Jaco area and its surrounding beaches are located south of the town of Puntarenas on the mid pacific coast of Costa Rica. Jaco is one of the most popular beach and surfing destinations and also the nearest to the capital city of San Jose.  The area of Jaco is home to the Carara Biological Reserve where the transitional tropical forest shares with visitors plenty of wildlife and flora.

Being one of the most developed coastal towns in Costa Rica, staying in the area of Jaco allows visitors to choose from inexpensive accommodations up to deluxe resorts and intimate boutique hotels as well as wide variety of services including a full service marina. The bustling town of Jaco is famous for its active nightlife and variety of restaurants with a casual and relaxed atmosphere.  Plenty of activities are available during your stay at Jaco area, including natural history and adventure tours.

Highlights

Carara Biological Reserve
The Carara Biological Reserve, with its 4700 hectares of transitional forest, is home to an amazing display of flora and fauna in Costa Rica. The refuge protects a combination of dry and wet climatic zones and their representative species.  The endangered scarlet macaw is one of Carara´s most valued residents. More than 50 pairs are bred in the reserve and can be seen migrating between the tropical wet forest and the mangrove as the sun sets and rises.  Their nests are also protected against animal and human thieves thus guaranteeing the survival of the specie.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the forest on clearly marked trails and spot capuchin, spider and howler monkeys, coatis, ocelots, poison dart frogs, peccaries and great anteaters.  Bird watching is great in the park and its surrounding areas where toucans, kingfishers, parrots, fiery billed aracari and scarlet macaws can easily be spotted.  The nearby mangrove and wetland systems also provide a home to more than 400 species of birds, considered the largest collection of avian wildlife in Costa Rica and Central America.

Los Sueños Marina
Los Sueños Marina is located next to Los Sueños Marriott Beach & Golf Resort, being the only government sanctioned marina in Costa Rica. With 200 wet slips accommodating vessels of up to 180 feet in length, and 100 dry slips for vessels of up to 35 feet in length, fuel dock, and full-time staff, the Los Sueños Marina is the ultimate full service port, thus being the most important site for sport fishing charters on the mid-pacific coast of Costa Rica.  Marina Los Sueños is home to important yearly international tournaments such as Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series and the Los Sueños Marlin Invitational.

Surfing
Considered one of Costa Rica’s most visited surfing areas, the town of Jaco hosts a wide range of surf shops and ding repair facilities. The beach itself is a fun beach break, and it is home to some of Costa Rica´s best surfers. Jaco Beach tends to close out on larger swells but its central location and wide range of amenities make it a good base for surf adventures to nearby surf spots.  Roca Loca (Crazy Rock) with its tricky wave breaks right over submerged, shallow rocks is best during large swells; or Hermosa Beach offering the most consistent beach break in the area, where deep waters off the coast and exposure to different swells have built up a variety of sand bars.