Why Jaco Doesn’t Always Mean Jaco

When you first start learning more about Costa Rica and begin investigating places to visit, there is no doubt that Jaco Beach will come up as one of the most popular destinations. And while it IS the most visited beachtown in Costa Rica, it’s not always the place that everyone is necessarily looking for [...]

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and that’s fine, but what a lot of people don’t understand is that many times Jaco doesn’t necessarily just mean Jaco. I live and work out of Jaco Beach, but Jaco is just the hub for the entire Central Pacific and most of the time when people refer to Jaco they are referring to the entire region from Punta Leona all the way to Esterillos.

Unfortunately many of the smaller beaches and areas outside Jaco remain completely undiscovered to many. Let’s take a quick summary of some of the different areas found in the “Jaco” area, all within 5-20 minutes away!

Punta Leona
Not frequented much by tourists, who barely even know of its existence because of its unique location, Punta Leona is a fascinating place to visit for nature lovers, bird watchers and families alike, who are given a rare insight into the rich biological diversity of Costa Rica.

Home to countless beautiful Scarlet Macaws, the reserve is also the dwelling place of a number of indigenous birds and animals like the Marbled Wood Quail, the Three-wattled Bellbird, Hummingbirds, Toucans, Spider Monkeys, White-faced Monkeys, White-nosed Coatimundis, iguanas and a variety of beautiful butterflies.

Herradura
Thanks to the Los Suenos Resort, this area features great amenities, like shopping, spas, golfing, the regions only marina and one of the nicest boutique hotels in the country. The area is rapidly becoming one of the biggest tourism developments in Costa Rica, however, with its tranquil waters, Playa Herradura still draws in a number of locals who want a quiet getaway.
Hermosa
Playa Hermosa offers surfers some of the best and most consistent surf breaks in the world. Located just two miles outside of Jaco Playa Hermosa is obviously ideal for more serious surfers, but also perfect for spending a day lounging in the sun with a good book, as not many people come here often. Esterillos
Often a favorite among Canadians, this area features beautiful and quiet beaches and remains fairly undeveloped. The area is also very popular with surfers and many people like it’s village like charm. While the area offers some seclusion it is still just a 20 minute drive to Jaco making it convenient for shopping and services.

Playa Hermosa offers surfers some of the best and most consistent surf breaks in the world. Located just two miles outside of Jaco Playa Hermosa is obviously ideal for more serious surfers, but also perfect for spending a day lounging in the sun with a good book, as not many people come here often. Esterillos
Often a favorite among Canadians, this area features beautiful and quiet beaches and remains fairly undeveloped. The area is also very popular with surfers and many people like it’s village like charm. While the area offers some seclusion it is still just a 20 minute drive to Jaco making it convenient for shopping and services.

My wife and I live in Jaco, but enjoy going traveling to different beaches in the area, like this one here in Esterillos.