Where to Stay in Jacó: The Town and the Beaches Nearby
Where you sleep decides how you spend the trip: on foot or by car, lively or quiet, learning to surf or chasing big waves. Here is how the areas compare.
The short version
- Stay in town if you want to walk everywhere: the beach, restaurants, shops and tour pickups are all close.
- The south end of the beach has gentler waves, the favorite place to learn to surf.
- Herradura and Los Sueños, just north, suit golf, sport fishing and a quieter beach, but you will want a car.
- Playa Hermosa, just south, is a long, quiet, dark-sand beach with powerful waves for experienced surfers.
- We are in the center of Jacó, across from the park, two minutes on foot from the beach.
In town: the center of Jacó
The center is the liveliest part of Jacó and the easiest place to stay without a car. The beach, restaurants, cafes, shops and tour pickups are all a short walk away, and the town is easy to get around on foot or by bike.
That is where we are: across from the park on Avenida Pastor Díaz, two minutes on foot from the beach.
The south end of the beach
The waves at the south end of Jacó's beach are usually gentler, which makes it the favorite place to learn to surf. Right by the river mouth at the far south end the currents get stronger, so beginners are better off starting a little north of it, ideally with an instructor.
Just outside town
Herradura and Los Sueños
A short drive north, Playa Herradura is a sheltered bay and home to the Los Sueños marina and golf course. It suits golf, sport fishing and quiet beach days, but restaurants and the rest of Jacó are a drive away.
Playa Hermosa
Just south of Jacó, Playa Hermosa is a long, dark-sand beach that became Central America's first World Surfing Reserve in 2020. Its waves are powerful and best left to experienced surfers, and it is quieter, with only a small cluster of places to eat and stay at its north end.
What to look for in a place to stay
- Walking distance to the beach, so you are not driving to the sand every day.
- Air conditioning: Jacó is warm all year.
- Breakfast included, so the day starts without a search for coffee.
- Parking if you are driving, and a front desk that can book tours and airport transfers.
- Check-in and check-out times that fit your flights.
Staying with us
Bird of Paradise is a small hotel of eighteen rooms around one pool, in the middle of town. Breakfast is included with every room and served at Paradise Grille from 7:30 to 10:00 AM. The rooms range from queen rooms and twin rooms to suites with twice the space and two balconies, and every room has air conditioning. Parking on site is free, guests get two hours of complimentary bicycle use, and the front desk books tours and airport transfers.
Check-in is at 4 PM and check-out at 11 AM, and the guest who checks in must be 21 or older. Coming with a group? See planning a group trip.
Questions travelers ask
What is the best area to stay in Jacó?
For most visitors, the center of town: the beach, restaurants and tour pickups are all within walking distance. Experienced surfers may prefer Playa Hermosa, and golfers Herradura.
Do I need a car if I stay in Jacó?
Not if you stay in town. The beach and town are walkable, and most tours include transport from the hotel.
Is Playa Hermosa good for beginners?
No. Its waves are powerful and best for experienced surfers. Beginners do better at the south end of Jacó's beach.
How far is Bird of Paradise Hotel from the beach?
About two minutes on foot.
