If you are a city dweller scrolling through friends’ beach pictures on Instagram, wishing to escape the bustle of your hectic life, Jacó is the place for you!
Be it a wild bachelorette trip, a solo retreat, or a family holiday, this town has something to offer for everybody. It is located barely 1.5 hours away from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Costa Rica. Jacó is among the most developed beach towns in the country. It also isn’t far from San José, the capital city of Costa Rica, making the town’s population a healthy mix of locals, tourists, and families who are vacationing.
Jacó is an ideal blend of being a scenic beauty with green hills and farm pastures in the distance, while also being a party hub. Those traveling with family need not worry though, there are numerous other attractions where your little ones can tag along. From zip-line tours and surf lessons to ATVs, catamaran cruises, and sport fishing, various activities can be booked for adventure enthusiasts! Here’s what you can do in Jacó.
Carara National Park
Jacó boasts of a vast expanse of rainforest just north of the town. One can visit the primary and secondary forests through the Carara national park. If your idea of fun includes birdwatching, then you are in for a treat. With more than 400 different bird species identified, Carara is one of the prime birding spots in the country. To learn more about native wildlife, just book a guided tour.
Aerial Tram Ride
Catch an open-air gondola to enjoy the scenic views of the jungle and the Pacific Ocean from above. A relaxing tram ride through the rainforest will be a family-friendly activity, where all can join in, be it seniors or people with limited mobility. Assisted by a knowledgeable guide, you can also learn about the lush vegetation in the jungle.
Crocodile tour at Tarcoles River
The great river of Tarcoles has the largest concentration of crocodiles per square kilometer in Central America. The mouth of the Tarcoles river is home to diverse wildlife in addition to the crocs due to the unique convergence of three ecosystems- swamps, river, and the Pacific Ocean. Your guide can show you the incredible variety of mammals, reptiles, and birds that flourish here. Watch the beautiful mangroves and try to spot monkeys, sloths, iguanas, pelicans, gulls, etc. depending on the season.
Neo Fauna
Now, this might be a kids’ favorite! This wildlife center takes in injured animals to help them rehabilitate. A tour guide could take you around the facility to watch some of the creatures being cared for. Not only will this be a good lesson for kids to learn about coexisting in an ecosystem, but they might also get to hold some of the animals!