Jaco Costa Rica Orientation & Getting Around Jaco
- Playa de Jaco beach is a short distance off the southern highway. One main road runs parallel to Jaco beach, with a host of arteries heading toward the water; off these roads you'll find most of the hotels and restaurants.
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Getting Around Jaco, Costa Rica and surrounding area
Almost everything is within walking distance in Jaco, but you can rent a bicycle or scooter from several shops on the main street or call Jaco Taxi (tel. 2643-3030). A bike rental should run you around $8 to $12 per day, and a scooter should cost between $30 and $45 per day. There are several stands renting scooters along the main drag. Rent @ Me (tel. 643-1809) offers free shuttle service to and from your hotel.
For longer excursions, you can rent a car from Budget (tel. 2643-2265), Economy (tel. 2643-1098), National (tel. 2643-2881), Payless (tel. 2643-3224), or Zuma (tel. 2643-3207). Expect to pay approximately $50 for a 1-day rental. You might also consider talking to a local taxi driver, who'd probably take you wherever you want to go in the Jaco area for the same $50 per day. This can save you some hassle and headache and they can take you to cool places you'd never find on your own.
Getting To Jaco, Herradura, Hermosa and surrounding areas by Bus
The local Costa Rica bus lines run through most of the towns across Costa Rica, while the private bus lines mainly serve beach towns and inland tourist destinations. It cost aprox. $3 from San Jose to Jaco, $5 from San Jose to Quepos, and not much more to Guanacaste. If you choose a private bus or driver for transportation, I'd recommend if you can, purchase your tickets in advance.
Do yourself a favor. Go on the Directo bus for an easy, cheap way to get around Costa Rica. The large, new, Marco Polo buses to Jaco, Quepos and Manuel Antonio are roomy, comfortable, and have A/C. Make sure you choose the "Directo" bus. you'll save hours off your trip. The Manuel Antonio "Directo" usually has a restroom, but all buses make a pit stop on the way for bathrooms and snacks. (don't take a chance, bring some toilet paper with you - you've been warned!). The regular local Costa Rica buses are not in such good shape and will take an hour or two longer in transit. Unfortunately, if you're headed to Cahuita, Mal Pais, or more remote destinations in Costa Rica, you'll likely be traveling in a refurbished yellow school bus. Sit back and enjoy the experience.
If you are bound for Guanacaste or Arenal Volcano/Fortuna area, we recommend a private bus lines. The six-hour (or longer) bus ride is not something you'll want to experience on a local bus. If traveling with two or more people, a private van is the way to go. It won't cost you too much more and will make your entire Costa Rica vacation a more pleasant and memorable one.
Jaco: Quick Facts
Both the Banco Nacional (tel. 2643-3072) and the Banco de Costa Rica (tel. 2643-3695) have branches in town on the main road and are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3pm. There's a well-stocked Farmacia Fischel (tel. 643-2683) in the El Galeone shopping center, as well as the Farmacia Jaco (tel. 2643-3205); both are on the main road through town. There's a gas station out on the main highway, between Playa Herradura and Jaco, and a 24-hour gas station, El Arroyo, located on the highway on the southern edge of Jaco. The health center (tel. 2643-3667) and post office (tel. 2643-2175) are at the Municipal Center at the south end of Jaco.
A public phone office, where you can make international calls, is located in the ICE building on the main road, near the end of the main drag. This office is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to noon and 1 to 5pm. There are half a dozen or more Internet cafes in town, as well as several inexpensive full-service Laundromats. There's a Western Union office in a small strip mall across from La Hacienda restaurant. There's a large Max X Menos supermarket on the main drag in the center of Jaco.
Getting Around Jaco, Costa Rica and surrounding area
Almost everything is within walking distance in Jaco, but you can rent a bicycle or scooter from several shops on the main street or call Jaco Taxi (tel. 2643-3030). A bike rental should run you around $8 to $12 per day, and a scooter should cost between $30 and $45 per day. There are several stands renting scooters along the main drag. Rent @ Me (tel. 643-1809) offers free shuttle service to and from your hotel.
For longer excursions, you can rent a car from Budget (tel. 2643-2265), Economy (tel. 2643-1098), National (tel. 2643-2881), Payless (tel. 2643-3224), or Zuma (tel. 2643-3207). Expect to pay approximately $50 for a 1-day rental. You might also consider talking to a local taxi driver, who'd probably take you wherever you want to go in the Jaco area for the same $50 per day. This can save you some hassle and headache and they can take you to cool places you'd never find on your own.
Getting To Jaco, Herradura, Hermosa and surrounding areas by Bus
The local Costa Rica bus lines run through most of the towns across Costa Rica, while the private bus lines mainly serve beach towns and inland tourist destinations. It cost aprox. $3 from San Jose to Jaco, $5 from San Jose to Quepos, and not much more to Guanacaste. If you choose a private bus or driver for transportation, I'd recommend if you can, purchase your tickets in advance.
Do yourself a favor. Go on the Directo bus for an easy, cheap way to get around Costa Rica. The large, new, Marco Polo buses to Jaco, Quepos and Manuel Antonio are roomy, comfortable, and have A/C. Make sure you choose the "Directo" bus. you'll save hours off your trip. The Manuel Antonio "Directo" usually has a restroom, but all buses make a pit stop on the way for bathrooms and snacks. (don't take a chance, bring some toilet paper with you - you've been warned!). The regular local Costa Rica buses are not in such good shape and will take an hour or two longer in transit. Unfortunately, if you're headed to Cahuita, Mal Pais, or more remote destinations in Costa Rica, you'll likely be traveling in a refurbished yellow school bus. Sit back and enjoy the experience.
If you are bound for Guanacaste or Arenal Volcano/Fortuna area, we recommend a private bus lines. The six-hour (or longer) bus ride is not something you'll want to experience on a local bus. If traveling with two or more people, a private van is the way to go. It won't cost you too much more and will make your entire Costa Rica vacation a more pleasant and memorable one.
Jaco: Quick Facts
Both the Banco Nacional (tel. 2643-3072) and the Banco de Costa Rica (tel. 2643-3695) have branches in town on the main road and are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3pm. There's a well-stocked Farmacia Fischel (tel. 643-2683) in the El Galeone shopping center, as well as the Farmacia Jaco (tel. 2643-3205); both are on the main road through town. There's a gas station out on the main highway, between Playa Herradura and Jaco, and a 24-hour gas station, El Arroyo, located on the highway on the southern edge of Jaco. The health center (tel. 2643-3667) and post office (tel. 2643-2175) are at the Municipal Center at the south end of Jaco.
A public phone office, where you can make international calls, is located in the ICE building on the main road, near the end of the main drag. This office is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to noon and 1 to 5pm. There are half a dozen or more Internet cafes in town, as well as several inexpensive full-service Laundromats. There's a Western Union office in a small strip mall across from La Hacienda restaurant. There's a large Max X Menos supermarket on the main drag in the center of Jaco.
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