The beach town of Jacó continues to attract visitors, its closeness to the city has a lot to do with this as for many it is the perfect destination for a day trip to the beach; a lot of people talk about the insecurity of the area or have a negative view of the place because they perceive it as a “party” zone.

Granted, Jacó has quite a party atmosphere as do most beach towns, but it also has a lot to offer for families and different kind of visitors, it is just a matter of knowing which places to go to, so here are a few recommendations of places in Jacó or close by that are ideal to enjoy a day or weekend in this coastal city, you have to be up for some adventure and open to new experiences.

Surf Camp: One of the main activities in Jacó is of course surfing, if this is something you’ve always wanted to try, this is the best place to do so, there are different options to choose from, Del Mar Surf Camp or Tortuga Surf Camp both have experienced instructors for surf and stand up paddle (SUP), whether you are a beginner or you want to improve your technique, take a few lessons, enjoy the ocean and do some exercise, you’ll feel better than ever. Another advantage to this is that locals can always point you to the best new spots and attractions in town.

Ocean Ranch Adventure Park: 10 minutes away from Jacó, close to Hermosa beach, you’ll find this 850 acre property which offers a wide number of different adventure activities in one place, the property has 5 waterfalls and 6 kilometers of river and of course abundance of nature with all the wonders only Costa Rica offers. Horseback riding, ATV tours, Waterfall Rappel, Zip lining. The experienced personnel can also arrange other tours for you such as sport fishing tours, catamaran and bird watching.

Jungle Crocodile Safari: The Tarcoles river is just 20 minutes away from Jacó, this tour takes almost two hours; you board a small boat that takes you through the river where you can spot different birds and of course many crocodiles, fun and educational.

Tranopy Tour: If you want to explore the rainforest but zip lining and canopy are not your thing, perhaps you’ll feel more comfortable in an aerial tram; the gondola ride takes one hour and you also get to visit their butterfly garden, terrarium and medicinal plants garden. This is an option offered by Rainforest Adventures and they can combine this tour with other alternatives like the sky bridge if you wish to do so.

Jacó Ropes: Ropes course obstacles, this place offers zip lining with a twist, they have Surf in the Air, Tire Pass and Tarzan Swing, awesome for families with kids and groups of friends. Accessible and fun.

Jacó Theater: Check out what they are showing when you are visiting, they quality of the presentations is actually very good and sometimes they have good shows for kids.

The Green Room: This place offers live music, stand-up comedy, art exhibits, theater or dance; enjoy the show while you get a refreshing craft beer and delicious food.

The Hangout: A bar and restaurant located in the center of Jacó, great food and live music.

The Beer House: Awesome place to have a nice, relaxing dinner.

The Taco Joint: Fast food, simple and informal but delicious