Jaco 101: What To Do, Where To Go, and What To Eat

Ask the guard to call a taxi for you. Taxis headed to downtown are $3-4. Uber isn't very reliable in Jaco, unfortunately!

Yes, tap water and ice cubes are absolutely safe to consume in Jaco. Please consider bringing your refillable hydroflask to reduce waste and save money on bottled water. :)

Currently, a 13% value added tax (VAT) is charged on professional services in Costa Rica. The tax, which is known as the Impuesto de Valor Agregado (IVA) in Spanish, replaced the country's 13% sales tax (sometimes referred to as the IVI; Impuesto de Ventas Incluido, or “Sales Tax Included” in English).

In summary: Tipping is not a normal part of Costa Rican culture. Sometimes you will see service tax is built into the bill, and sometimes it isn't. It's always good to clarify, to avoid double paying. Tipping is always given from the heart, so if you feel the service was exceptional-- toss a few extra dollars to show some appreciation!

Ticos/Ticas are slang for male/female Costa Rican locals. :)

More a special phrase to Costa Rica than actual slang, “Pura Vida” is a term understood by any native Spanish speaker. The phrase literally translates to “pure life”. However, Costa Ricans must believe in the theory of “speak it into existence” because they say it so often that they literally have developed their country into one of pure life.

Save money on bottled water, because tap water is safe to drink in Jaco. Bring a hydroflask to reduce waste and reduce unnecessary spending!

Jaco's thriving resto/bar scene is full of awesome promos and happy hours. Definitely get more bang for your buck by doing a little research. A great tool to find out what's going on is browsing through this site: www.JacoCity.com

Car rental agencies make their money on insurance. You can potentially save money by seeing if your credit card offers PRIMARY insurance on car rentals. If they do, make sure to have your credit card company send a letter stating they provide PRIMARY coverage. Print it out and show it to the Car Rental agency, to strengthen your refusal to pay for their insurance. This has variable rates of success, but worth a try if you want to save some cash renting a car. Good luck!

This is a local secret to save some money. It's a bit crowded, but the buses are newer and some even have A/C. If you're up for the adventure, ask me and I will walk you through on how to take the bus from SJO to JACO (and vice versa) for cheap.

The condo is equipped with a chef's kitchen: everything you need to cook a meal, and more. HIGH QUALITY MEAT: Jaco Fine Meats FRESH FISH: Pescederia Bertil FRESH QUALITY PRODUCE: Farmer's Market on Friday CRAFT LOCAL COFFEE: Bohio Coffee

There are some great deals on liquor at the Duty Free in SJO. I always stock up first whenever I land and avoid paying taxes as well. You can find liquor/beer in Jaco, but the prices are tourist prices.

Friendly reminder to notify your CC company about your travel dates to avoid a fraud ping. Most CC's allow you to share your dates from within their app, for your convenience.

Protection from the blazing Jaco sun is important. Bring a hat to shade yourself and avoid a nasty sunburn!

Protect yourself against the elements! And pack it before you have to buy it in Costa Rica, it is quite expensive here.

Waterfall hikes are fun, but you have to have the proper shoes. Stepping on sharp rocks or slipping on vines can be avoided with some decent water shoes. If you forgot, there are local stores that will sell them. And don't forget to bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes so you can enjoy a nice hike!

WHATSAPP: An efficient way to communicate with locals and make free calls to other WhatsApp users. Highly recommended. GOOGLE MAPS: highly reliable and accurate in Costa Rica, use it for looking up points of restaurants and even reviews. GOOGLE TRANSLATE: If your Spanish is rusty to non-existent, this is crucial. You can even download the entire spanish database so you can continue to translate even if not connected to internet. You can even translate picture and text as well! WAZE: Waze is a driving/navigation app that works well in Costa Rica. Most of the locals use it to get around.

Costa Rican Sunsets are life changing. Grab one of the beach chairs I've provided and E N J O Y. Sunset North Side of the Beach: Best views of islands Sunset South Side of the Beach: Best views of palm trees

You can exchange USD to Colones for true currency exchange value at the bank (bring your passport!) or even the grocery store. Money exchange booths have a horrible exchange rate, and not recommended. How to "easily" convert Colones to USD: "DOUBLE IT" It's not an exact exchange, but a simple rough estimate. 500 colones = ~1 USD 1000 colones = ~2 USD 20,000 colones = ~40 USD

Jaco Super Ride is one of the most affordable, safest, and convenient shuttle companies. From airport transfers or taking trips to other towns, you will be well taken care of. This is the company I chose to ride with whenever I need a private driver. Let me know if you need to get somewhere, and I will help set up a ride for you!

A small farmer's market, but you can find a lot of hidden gems here. From fresh produce you can't find anywhere else, to delicious coffee liquor. Try out their fresh squeezed juice! You'll be glad you stopped by. Ask me how to get there!

El Miro trail is easy to get to. It's at the southern most end of the road of Jaco leading to the mountain. You can easily locate it on Google Maps. El Miro is an abandoned building/mansion that is known for it's incredible views during sunset. The hike is a popular trail for mtn bikers, dog walkers, and horseback riders. It is a easy/moderate hike with some incline. Lots of incredible wildlife from monkeys, frogs, and snakes. One of my favorite activities to do in Jaco!

ZIP LINING: Soaring high above the treeline upside down is an experience you'll never forget. ATV JUNGLE TOUR: Imagine playing Mario Kart through the jungle. This is exactly how it feels. So much FUN! WATERFALL TOUR: Rappelling up a waterfall and then jumping off it into cool, fresh spring water. Amazing experience. TORTUGA ISLAND: enjoy having a BBQ lunch with a margarita on a private island with white sands. Snorkling, banana boat, and lunch is included! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Need help booking? I can help arrange Packages for you with the best prices and tour guides. Ask me how.

Most places accept credit cards as payment. Visa is more widely accepted, while MasterCard/AMEX is moderately accepted. Places will also accept USD but will change you out in Colones. How to "easily" convert Colones to USD: "DOUBLE IT" It's not an exact exchange, but a simple rough estimate. 500 colones = ~1 USD 1000 colones = ~2 USD 20,000 colones = ~40 USD

The police don't seem to mind about drinking alcohol on the street or at the beach. But please exercise self-restraint, public intoxication is frowned upon.

I feel that COVID hasn’t great affected Jacó, but they still have some expectations with their COVID Protocol. For instance, most indoor places require you to wear a mask and wipe your hands clean with sanitizer before you enter. Local driving restrictions may be in place as well, but those hours/days are subject to change. Bars/lounges/clubs close earlier than normal as well, again subject to change. They also have multiple areas to get a COVID test should you need access to one. The town is still alive and bustling though! I feel that COVID has not dampened the lively spirit of Jacó. :)