How to Reach and How do you get around in Jaco Costa Rica?

and How do you get around in Jaco, Costa Rica

How to Reach

Getting There

Air

There isn't a regional airport in Jaco. However, the trip to Jaco from Alajuela's Juan Santa Maria International Airport just takes an hour and a half. The nearest airport to Jaco that is serviced by regional airlines, Sansa and Nature Air, is in Quepos, Manuel Antonio, which is 50 minutes away.

Car

Depending on traffic and road conditions, it takes slightly over an hour and a half to drive from San Jose to Jaco. The Caldera Route 27, which runs from the western edge of San Jose southward toward the Pacific coast, is the quickest route. Follow the signs to Jaco after turning right onto Route 34 heading toward Orotina. Tolls should cost around $5 and are paid in Costa Rican Colones.

Bus

At 5 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., buses leave from the Coca Cola Station (Avenida 1 and Calle 16); 2223-1109. Any bus travelling south of Jaco, such as those to Quepos or Manuel Antonio, will pass by Hermosa Beach on its way to or from San Jose. Taxis from Jaco to Hermosa Beach run between $10 and $15; buses go for $1.

Collective Shuttle Bus

Both the Juan Santamaria International Airport and downtown San Jose offer shuttle services to Jaco and the hotels in the area. Surfboards must be transported separately for an additional $15, and prices are $45 per person each trip. Daily departures from San Jose hotels are scheduled for 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and from Juan Santamaria Airport for 8:00 a.m. and 3:55 p.m.

Getting Around

The majority of the eateries, bars, and nightlife are concentrated along a two-mile stretch of Pastor Diaz, the town's main thoroughfare. While it is possible to navigate the town on foot, it is preferable to rent a car if you like to travel to the adjacent beaches of Hermosa (15 minutes), Herredura (10 minutes), Esterillos (30 minutes), or Bejuco (40 minutes) (although the local bus will also take you there).

On Foot

The greatest way to see Jaco is on foot. Pastor Diaz's paved pathways run parallel to the beach, which is surrounded by a variety of close-by stores, boutiques, galleries, cafes, restaurants, and bars. Beachgoers can quickly leave the beach in their bathing suits to get a bite to eat or to shop. All of the hotels in downtown Jaco are accessible by foot from shopping centers, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, and restaurants.

Taxi

For local sightseeing, taxis are both inexpensive and swift, especially when shared by three or four persons. Official cabs have a metre and are painted red. It is always preferable to haggle over a fare in advance of any lengthy travel. Calling Jaco taxis: 2643-3030, 2643-2020, or 2643-1919

Bikes, motorcycles & scooters

Mountain bikes can be borrowed for free from some hotels while beach cruisers can be rented for $10 per day at others. To explore the parks, gardens, and other attractions in the area, you can also rent a scooter ($90 per day).

Bus

For Herradura Beach: From 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., a bus travels hourly between Jaco and Playa Herradura. Take any bus headed for San Jose, Orotina, or Puntarenas for roughly $1 to go to Carara National Park; just tell the driver you want to get out at Carara. Catch a local bus from Jaco to Quepos or Manuel Antonio, which run every two hours and cost about $1, for Hermosa, Esterillos, or Bejuco Beach.

Jaco Bachelor Party Experts