick, there are lots of basic health care facilities in town that you can easily get treated at.

Transportation Safety

The highway leading from San Jose, the capital city, to Jaco is wide, well paved, and safe for tourists to drive on. However, most of the roads in Jaco town are paved but not as wide as that of the highway. 

So there is always traffic congestion, especially during the peak tourist season or weekends when most locals and tourists are visiting Jaco town and beaches.

There are also potholes on some roads, especially the street roads, but it’s not as bad as what we saw at Puerto Viejo or other remote towns in Costa Rica.

The best way to enjoy a safe ride here is to drive with caution, avoiding the potholes, and always carry a spare tyre along at all times.

Apart from the road, the taxi companies and drivers here are fully registered and licensed to operate by the government, and most of the roads are well lit compared to most towns in Costa Rica.

Family Safety

Contrary to popular belief and what you see on the internet, Jaco is a family friendly town. I noticed that there is a large expat community in and around Jaco with kids of recent.

Which shows that a lot of families are drawn to this beach town because, apart from the pristine beaches in Jaco where families can hang out and have a great time together, there are also other activities like the local skate park in town that kids can go to and make friends.

Also, most of the schools in Jaco are Bilingual (English/ Spanish), so you can enroll your kids there. However, I would advise you to ask more questions in online groups and forums about the family friendliness of Jaco town before relocating.

Environmental Safety

Jaco does not experience most of the natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes that other parts of the country experience. However, the major environmental  issues in Jaco are erosion due to ocean waves washing the top of the beachfront and the polluted sea water due to its poor waste management and drainage system.

This poor waste management and drainage system is leading to flooding during the rainy season which is another environmental issue.

Regardless of these issues, no tourist has died or drowned as a result of swallowing sea water while swimming. A little diarrhea or waterborne disease that can easily be treated but no deaths recorded.

However, it is advisable not to swallow sea water if you are swimming or surfing at the beach and only visit clean beaches like Playa Hermosa.

Accommodation Safety

Jaco is a touristy town, so there are lots of accommodation options ranging from Airbnb to luxury hotels. More so, there are lots of trusted platforms like Tripadvisor and Booking.com that you can use in researching for accommodation before settling for the one of your choice.

Most of the accommodation options my husband and I have used in Jaco were safe, and there was never a case of robbery or theft. However, I can not speak for all the accommodations in the area.

Here is my little advice;

Only choose reputable accommodation options that guarantee your safety and are located in populated and well lit areas of Jaco town. This should be after you are satisfied with the information and online reviews on the Internet.

Before making payments, ask them to show you around the rooms and check if the doors and locks are functioning. Also check if there are surveillance cameras and security guards in the building.

Lastly, be mindful of the kind of people you let into your room. The truth is, you will likely make friends with other tourists, but be cautious about inviting them over.

Common Crimes in Jaco

Before now, Jaco was notorious for drug trafficking, thuggery, and gangsterism which made tourism drastically reduce here. However, lately, Jaco has cleaned up a lot, and most of those violent crimes are only a thing of the past.

The common types of crimes you will notice in Jaco recently are petty theft and pickpocketing, which mostly happen in crowded areas like the beach and are common in every other tourist destination around Costa Rica.

All through my stay in Jaco, I never experienced or heard of crimes like robbery, burglary, car theft, kidnapping, or other violent crimes. In fact, the security in Jaco is tighter than in any other parts of the country.

You will mostly see police patrolling the streets of Jaco. This is something I rarely saw in other beach towns like Puerto Viejo.

However, just like other tourist destinations in the country, I advise you to do the following:

• Do not display valuables in public places or in your car.
• Lock your car at all times, even if you will just be away for a minute.
• Use only reputable transportation companies and services like Uber.
• Avoid moving in poorly lit and isolated areas, especially at night.
• Avoid walking alone at night. If you must move at night, move in groups.

In general, it is important to take precautionary measures with everything when visiting Jaco. Ensure your accommodation locks are functional before making payments, protect your belongings, and stay out of trouble.

How to Stay Safe in Jaco?

Nighttime Walk 

Jaco is not a place for nighttime walks because most of the roads are small and poorly lit or not lit at all. To be on the safe side, avoid walking on these roads all by yourself after dark. 

If you must, ensure you are walking in a group of friends with at least two able men and you have a torchlight to see what’s ahead of you.

Clubbing in an Unsafe Area

Jaco is very vibrant and lively at night, no doubt. However, always put your safety first before anything else when visiting the clubs in town.

• I advise you to avoid clubs or event centers that are in secluded areas and do not feel safe at night.
• Only visit popular clubs in busy and well-lit areas. And move in groups when coming back at night.
• In situations whereby you went alone, be aware of your environment, drink responsibly and only book rides that are registered and licensed in Jaco.

Ignoring Personal Hygiene

It is important to take your personal hygiene seriously when eating out. Ensure you visit only clean restaurants that serve tasty, healthy, and freshly made food.

Always remember  that you may not have access to proper medical care if you start purging in the middle of the night.

Little things like checking the restaurant online review will save you a lot.

Swimming at the Wrong Beach

Avoid  swimming at beaches like Playa Hermosa where the currents are very high and strong so you don’t drown. If you must swim, go to beaches like Playa Mantas with low currents and ensure you are swimming where a lifeguard can see you.

Also avoid secluded areas of beaches so you do not get mugged, and do not visit any beach after dark to be on the safe side.

Personal Safety Tips

• Keep your valuables at home or in your hotel room when going out to avoid the presence of muggers and pickpockets.
• Only book rides from licensed and registered transport services in town.
• Ensure whatever accommodation option you choose, the lock is very functional to avoid burglary and wildlife invasion.
• Do not drink excessively when you are in any tourist town at all, not just Puerto Viejo. Else you will make yourself an easy target for criminals.
• Do not surf or swim alone at beaches where there are no lifeguards, regardless of how much of an expert surfer or swimmer you think you are.
• Do not easily trust strangers and follow them around all in the name of visiting tourist attractions. You will easily get mugged, raped, or robbed. I advise you to map your locations before stepping out.
• Stay away from wildlife when you visit tourist sites. Do not pet or touch them because if you do and they feel stressed or threatened, they may attack you.
• Show respect to the local culture by sticking to community rules and regulations.
• Learn a bit of Spanish or use Google Translate in order to flow in communication.
• Avoid walking alone at night. I advise you to get back to your apartment before dark. And if you must walk at night, ensure you are in a group of friends that are heading in the same direction.
• Stay alert and vigilant in crowded places and tourist spots to avoid being pickpocketed.
• Stay hydrated at all times and carry an insect repellent when visiting jungles and National Parks.
• Ensure you have emergency numbers of your country’s embassy, local authorities, and accommodation available.
• Avoid flashing cash or valuables like your phone or jewelry. You will only attract petty thieves and muggers if you do so.
• Ask questions before moving to certain areas. It will better help you know what is ahead and if you are to make the movement or not.

After a day at the beach, you should check out our guide on the Top 9 Restaurants in Jacó for delicious dining options. 

Conclusion

Jaco is safe for tourist visits. However, it is essential to always stay alert and aware of your surroundings and movement.

Avoid going to isolated areas or flashing valuables like cash, credit cards, jewelries, and so on in public. It would be nice if you left most of them at home.

Be mindful of strangers and the outdoor activities you engage in, and you will be just fine!