Things to Do in Jacó, Costa Rica: A Local Guide
Surf lessons, island days, waterfalls, wildlife and street art, all within reach of town. Here is how we would spend a week in Jacó.
The short version
- Take a surf lesson on Jacó's forgiving beach break, a two minute walk from the hotel.
- Walk the guided street art tour past more than eighteen murals. It starts at our front gate.
- Spend a full day on a boat trip to Tortuga Island.
- Head into the hills for a waterfall, a zip line or an ATV ride.
- Give a day to Manuel Antonio National Park for sloths, monkeys and beaches.
On the water
Jacó sits on a long, open beach on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast, and the hotel is a two minute walk from the sand. Most first days start here.
Surf lessons
Jacó's beach break is a forgiving place to learn. Lessons come with a board and a local surfer who grew up on this beach. Beginners are welcome, and groups can book longer coaching blocks.
Tortuga Island
Give a full day to the Gulf of Nicoya: a boat ride out to Tortuga Island, time to swim and snorkel off a white sand beach, and lunch on the island before the ride home.
Mangroves, monkeys and crocodiles
For a slower morning, the monkey tour heads into the mangrove channels by kayak or small boat, looking for howler and white faced monkeys, herons and crocodiles. It is easy going, good for families and best in the morning. The crocodile tour cruises the mangroves to get close to American crocodiles and the birds that live alongside them.
Monkey Tour
Half day · Quiet water, by kayak or by boat.
Crocodile Tour
Half day · Mangrove channels, American crocodiles and exotic birds.
In town
Jacó's walls are covered in murals, and more than eighteen of them are on the guided walking street art tour. It takes about two easy hours on foot, runs daily and starts at our front gate. The tour is run by an independent local guide, and we can book your place at the front desk.
Guests also get two hours of complimentary bicycle use, an easy way to get around town.
Into the hills
The rainforest starts in the hills just behind town, and most of these outings take half a day or less.
Waterfalls
A short drive from Jacó takes you into the rainforest to swim beneath a cool waterfall, followed by a canopy run through the treetops, with guides, transport and gear included. If you would rather go on horseback, the riding tour crosses a private 250 hectare estate on gentle, well trained horses, then a short path leads on foot to the waterfalls after a 45 minute ride.
Waterfall & Canopy
Half day · Swim under a jungle waterfall, then fly above it.
Horseback Riding
Half day · A rainforest ride on a private estate, then a short hike to waterfalls.
ATV, buggy or zip line
The ATV tour rides the back roads and river beds above Jacó with a local guide, and suits first timers and confident riders alike. The buggy tour is the easier choice for families and groups, with room for four in each buggy and a guide leading the way to mountain viewpoints. Both take three to four hours. The zip line is a full circuit of cables, bridges and a rappel in the hills behind town, with transport from the hotel door.
ATV & Waterfall
3 to 4 hours · Mud, river crossings, and ridgeline views over the coast.
Buggy & Waterfall
3 to 4 hours · Side by side buggies through mud, creeks, and back roads.
Zip Line
Half day · Cables, bridges, and a rappel through the canopy.
Big adventure days
Whitewater rafting runs class II to IV rapids through green jungle canyons with certified guides, with calm stretches to float and swim, and transport from the hotel, gear and lunch arranged for you. Extreme canyoning is a full day of rappelling waterfalls in the rainforest above the coast. It is the most physical day on our list, and the one guests talk about longest.
Whitewater Rafting
Half day · Class II to IV rapids through jungle gorges.
Extreme Canyoning
Full day · Rappel down waterfalls all day long.
Day trips further afield
Manuel Antonio National Park is a full guided day with transport from Jacó, leaving early, around 6:30 AM: sloths, capuchins and toucans on the trails, then time on the beaches inside the park. For something gentler, the chocolate tour visits Costa Rica's first international cocoa collection, where you taste fresh cocoa fruit and chocolates paired with tropical fruits.
Manuel Antonio
Full day · Sloths, monkeys and white sand beaches inside the park.
Chocolate Tour
Half day · Fresh cocoa fruit and chocolate, paired with tropical fruits.
A week in Jacó
If you have a week, this is the rhythm we suggest. Breakfast is included with every room and served at Paradise Grille from 7:30 to 10:00 AM, so each day starts in the same place.
- Arrival day: check in from 4 PM and walk down to the beach for sunset.
- A morning surf lesson, then the street art tour.
- A full day at Tortuga Island.
- Into the hills: waterfall and canopy, an ATV ride or horseback.
- The monkey tour in the morning, then a slow afternoon by the pool.
- Manuel Antonio, or rafting if you want your heart going.
- Last morning: one more swim before check-out at 11 AM.
Would you rather have it planned for you? Build your trip and we will put the days together around your dates.
Questions travelers ask
Is Jacó good for beginner surfers?
Yes. Jacó's beach break is forgiving, and surf lessons with local surfers welcome beginners.
How far is Bird of Paradise Hotel from the beach?
About a two minute walk.
Can the hotel book tours for us?
Yes. Add tours to your reservation when you book and pay with your room, or ask at the front desk. If you are not staying with us, you can still request a tour on its own.
Which tours are best for families?
The monkey tour is easy going and good for families, and the buggy tour has room for four in each buggy.
What is the most adventurous tour?
Extreme canyoning: a full day of rappelling waterfalls, and the most physical day on our list.
