www.CostaRicaTicas.com

[quote="Orange"

It gets dark pretty early in CR, unlike the US where it stays light out till 9pm now. Driving at night is dangerous for many reasons. [/quote]

I made that mistake underestimating how early it gets dark.

Can say I never want to drive in CR at night again.

The trip was from Puntarenas to Jaco BTW

"Whut I Dun On My Costa Rica Vacation" - By Good2u

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My life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming...." MAN....WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

Let's be respectful.

All cheap shots aside, this is a surfing trip, like the one we did in November. We had a great time in Jaco, as it was on the way. Our mongering was a value added bonus. Beyond banging chicas, I've seen not much to recommend SJ. If I can get those benefits with a party beach town, well, that's great.

Understand, nothing for or against San Jose, as this is a surfing trip, it holds little interest without an ocean. Just didn't want to lose the surfboards while we're parked.

I'm surprised by the level of disdain Jaco holds for so many here. I maintain it's a fun party beach town and a nice stop along the way. We had hoped for companions as we travel to Pavones. This idea was gotten from previous forum posts. That's why we entertained the thought, as crazy as it sounds.

Thanks for the responses and insight from the seasoned pros here!

Good2u, you're better off picking up "companions" in Jaco rather than taking possibly questionable chicas from San Jose. Besides, you're a surfer, don't you dudes usually get drunk and stoned on the beach and try to pick up any girl you see?

As for the views here toward Jaco, understand that the majority (not everyone, like me ) of the guys here are old, fat and balding, and are only interested in banging as many hookers as possible, usually with the aid of ED drugs. Thus, they only care about San Jose, and have no interest in beaches, fishing or surfing.

Jaco is great if you want to combine hookers with the beach and fishing and/or surfing, though all four can be done far better elsewhere (as you must know about the surfing).

Hey don't talk about Orange like that.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

WTF ??!??!!?

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

You left out some really critical information about being surfers and having surfboards with you.

Regarding leaving your stuff out in a car in downtown SJ while you go chica-shopping, given that additional info, I'd have to change my "probably not a good idea" answer to a "Hell no! What are you thinking?" I don't care if its out on the street or in garage being watched by an underpaid guard. It's not like you can hide that in the trunk.

Regarding going to Jaco. You might note that I took a somewhat more charitable view on that too. Personally, I think the town is a worthless pit and a poor compromise of features for the average guy. I allowed that some guys like the place and individual values may differ. KenLee added the important qualification "Unless you are a surfer" and now it turns out you aren't the average guy and actually are a surfer. However, I think the other points I made in my last post still apply

A) It now turns out you've been there before last November. However, November is after the rainy season for Jaco and the weather when you'll be going there this time around will be considerably more hot, humid and rainy. I hope you're prepared for that. And this factor doesn't really change whether you're surfers or not.

2) Apparently, you've been to CR but it seems you've never actually been to SJ. Despite that lack of any real direct knowledge, you seem to have completely written it off as a place of any value beyond banging chicas. I won't K*D you that it isn't also a place with a lot of its own shortcomings, but it also has its advantages too. Frankly, given the fact you don't find Jaco too seedy, I'm surprised by the level of disdain SJ holds for you. Your interest in surfing and the ocean to the exclusion of anything else only partly explains that.

Jaco may have a fun party nightlife but no more so than SJ (and arguably much less so). If you're looking for something to do there during the day but you want something to do beyond banging chicas, most people don't need an ocean to find interesting things to do nearby (and I say that as non-fat, non-balding, non-ED drug using guy who does not come to CR just to bang as many hookers as possible but actually spends much more time outside of SJ than in it when I go). For example, I bet you and your buds, would have PLENTY of fun and excitement taking Day 2 to go whitewater rafting out of SJ and there are many other day trips you can take out of SJ that you couldn't do so easily if at all from the coast. This way you could even spend 2 nights or more enjoying SJ's night life which IMHO is much superior to Jaco's before going on the morning of Day 3 for your surfing (and save 2 days car rental). This way you might even actually find your travel companion with that extra time and you could either head to Jaco from there or even skip it altogether by going to Dominical on your way to Pavones in order to make up for your lost time.

3) Again, whether you're there just to surf or not, most likely your flight gets in too late to allow you to "waste" any time going in to SJ for chica shopping before driving down to Jaco before dark and even if you don't go into SJ, you may still get in too late to make the drive and arrive there before dark. You could blow off SJ altogether as you did on your last trip, but as long as you're up in the Central Valley and check it out for yourself before you write it off completely. Who knows? You might discover it really isn't that bad or, if not, you can still skip on subsequent based on more than just a vague perception. If you rise early on Day 2 and drive down rested, relaxed an unrushed the next morning. If you leave at 7AM you could be in the water by 10AM and not lose more than a couple of hours of surf-time.

Prolijo, thanks for taking the time your even tempered response! Very much appreciated. Thanks to all, esp Cujo.

BTW, I never mentioned this was our first trip. (Maybe it just sounds like it.) Again, nothing against San Jose! No disdain, just not this trip. This is a surf trip through Hermosa, Dominical, eventually down to Pavones. Mongering is a bonus. In Jaco, we could play, wake, surf and continue on. Can't do that in SJ, unfortunately. Not to say we won't do SJ next trip with the Atlantic coast the next destination. White water rafting is on the list, for sure, as well as hitting Del Rey, SL, and all the fun stuff I've been reading about. Just don't have the luxury of doing a two week run. If only! We're on the wake, surf, travel, surf, bed down and repeat schedule. BTW, I've recommended staying the final night in SJ, but my buds want to squeeze one last surf in before the flight home.

Admittedly, we were rolling the dice. We land at 9am, giving us a couple hours after we get the car, etc. to find some company and hit the road to arrive before dark. A guy can dream, right? Hence, my post.

Of course, I would never set foot in Jaco's surf! I don't swim is sewage. However, Playa Hermosa has great surf with the Backyard to chill with beverages. Jaco seedy? Sure is. But as a pit stop, it's more fun than Vegas. Again, you can surf!