FAQ for Jaco Beach Costa Rica Travel

-Why should we choose Best In Jaco to make my reservation?
Best in Jaco will offer you the best personalized and professional Jaco Costa Rica vacations service in the area. While others may claim to offer similar services they are just booking agencies located far from the actual properties they are renting you. At Best In Jaco we own most of the properties we rent so we make sure they are in the best conditions and have all that is necessary for you to enjoy a pleasant Jaco Costa Rica vacations. We also will be glad to help you arrange all the details for your trip like transportation from and to the airport, reserving and coordinating tours and activities, stocking your Jaco condo rentals or homes with groceries, making dinner reservations, and much more; so you will only have to contact one person and forget about the hassle of planning a trip.

-Do I need a passport to travel to Costa Rica?
Yes. All visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport that will not expire in at least 90 days from the day you are traveling. You will be getting a 90-day tourist visa. If you plan to stay more than 90 days, you should leave the country for 72 hours and reenter for a new visa. We suggest you make a photocopy of your passport prior to arrival. While in Costa Rica, you must carry your original photocopy of your passport at all times. Carrying a copy insures your passport won’t get lost or stolen while you are here. If you are not from United States check with your Costa Rican embassy regarding the traveling requirements as travelers from certain countries need to have a visa prior to arrival to enter Costa Rica.

-Is Jaco and Costa Rica a safe place to visit?
While there are some unfortunate incidents involving tourists, Costa Rica is a very safe place for visitors. Even though there’s crime, mostly petty theft, acting with precaution as you would traveling anywhere in the world ensures memorable Jaco Costa Rica vacations. Do not do anything in Costa Rica that you would not do in your home country. This includes not leaving any valuables in the car, not leaving your stuff unattended, not buying drugs, not partying late with strangers, not walking alone at night (it is always better to take a taxi), being careful and using good judgment, which will prevent you from having a bad experience.

You might also have one of our private local guides to be with you, take you to the nicest places or even take you out at night, depending on what you want. Having a private guide will assure you to see the best in the country while staying safe.

-What airport do we fly into to go to Jaco? How far away is it from the Jaco Condo Rentals?
You should fly to San Jose, Costa Rica airport (SJO). The airport is located 1 hour and 15 minutes from Jaco and 1 hour and 30 minutes from Casa del Mar in Playa Hermosa.

-How can I get from the airport to Jaco?
You can either rent a car or we can coordinate for a private driver to pick you up at the airport. The price for a private luxury van for 4 people is $100 each way. If you are planning to rent a car we recommend using National Rent a car as they have great cars and offices in San Jose and Jaco. You can go to their website http://natcar.com/ and write “BESTINJACO” under it says “Do you have a promotional code?” this will give you a 10% discount.

If it is the first time you are coming for Jaco Costa Rica vacations we recommend you have a driver pick you up at the airport and bring you to Jaco. Once you are here you can rent a car to drive around. The roads in Costa Rica are not very good as in other countries and they are not marked properly so driving might become quite an adventure if you are not used to it.

-Where is Jaco Beach located?
Jaco Beach is located in the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the province of Puntarenas. It is the largest beach city in Costa Rica and is very popular between “ticos” (costaricans) because is one of the closest beaches from the capital city of San Jose, located just one hour away. It’s also a prime spot for outsiders coming for Jaco Cosa Rica vacations.

-How is the weather in Jaco Beach? When is the best time to travel?
The weather in Jaco is warm all year round. There is two seasons: the dry season from December to May and the rainy season from June to November. In the dry season there are few chances of rain and because of this the water in the ocean is the clearest; however the prices are higher and it might be crowded, especially on weekends. In the rainy season everything is very green, you will enjoy beautiful landscapes and you will get the best rates, it is normally sunny during the mornings and then it might rain in the afternoons or at night; the temperature is always nice so you will still be wearing shorts and t-shirts.

-What should I pack to go to Jaco?
Swimsuit, light clothing like shorts, t-shirts and dresses (restaurants and clubs in Jaco Beach are casual), flip flops, sandals and tennis shoes (required in some tours) are ideal for Jaco Costa Rica vacations. Also pack insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, beach towels, a hat and camera.

If you are traveling to other areas of Costa Rica during your vacation or are planning to do a hiking tour you should pack long pants and a sweater or light jacket as the temperatures are lower in the mountains and in the city.

-What is the currency and exchange rate? Can I take US Dollars to Costa Rica?
The currency in Costa Rica is Colones, it is constantly changing but in most places the exchange rate is 500 Colones for $1 US Dollar. When traveling to Jaco we recommend you to bring US Dollars in small bills (like $20s), everyone in Jaco takes them and they will give you change in Colones, this is a lot easier that exchanging a lot of money you might not use. Credit cards are also widely accepted in Jaco.

-Is there internet and telephone in the Jaco condo rentals and in Casa del Mar?
Yes, all our Jaco condo rentals have high speed wireless internet access. There’s also a phone with free local calls you can use. To call outside Costa Rica you can buy calling cards from ICE (the telephone company in Costa Rica) or call using Skype from your computer. If you want to know whether your cellphone will work in Costa Rica, check with your telephone company before traveling.

-What is the electric standard in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica voltage is 120 V and the electrical outlets are Type A electrical plug, or flat blade attachment plug that uses two flat parallel pins or blades (same as in North America).

-How is the food in Jaco Beach and Costa Rica?
The food in Costa Rica is delicious. It is made with fresh vegetables and fruits, grains, fish, seafood, chicken and meat. The typical lunch dish is called “casado” and includes rice and beans, fresh salad, a vegetable stew, sweet plantains and your choice of fish, chicken or meat (or vegetarian if you like), it is accompanied by “fresco” that is a drink made out of fresh fruit and water. For breakfasts costaricans have a large meal that includes “gallo pinto” (rice and beans mixed up), eggs, bread or tortillas, sweet plantains, “natilla” that is similar to sour cream, fruits and local coffee. In Jaco you will find many “sodas” (small restaurants selling typical food) that sell a full breakfast or lunch meal including a drink for about $4.

In Jaco there are also dozens of international restaurants offering great food including Italian, Japanese, Mexican, seafood, french and even African cuisine; you so can try a different place each night and always taste something different.

If you like cooking you will find the freshest fruits and vegetables at the Jaco Farmer’s Market held on Fridays.

-Is the water safe to drink in Jaco?
In the Jaco condo rentals the water is filtered so it is perfectly safe to drink it. However, stick to bottled water when eating outside or going in a tour to avoid having an upset stomach during Jaco Costa Rica vacations.

-Are there medical facilities in Jaco?
Yes, there’s a new private clinic in Jaco called Clinica Santa Catalina located right in the center of town. If there’s a major problem you can get transferred by ambulance to San Jose private CIMA hospital that is one of the best in the country and is 1 hour away. If you have an emergency call 911.

-How do I check in?
There’s a front desk office in each Jaco condo project that is open from 8 to 5 PM. If you arrive before or after that time you will find your keys with the security guard (24/7) and then the person in charge will look for you to do the check in.

-What are the check in/check out times?
Check in is at 2 PM and check out is at 11 AM.

-Is there any cleaning included?
In theJaco condo rentals there is one full weekly cleaning included in the price. If you want daily touch ups you can have them for $10 additional dollars or you can have a full cleaning for $25. Let us know what day you want your cleanings done so we can coordinate them.

In La Casa del Mar daily cleaning is included. There is a full time person taking care of the house whocan help you if you need anything.