Jacó
Jacó, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: April–November
Jacó is a town and a long, gently curving sandy beach on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in the province of Puntarenas, about two hours by road from San José. Being the nearest surf beach to the capital, it is one of the busiest surf towns in the country.
The beach faces west and south-west and picks up south and south-west swells, which are biggest from about April to November, the green (rainy) season. In the dry season from December to April the waves are usually smaller and cleaner, with offshore east and north-east winds in the mornings and onshore sea breezes in the afternoons. The waves break over sand and are softer than at nearby Playa Hermosa, which makes Jacó a good place for beginners and improvers on small days, while bigger swells bring closeouts. Rip currents are common, especially near the river mouths, and crocodiles live in the rivers of this coast, so avoid river mouths. The line-up is busy, and the water is warm all year (about 27–30°C), so boardshorts or a lycra are enough.
Spots near Jacó
- Playa Hermosa – Jacó (5 km)
- Esterillos (16 km)
- Boca Barranca (42 km)
- Santa Teresa (60 km)
- Dominical (93 km)
- Lake Arenal – Tilarán (109 km)
- Nosara – Playa Guiones (119 km)
- Playa Negra – Guanacaste (147 km)