14 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Jacó

Jaco is a famous surf town with lots of fun activities to participate in that will make you enjoy your visit. From surfing at its pristine beaches, watching the sunset while sipping cold beer, and partying at some of the best nightclubs in town to touring the countryside on ATV bikes,.

There are tons of things to do in Jaci that are suitable for all levels of physical fitness. However, I will only share information on the ones I have tried in this article. So you can choose the one you would love to do when you next visit Jaco.

The information in this article will help you make an informed decision about what to expect and what to bring along for each activity.

Key Takeaways

• Going on ATV tours is one of the most adrenaline-filled things to do in Jaco.
• The best way to have a view of the entire town while still on land is to visit the El Miro Viewpoint.
• Jaco has the liveliest and wildest nightlife in all of Costa Rica.
• Playa Mantas is one of the best beaches to swim at in Jaco.
• Manuel Antonio National Park is just an hour’s drive from Jaco.
• Playa Hermosa is the most popular beach in Jaco and has the strongest waves, which is perfect for advanced surfers.
• The most spectacular sunset in Jaco is at Villa Caleta.

Learn to surf

Jaco is one of the best places to learn how to surf in Costa Rica, as surfing is one of the most popular and common fun activities to do in Jaco.

The beaches in Jaco are perfect for the level of surfers. Beaches like Blanca or Mantas are best for beginner and intermediate surfers, while Hermosa, the most popular beach in Jaco, is perfect for advanced surfers.

When we visited Jaco, I was so eager to learn how to surf after seeing most of the tourists who visit this touristy town surfing like pros after taking a two-hour surf lesson from some of the surf schools on the beachfront.

With all determination and eagerness, I looked up some surf schools like Jaco Surf School online, and being satisfied with the online reviews, I reached out to them for some surf lessons, and in less than a week of constant learning and practicing, I was riding the ocean waves like a pro. 

The price of the surf lessons starts from $40 to $60, depending on the surf school, while you can rent surfboards for $10 for 24 hours in Jaco. However, a surfboard comes along with the amount you pay for a surf lesson.

Friendly Advice

• Do not practice or surf at a beach with strong waves like Playa Hermosa if you are a beginner.
• If you are a beginner surfer, surf at the southern part of Jaco Beach.
• Learning to surf should not be rushed! You may see people doing better than you on first try; however, it is important to know your strengths and appreciate the pace at which you are learning.
• The best time to learn how to surf is when the ocean tides are low. That way, the waves are small and easy for surfing.

Visit Nauyaca Waterfalls 

Costa Rica is never short of waterfalls, and the Nauyaca Waterfalls in Jaco, without a doubt, are one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country.

Looking at how stunning it is, you would agree it competes with the likes of the Rio Celeste and La Fortuna waterfalls.

The Naucaya waterfalls consist of two giant waterfalls, one about 40 meters tall and the other 20 meters tall. You can tour both waterfalls; however, if you plan on swimming in them, the lower waterfall is the best option.

Despite the beauty of this waterfall, visiting it is not an easy task. We drove almost three hours from Jaco before we arrived at the Naucaya waterfalls. 

When we arrived at the parking lot, we were left with three options to get to the foot of the waterfalls. The first was to walk an hour from the parking lot on a badly maintained road to the waterfall.

The second was to ride on a horse for $80 to and from the waterfall, while the third was to rent a 4×4 vehicle to and from the waterfall. We chose the latter because we needed to return to Jaco that same day and did not want any more situations that would delay us.

When we arrived at the falls, we showed the screenshot of our entry tickets that were purchased online to the officers there, and we were grateful we purchased them online for $10 before coming because it cost $12 at the ticket office.

The Naucaya waterfalls were fun to visit and swim in and the best part is that, unlike other waterfalls we have visited in Costa Rica, there is a lifeguard on duty at the Naucaya waterfalls.

Pro Tip

• The waterfall opens at 7 am, with the last entry at 2pm. I would advise you to come in early so you can have the waterfalls all to yourself before the crowd starts trooping in.
• Purchase your tickets online. It will not only save you $2 but also the stress of purchasing at the ticket office.

Tour Tortuga Island

There are many beaches in and near Jaco, but Tortuga Island stands out because of its white powdery beach sand.

It is one of the most relaxing beaches in Costa Rica, aside from its astonishing beauty. The waters are calm and perfect for snorkeling and swimming.

When I heard of this place, I encouraged my husband, Tim, to join me on Tortuga Island. So we took a drive from Jaco to Punta Arenas, and then from there, we boarded a speedboat, traveling across the Nicoya Gulf to Negritos Island Wildlife Reserve, where we had a stop to see monkeys and dolphins before heading for the Island.

At Tortuga Island, we rented beach chairs, ate some delicious food, drank, played volleyball on the beach sand, and finally laid in the sun and watched other tourists snorkel and kayak on the calm waters.

It was a fun experience and a must-visit spot if you are in Jaco and looking for fun things to do.

Pro Tip

• Regardless of how excited you are on the beach sand, do not forget yourself or expose your valuables in public. There are lots of petty thieves around here.
• For your own safety, do not swim or move to a secluded part of the beach. Stay where people are.
• Do not get into the water if you cannot swim. Laying on the beach chairs or playing volleyball is better than endangering your life.

Visit the beaches in Jaco

Jacob is a park full of beautiful beaches. From beaches with calm waters like Playa Mantas and Playa Blanca to the famous ones with the strongest waves like Playa Hermosa,.

You can never go wrong with exploring these pristine beaches in the heart of Jaco. However, if you are looking for a beach to relax or swim with family and friends on a sunny day, I highly recommend the Mantas and Blanca beaches.

They both have the calmest waters I have ever seen in all of Jaco. And on top of that, the water at Playa Mantas is very shallow, especially during the low tides, so kids can play in it.

Other beaches, like Herradura and Esterillos, are great too and have stunning sunsets.

All of the beaches in Jaco are not really close to each other; however , they are free and within drivable distances from Jaco town. So get prepared to explore!

Friendly Advice

• No matter how shallow the water is, do not leave your kids unsupervised.
• Visit these beaches with your sunscreen, sun shades, and hat so you don’t get sunburnt.
• Keep your valuables out of public sight. There are pickpockets lurking around.

Visit the Tarcoles River 

The Tarcoles River is large and filled with the biggest crocodiles (about 5 meters) that I have ever seen in my life. The river is north of Jaco town, just a few minutes walk from Playa Mantas, one of the tourist attractions in Jaco. 

There is an overhead bridge above the river where you can stay around and still get to see these giant crocodiles. 

However, just like I did, you can take a walk on the pedestrian path down the bridge to get a closer look at the crocodiles. At this spot, you will see them better and be able to count over 20 crocodiles, just like I did.

And if you are ready for a daredevil adventure, you can take a boat cruise tour around the river for a closer look. But if you are like me, who is scared of risky adventures like that, I would advise you to keep a safe distance at the bridge.

Go Deep-sea Fishing 

Before Jaco became a famous beach town, it was first a small fishing village in Costa Rica. This is why deep-sea fishing is one of the activities you can do here for fun.

As someone who loves fishing, going deep-sea fishing was on top of my list of things to do in Jaco. So when I arrived, I decided not to skip it for anything in the world.

So to start with, we hired a fishing charter from the sea port (you can readily see a lot of these at the seaport in Jaco) and headed out at dawn on a three-hour tour to catch some fish at the coast of Jaco.

This cost us about $150, and at the end of the three-hour tour, we were able to catch 21 tunas and 8 Mackerel.

The fishing expedition was fun and done with professionals. I would advise you to book your fishing tour a day in advance if you want to go on a trip like this. 

You will readily find tours like this at the sea port in Jaco. You can also ask around or, better yet, check online for tours like this in town.

Take an ATV Tour 

One of the fun things to do in Jaco, as with other parts of the country, is to go on ATV tours.

This tour takes you through diverse landscapes and trails in the country side of Jaco and is mostly done in groups. Our ATV tour started off with exploring different rainforest trails, then we drove across rivers, spotting wildlife like monkeys and birds on top of trees as we drove.

Then we cooled off at a nearby waterfall before heading back to town, traversing between mountainous views, rivers, lush rainforest, and another waterfall, and then came to the end of our tour. 

The entire tour took us about 5 hours. Some tours take up to 15 to 20 hours, depending on the distance and how energetic you are for it. The best thing is to keep in mind that your entire day will be used up, so go prepared for an exciting adventure.

Visit Manuel Antonio National Park

The outstanding Manuel Antonio National Park is a one-hour drive from Jaco and home to stunning views, a lush rainforest, and varied wildlife. 

The good thing about Manuel Antonio National Park is that it is small in size, so you can easily walk to the left and right of it without feeling exhausted.

When we visited, we did the hiking alone and were able to spot a handful of wildlife, like birds, a sloth, and monkeys, because it was not the first time for us. However, if this is your first time here, I would encourage you to hire an expert tour guide to help you spot wildlife.

They are so good and helpful that you will be surprised at how many wildlife they are able to spot that you could not have been able to if you were hiking alone.

You can ask your tour agency to book one for you, and if you did not pass through a travel and tour agency, you can easily find these tour guides around the National Park, and their services are affordable too.

After you are done with the tours, you can swim in the white sand beaches located in the park before heading back to Jaco.

Visit The El Miro viewpoint 

If you want to have a spectacular view of Jaco town from the outskirts of the city, then you have to visit the El Miro Viewpoint.

The El Miro Viewpoint is an abandoned hotel that was never finished and has been turned into a tourist spot in Jaco by visitors.

When we heard of this place, we decided to go see for ourselves, and even though the views of this place were nothing short of spectacular, especially the sunset, getting here was not a walk in the park because the abandoned road is in terrible condition.

The El Miro viewpoint is located at the southern end of Jaco town. So you can either drive here, take a taxi, or walk, but just know that you will have to alight at the beginning of the trail if you came with a car because the road up to the building is in terrible condition.

Apart from the road, this place is a must-visit spot in Jaco, but ensure you leave before dark if you went alone and travel in groups to avoid the petty theft that happens on the road after dark.

Watch a spectacular sunset at Villa Caletas

There are so many places I love to watch the beautiful sunset in Jaco. However, Villa Caletas is one of my top go-to places.

Villa Caletas is a hotel 15 minutes drive from Jaco town. When you get here, you will see quite a number of tourists visiting to watch the incredible sunset!

Aside from the sunsets, you can order some delicious food and cocktails here while you enjoy the views from your table. 

Coming here is quite easy because the road is paved and would cost you about 7,000 colonies, which is $14 each way.

Canyoning 

One underrated yet adrenaline-filled activity to do in Jaco is canyoning. It is a sport that involves jumping and climbing through a canyon to the bottom of waterfalls, where you get to swim.

When Tim and I first did this sport, we had to climb down a 90-meters waterfall, and I was screaming all along because of the height, but it was all fun and I found myself doing it over and over again.

There are quite a number of reputable canyoning tours like this (link) in Jaco that you can book tours with and enjoy an adrenaline-filled activity.

Pro Tip

• Most cayoning tours provide you with all of the safety gear you need for this activity. If they do not, insist on getting one before making payments.
• It is not much of a physical activity. However, you need to be physically fit before embarking on a tour like this.
• Consult your doctor before making this tour or any at all; this will require a bit of physical strength.
• Take it slow and look down to see where you will land to better prepare yourself for the future.

Stand-Up Paddle Board

If you ever want to have a full view of the coastal part of Jaco, I would encourage you to go on a Stand-up paddleboarding tour with a kayak. 

To embark on this tour, you take a 20-minute drive to Playa Agujas from Jaco town. And then paddle by yourself or in a group from Playa Agujas to Playa Mantas and Playa Blanca.

The stand-up paddleboarding was one of the best activities we participated in at Jaco, and we really had an amazing time and view of the ocean, especially the group of rays at Playa Mantas.

Aside from that, stand-up paddleboarding is an excellent form of exercise that helps both the mind and body connect with the ocean.

Party 

How would you say you visited this happening surf town without partying when it is no secret that Jaco is a party town?

The nightlife here is wild and nothing like what I have seen in all of Costa Rica. Other surf towns like Tamarindo can come close, but Jaco remains on top when it comes to partying and nightlife activities.

For this reason, many tourists come for the energetic nightlife that spans from the northern to the southern parts of Jaco, even along the beaches.

When you visit Jaco, you will notice the party starts at the beachfront once the sun goes down and transcends to popular nightclubs like Republik Lounge and Jaco Blu until 11 pm because of the restrictions in Jaco.

So if you are an energetic person who loves to party, Jaco is the perfect place to visit.

Birdwatching

Whether you are an avid birder or not, Jaco is one of the best places for you to spot and watch different species of birds.

It is so because Jaco is the starting point of a tropical rainforest, so a lot of wildlife, especially birds, tends to converge here first before migrating to other parts of the country.

One place you can see a lot of bird species is in Carara National Park. When we visited, we saw so many bird species, like Toucans, Hummingbirds, and most especially the Scarlet Macaws. 

Also, you can easily watch birds flying around from most of the hotels and accommodation options in Jaco.

How To Get To Jaco

Jaco is a district of the Garabito Canton located in the province of Puntarenas. It is the main beach town on the central Pacific Coast and is close to the capital city of San Jose.

A 1.5-hour drive southwest of the San Jose Airport on a well-paved road will get you to Jaco. Moving around the city is also not hard. 

You will easily see a taxi, a shuttle, or something public that will get you to your destination in no time.

If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica and would be visiting Jacó, you should check out our guide on the 10 Best Beaches in Jacó for some sun and sand. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is the best time to visit Jaco?

The best time of the year to visit Jaco is from May through November. It is the best time to engage in most of the fun activities in Jaco. Aside from that, the cost of tourist visits is usually lower and cheaper during this period.

What are the pros and cons of visiting Jaco? 

Pros: Jaco is not just one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica. And it is also the most developed beach town, so there are lots of accommodation, shopping, dining, and entertainment options to choose from.

Cons: Jaco is too touristy, expensive, noisy, and overcrowded. It is not a family-friendly town because of its wild nightlife.

How long should I spend in Jaco?

The length of time you should spend in Jaco depends solely on your budget, lifestyle, and preferences. For someone who is on a tight budget, 2 to 3 days of vacation are fine. 

However, if you have the means, you can stay for as long as you want.