As Jaco Beach continues to grow, more activities and events come to the area. This one is an amazing opportunity to connect with friends and make new ones. For those of you who have not done a tough mudder now is your chance and those who have can put Jaco Beach as notch in your belt. Even if you are on vacation this event provides a fun experience, a chance to sweat out some of the party toxins from the prior night, and/or provide a great pre-poolside event to kick your day off.

Cheers!
www.visitjacocostarica.com

One of the most intriguing things about Costa Rica is its foraging landscape. There is a vast variety of different edible plants, fruits, and vegitables that grow across the country. Locally known as the Feria de Jaco ,Jaco Farmer’s Market, provides a large display of this produce. The market operates every Friday from 6am to 2pm next to the Garabito Clinic. It is all organic, and you can see it through the colors and ripeness of the rich fruits and vegetables that are sold and sampled. The produce comes right from the farms and for the most part sold by the farmers themselves.

When roaming the market you can also find local art and other products. From breads, pastries, bagels, and meats to an assortment of artisan crafts. It is a perfect way to enjoy good people and support small farms and business from all over the country. If you are visiting Jaco we recommend to make at least one round through, for some day snacks. If you are staying in Jaco long term make it your place for produce on a weekly basis.

Cheers!
www.visitjacocostarica.com

The town of Tarcoles is just north of Jaco Beach and holds one of the largest rivers in the area. This adventure tour takes you along the Tarcoles River which is home to hundreds of crocodiles and other wildlife. The crocodile tour provides an amazing opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the most dangerous animals in Costa Rica. The guides are experts with the crocodiles, the river and the other wildlife in the area. If the tide is right, I recommend this tour during the sunset hours. You will get an amazing background for your pictures of these incredible reptiles (just keep your body parts in the boat). Contact us for more info and we’ll be happy to schedule this adventure tour with the best guides around.

Pura Vida!
www.visitjacocostarica.com

If you are looking for a great deal, The Pizza Shop offers a Tuesday special on their large single topping pizzas. The Pizza Shop is one of the most popular restaurants in Jaco and definitely bakes the best pizza in town. It’s a great atmosphere for pizza parties or if you are just looking to grab a slice and a beer.
The Pizza Shop also offers smoked meets done by Hey Earl. If you are staying in Jaco for the Thanksgiving Holiday and need a turkey or ham check out what Earl has smoking for the holidays.

Cheers!
www.visitjacocostarica.com

Around the world, Costa Rica is known for it’s coffee. It’s one of the country’s biggest exports. Although it has always had coffee in their backyard, the country is still new to the farm to cup process and providing a great cup to the locals and the tourists. You will find micro roasters through out the San Jose area and tourist destinations but not all are at the level of Jaco’s Cafe Bohio. This is a locally owned family business and they take the process from start to finish. Bohio has a unique direct relationship with farmers in Tarrazu (one of the best coffee regions in the world). They bring green beans from the farms to their roastery in Jaco and offer their product in bags or in an amazing crafted drink from their menu. It is a perfect way to start your day, to fix your 2pm feeling, and/or take an original product home for you or someone else. When you are in Jaco, I hope you take the time to check it out.

Cheers!
www.visitjacocostarica.com

Living in the Central Pacific has so many perks. The ocean, the waves, the mountains, the views, and many more that will continue to come up in this blog. In Jaco, you have all of it at your finger tips. One of the more popular hikes and view points, in Jaco, is Monte Mirador. It’s a relatively short hike and worth it’s steep moments and the heat, because once you get to the main lookout you will instantly realize why people from all over the world choose to vacation and/or live here. The lookout also provides some of the most eclectic collection of art in Jaco. The art changes ,as artists pass through, which keeps it relevant and fresh. We hope you get a chance to check it out the next time you stay in Jaco.

Pura Vida
www.visitjacocostarica.com

For those of you who rely heavily on the bus while you travel, or as main transportation living in Jaco, they have updated their early morning departure route. It was previously 5:00 am and is now 4:30 am. This definitely helps if your trying to get to the airport, on a budget, for an 8:00am flight. The link and image still posts 5:00 am but should be updated in the near future.

​Jaco Bus Transport

Pura Vida!
www.visitjacocostarica.com

Jaco Beach has a great community center available to everyone. It’s name is ​Epicentro Cívico Por La Paz Garabito. They provide free classes in the visual and performing arts, they have a library, and they often host community events that support local culture and togetherness as a global community. An example of one of their events, open to the public, is a movie showing for the youth on Friday November 2nd (see info below). If your staying in Jaco Beach, keep the community center on your mind and you may come across an event or class that speaks to you.

Cheers!
www.visitjacocostarica.com

I will start by saying, my perspective is coming from being a husband and father of a two. We relocated to Jaco almost two years ago and did so in part of not feeling safe in the United States (for many different reasons that are for a different kind of post). Costa Rica felt like the closest and safest choice for us. I mean the country does not have a military, they do not put up with guns, and the majority of its people live by the “pura vida” lifestyle.

With that being said, like most places in the world, it has its challenges. Most crime committed is petty theft, or as some say “crime of opportunity”. This type of crime you find in any place with poverty. When people are desperate they will find a way to eat, dress, and make a little money. None of this type of crime has felt unsafe to us. We have not been directly affected by it, but we have had friends that have experienced clothes taken off the line and change taken from the unlocked car. Like I said it happens everywhere, as our car got stolen out of our driveway, in the United States, and we lived in great neighborhood.

Jaco nightlife also plays a part within the realm of safety because like momma said “nothing good ever happens after 2am”. It is what it is, you go out stay with your group have a good time and dance the night away. I’m not a night owl but know plenty of people who enjoy the party scene in Jaco on a weekly basis.

All in all, we could go down the laundry list and nitpick all the different type of safety concerns that we have in Jaco and Costa Rica, but that is not the purpose of this post. This is to inform you that the country is constantly committed to safety and implementing measures to increase the safety. The next phase is here. The Municipality of Garabito has approved the implementation of a video surveillance project in Jaco. The project consists of 20 high definition cameras and the technology to make the system function. Another huge step in making Jaco one of the safest beaches in the central pacific.

Cheers!
​www.visitjacocostarica.com