Traveling to Jaco, Costa Rica

VIRTUAL TOUR OF JACO DOWNTOWN AND JACO BEACHFRONT

This location tour of Playa Jaco, Costa Rica, was recorded in April 2010. We will start from the north side of town, from where the future Sonesta Hotel is located. Sonesta is one of several condo hotels in construction stages in Jaco. Other branded 4 and 5 star resort hotels are underway which will bring large convention and meeting facilities to Jaco as well as many more restaurants. Jaco already offers a great variety of accommodations, from hotels to hostels to vacation rental complexes and beachfront homes. With the new highway to Caldera Port completed, San Jose is now closer than ever, and the demand for holiday accommodation on Jaco Beach is expected to rise.

We will turn into Jaco and cruise down the main street from the highway turnoff, and then visit each side streets that lead to the beachfront. Next to the Sonesta Hotel where we begin our tour is the high-profile ‘I love Sushi’ restaurant, then just past Sonesta Hotel is Gem golf cart sales and services outlet, followed by Costa Linda condo complex, Fakin surf school and Congas bar and soda in the corner where we take a right turn to get to the northern most part of Jaco beach. First up on the right as we turn back south is The Palms condominium complex with 1, 2 and 4 bedrooms, managed by Daystar Properties. A short way further south we come to a beachfront vacation rentals complex called La Flor, with a cluster of small stand-alone condo villas. Pass the intersection into the main street, on the left is a small commercial center called Plaza Jaco which houses the BCR bank, Pizza Hut and a small eatery.

On the right we pass the Acqua Residences and the Best Western Hotel (do not stay here unless you like loud disco music which plays up to midnight 5 nights a week). Economy car rental outlet is next, and opposite is a Mexican restaurant (happy hour discount is offered for special cocktails, minus the alcohol!) with nice live music from the babby boomers era. On the left as we proceed we have Wow surf shop, a bakery, entrance to Las Villas Paraiso, AXR Jaco tours, Century 21 real estate, a fresh juice bar, Hotel Los 4 Grandes, Best Brands, Mexican Joe’s internet café and the infamous Beatle bar. Opposite on the right we pass a local soda specializing in cerviche, a pharmacy, and a small commercial center with a gifts shop, a medical emergency outlet and a Cuban cigar shop.

Opposite the Beatle bar on the right we have Pollo Express, a fast food soda, a swimming pool equipment shop and a baby clothes shop. The Hotel Roble Mar and Wahoos seafood restaurant are next, followed by an internet café, Hotel Canciones del Mar, another internet café and a swimwear outlet. All these are opposite a public park on the left named Johannes Dankers Park.

On the left we pass another infamous Jaco Beach night joint, the Monkey Bar, located next to a pharmacy, Realty Executives real estate, Roller Wraps fast food, a ladies clothes shop, a household goods general store, and Subs Quinos sandwich shop. Opposite we see Phoenix Sportfishing, Paradise Hotel, Sunrise breakfast restaurant, a Pizza restaurant, Pacific Bistro and a backpackers’ hostel. Continuing on the left we come to the first major commercial center in Jaco called Pacific Center. Here you can find the chamber of commerce, Auto Decoration, Cable Jaco, Jumbo Juice bar, an air condition supply shop, a graphic design studio, a real estate office, La France gourmet café and pastry. Opposite all these is the development site of Diamante condominium complex by Daystar Properties.

As we approach the first bridge, on the left we pass Jaco Real Estate info center, an electrical shop, the Mujer Boutique, a batik clothes shop, Jungle Bar and Grill, a Subway outlet, Payless Car Rental and ATV rental and tours. Opposite them on the right we see Tangeri, a steak and seafood restaurant, Hotel Tangeri and Golden Rod sportfishing. After the bridge, first up on the left is The Wok, offering simple stirfry dishes, another real estate office and Budget Car Rental. As we proceed south, on the right we have a supermarket, Nexus real estate, an Italian restaurant and Walters Surf Shop. In a small commercial complex next are Mango Surf and Skate, Coldwell Banker, Jaco 360 information center which specializes in tours and sportsfishing. Further on we have a bike rental outlet, a beachwear shop, Jaco Surf Shop and El Para Surf Shop.

Over to the left as we head into the heart of Jaco we see Big Paws subs and pizza, a cigar shop, Mandarina juice bar, a Tatoo joint, El Picaro Pizza and another internet café by Mexican Joe’s. They are followed by Jaco Inn and Hostel and Tabacon bar and restaurant. Guajira arts and crafts shop and a souvenir and clothes shop follow. Opposite these we pass Soleil Boutique, Seafood Place restaurant, Serenity Spa, Zuma rent-a-car, a flower shop, Bambu restaurant, ‘Green’ tours and sportfishing, Tropra Garden Aparthotel, Terra Cotta arts and crafts and the popular Wish Bone restaurant.

Centro Commercial building is now on the left where we see numerous commercial and retail outlets. First up is the Plankton Bar and Disco, then TCBY Yogurt, Tsunami Sushi, a drug store, Bac San Jose, lawyer and dental offices, CR Beach real estate and rentals, a café and a juice bar, Tantra Spa, InterBus office and Las Vegas tours center, Solutions Tourism Services and BCR bank. Next to them on the left is the Costa Brava commercial building which houses DayStar Properties, Zukia Art, an internet and video club, a money exchange outlet, Goa Batik Clothes and Nazareth massage.

Back on the right after Wish Bone restaurant going south we have Coconut Bar and Restaurant, Tango Sportsfishing, a supermarket and Ruka Laka surf lessons. Now we are directly opposite the Costa Brava building, and we have a household goods general store, a coffee shop, a tours and sportfishing booking office, and Angus Steak House which offers Argentinian beef (nice evening ambiance for wine and dine; tasty steak although not as tender as it should be; all in all pleasant but pricey by Costa Rican standard). The Loft apartment building and Remax Jaco office are next door, then Hotel Cocal and Casino and a Mexican arts and crafts shop.

On the left opposite Angus is Los Amigos Restaurant and Sports Bar, a favorite hangout for those who seek American comfort food. POPs ice cream shop is next up with El Barco de los Mariscos restaurant, followed by an Italian ice creams and smoothies shop, a Pizza restaurant, Gollo electrical goods, a tourist info office, DHL Express and 4.20 tours and gear rentals. Mas x Menos supermarket is here and Banco Nacional and a cyber café are at the end of this block. Opposite on the right we have a pharmacy, Rioasis Bar and Grill, a boutique, El Cofre arts and crafts, Salsa Batik arts and crafts and B&B surf shop. The Riviera Home and Deco shop is next with Zona Libre shoes and clothes, followed by a bakery, a pharmacy, a souvenir shop, Giotto Galeria, Beach Home Rentals and Café del Mar.

Further on and still on the right we have Marisqueria El Recreo restaurant, a sweets shop, OZ Bar and Hotel, Pili Pili seafood restaurant, a chicken fastfood and a pharmacy.

Opposite on the left in a shopping complex called El Jardin, we Mar y Xinia soda, a clothes shop, Musanni bakery, Mazis boutique, Lemon Zest restaurant, Café Sahara which specializes in Lebanese food, and a lawyer’s office. We are now near the end of Jaco main street and next up on the right is Mcdrinks which sells soft drinks and burgers, Jaguar Riders and Pancho Villa Pizzeria. La Cervicheria restaurant is next, followed by an internet café, Banana surf shop, a butcher shop specializing in Argentinian beef, a coin laundry, Monge import export, and then we come to a small park.

Opposite on the right near the park we pass Alamo Car Rental, a boutique, a soda called Tacobenos, AXR rentals and tours, Floristeria flower shop, a liquor store, another soda, a fish shop selling locally caught fish and seafood, a motor repair shop and a bike shop which sells and repairs bikes. As we approach the second bridge, a small commercial center on the right houses Surfers Factory, a natural products shop, a beauty salon, Harmony Boutique and a restaurant called Sabones.

And that’s the tour of the main street through Jaco downtown. Now we return to where we started at the northern tip of Jaco beach and take a look at all the side roads which lead from the main street to the beachfront.

At the end of the first side road, take a right hand turn and you will see Clarita beach bar and restaurant which is popular with expat residents and yachters. The view from here includes a lifeguard on the beach. El Jardin hotel and restaurant, Bahia Encantada condo residences, Cabinas las Aldeas and Raquel soda are located on this side road.

Turning into the second side road as we head south on the main street we find Bar Isaga, some beach cabins and tico houses for rent, and Copacabana suites and hotel.

On the third side road are Canciones del Mar Hotel and Rilana Place which rents studio apartments.

On the fourth side road we encounter three tower complexes of luxury vacation rentals; one of them is another Daystar Properties’ project on Jaco beach called Diamante.

Side road five and six actually converge on a small beachfront strip where Jaco Beach Police Station is located, also here are Hotel Balcon and Restaurant Vista Mar, and at the corner of the fifth side road is Ganesha Beach Bar which is a hotspot for party goers. Further from the beach we pass Corpus Gym, Hotel Los Ranchos, Cabinas Mar de Plata, Vidrios Monge glass shop, Aparthotel Mau Mar, Hotel Suites Tommy G’s and Ramirez jewellery shop which is near the main street turnoff.

On the beachfront on the sixth side road are El Bohio Grill and a takeaway outlet for Tacos which also handles sportfishing tours. On this road we find another future Daystar Property called The Pacific, then Jaco Mar cabins for rent, a soda, backpackers hostel Calu, Surf Factory, a small hotel, Papas & Burgers restaurant, Wahoos seafood restaurant, Smoothies Central, Hotel Poseidon, an art café and beach wear shop, a surf shop, ATV Tours, and near the main street a boutique called Soleil Soleil.

On side road seven we find Hotel Mango and Mar, Hotel Cocal and Casino, some small cabinas, Cielo Azul vacation rentals and Hotel Zabamar.

On the side road eight, on the beach is a restaurant called Donde Flavio, Jaco Beach Towers which is a condo resort and spa complex with fractional real estate offerings, Bar Aqui me Quedo, a soda, a boutique and Oz hotel and sports bar.

At the beachfront down the ninth side road we find a huge upscale restaurant which specializes in lobster and seafood called El Hicaco, then two other restaurants called Jaco Rustico and Pancho Villa.

On side road ten we have Cabinas Alice and Vista Las Palmas vacation rentals.

Side road eleven is where we find Aparthotel Sole D’oro, Aparthotel Girasol, the entry road to DayStar Bahia Azul condo resort, Jaco Beach Village and Riviera bar and restaurant. At the end of this road you can take a left turn and drive down a small beachfront road which passes the Bahia Azul condo resort which has units and pools facing the beach.

The last side road is actually a main road that leads to the last highway exit at the southern boundary of Jaco town, where Club del Sol condo complex is located. Located at the opposite end of the highway turnoff, on the beachfront, Club del Mar marks the southern end of Playa Jaco beach itself. This road has several side roads that lead to the beachfront, and one of them in particular is home to DayStar Paloma Blanca condo resort, as well two vacation homes, Sonidos del Mar and Sonidos del Rio. On the beachfront we also find Villa Encantada, a well known luxury home among Jaco beach vacation rentals. Other establishments on this road include a mini market, Macao Condo Hotel, El Parso soda opposite the Kangaroo Hotel, Condo Villas Roma, Cabinas Stefano, Monte Rey residences, Los Pibes Pizza, Hotel Arenal Pacifico, a liquor store, Aparthotel Conchita, Duchess restaurant and bar, Black Beard restaurant, and a strikingly red and back building which houses Morgan Cove Resort and Casino.

And that’s a tour of Jaco town and Jaco Beach or better known as Playa Jaco in Costa Rica. Come and enjoy this friendly and vibrant beach town renowned for its surfs and nightly party atmosphere. You will meet many ticos and travelers from all over the world.