Santa Teresa – Montezuma – Jacó
Travelling by taxi boat in Costa Rica
Charlie’s next stop along her route through Costa Rica was in Jacó. She had booked a shuttle service from Santa Teresa with Zuma Tours and was picked up by a minivan in front of her accommodation at 7 in the morning.
The driver picked a few more people up in other hotels and they drove for about one hour to Montezuma. Charlie didn’t have enough time during her trip to visit Montezuma and the waterfall and she was surprised that the journey to Jacó would at least allow her a little glimpse of the beauty of this place.
All passengers got off the van near a bus stop that read “Montezuma”. Charlie turned around and saw one of the most beautiful beaches she had ever seen. What a surprise! If she had had any expectations of Montezuma, they would have certainly been exceeded.
Taxi Boat to Playa Herradura
There was a little café near the beach on the opposite side of the road and all passengers had about 30 minutes until the boat would arrive. Charlie took this opportunity to get a coffee, sat down on the beach, and took some notes of her trip so far.
Exactly at 8.20 am, multiple speed boats arrived on the beach and the drivers started loading the luggage from the vans to the boats. It was time to take the shoes off as the only way to get on the boat would be through the water. What an experience!
Whilst the boat across Lake Arenal had been almost a ferry, this one was a tiny speed boat and all passengers had to wear life vests for safety. Wearing hats was not recommended as the wind would most likely blow them away.
They started playing music on the boat and it was a shame that they were not allowed to stand up and dance. The little boat jumped through the waves and even though the driver had mentioned it before, they did not see any dolphins that day.
Once in Playa Herradura, all passengers got off the boat, the luggage was taken from the boats to minibusses and everybody was dropped off at their accommodation. The town of Jacó was only 5 km away.
The town of Jacó
The surf and the beach make this town a tourist place too. It is similar to Tamarindo when it comes to the touristy bits, but a little bigger, and the roads are wider. There also seem to be a lot more bars and clubs, i.e. nightlife, in Jacó than in Tamarindo.
The beach too is a bit bigger and wider and as such, feels less crowded. You can only surf at high tide, or close to high tide, and the waves are smaller than what the forecast says. When Charlie was there, the forecast promised 3-5ft waves, but they were about 2ft when she got to the beach. There are multiple surf hire places along the beach. You see them easily.
Quebrada Bonita Estuary
If you walk along the high street of Jacó all the way to the northern end, you reach an estuary. Already on the way there you will cross several bridges over small rivers that lead to the ocean. It is a great opportunity to spot some wildlife. Charlie saw multiple lizards on the way. You can do a guided tour of the estuary. It is not recommended to go for a swim though as there are crocodiles.
Sunsets in Jacó
The most obvious place to see the sunset in Jacó is the beach as it is facing west. You can see the sun setting behind the islands. The best place to see the sunset though is the view point El Miro. From the southern end of Jacó it is about 20 minutes by foot up to the mountains. Head towards the Costanera road and you will see Puddle Fish Brewery. Cross the road, pass by the parking lot and a guy selling coconut milk and orange juice, and you will see the official walking trail that brings you straight up to El Miro.
On the way up there, you will see some interesting murales that are a mix of carved graffiti and colours, and you see some ruins of buildings. When Charlie did that walk, she was lucky enough to spot a family of monkeys playing in the trees. They moved so fast that it was difficult to follow their games.
At the top, you will reach the ruins of a mansion with three terraces. You get views over the whole bay and out to the ocean where the sun is setting. If you are interested in graffiti and street art, head up there earlier than the sunset as the three floors of the building show plenty of art. Most of them have been tagged, but they’re overall in good shape. You could spend hours there trying to identify every piece of art in the mysterious building that has characteristics of a hotel and also of a bunker.
Murals in Jacó
Street art and graffiti, the so called <i>murales</i>, are something very traditional and cultural in Costa Rica and you can spot them everywhere in Jacó. They are not hard to find. Also keep an eye of for the statues of surfers along the “Paseo de los surfistas”. Some of them have been hidden behind advertisements, but it’s still worth a stroll in an alley off the main road in Jacó.
Day trips and tours from Jacó
Most of the tours you can do from Jacó are the same that you can do anywhere in Costa Rica: Waterfall hikes, horse riding, ATV tours. The most famous tour is the one to Tortuga Island by boat. Charlie had originally booked this full day tour, but it got cancelled last minute.
Other famous destinations around Jacó are the National Park Carara and the Pura Vida Gardens. You can do guided tours or drive there and explore on your own.
