www.CostaRicaTicas.com

How much does it cost to go in a taxi to Jaco?

$100-$125 will normally be the quote.

If you negotiate you could beat them down to $75.

The old standard was $100-$125 which actually made some sense.
The old road was slow going. 2.5-3.5hrs each way.

The new road is 1.5hrs sometimes less.
So what used to be an all day deal for a taxista/pirata is now apprx 3hrs

However the new road is not always open.
Rock slides, Mudslides, closures and continual construction makes travel time unpredictable on the new road.

Many San Jose taxis never leave the San Jose area.

For several reasons:

1) The stupid MoFo's can't find their way to Jaco and back.

2) Their POS won't make it there and back.

3) Their Old Ladies won't let them venture that far from home.

ETc.

Slight topic shift, but some of the stuff I've read here leads me to believe that the beach at Jaco is not safe to swim at because of high bacteria count.

I'm an East Coast boy and have never seen, much less swum in, the Pacific. Wanted to have a go at that this trip--maybe take a day trip by bus to Jaco and take a dip in the Pacific Ocean, just so I can cross that off my personal bucket list. (I'm unlikely to travel to SoCal as there's not that much there that's of interest to me.)

I really couldn't care that much about Beatle Bar, there are plenty of chicas at the DR, SL, etc., for me when I get back from my day trip.

However, as much as I'd like to take a swim, spending the rest of my trip suffering from giardiasis is not my idea of fun.

Is the beach at Jaco safe for swimming? If not , is there a beach that's a reasonable day trip from SJO that's good for actual swimming, and doesn't require a car to get to? Also, what do you do with your wallet, etc., while you go swimming, if you don't have a car to lock it in, and you don't have a hotel room at the beach either?

_________________
"Buy the ticket, take the ride." --Hunter S. Thompson

Jaco has a crappy beach. Travel a little farther south to Quepos/ Manuel Antonio. I believe there still is a daytour leaving San Jose for Manuel Antonio.

You can get to quepos/manuel antonio, a beautiful beach, from jaco via bus and back several times a day, more than an hour by bus, and then another bus or cab to the beach from quepos, 15 minutes, and so sj to jaco and then all of that is going to be more than a day trip.

I often wonder about the quality at Manuel Antonio also, even though it is stunning. Those little streams you'll see runnning into the beach, that's mainly smelly run off from the hotel septics. Take a walk back to the gate at say hotel Verde Mar, one of the few right on the beach, and enjoy the aroma of the cute little stream flowing from it into pacifico. I quit swimming in it along time ago, but it is a beautiful, long beach with a bravo surf at high tide. I love walking it, but i cringe when i see the tica's let their K*ds splash around in those streams.

i forget the name of the beach a few klicks to the south of jaco, playa hermano maybe, really pretty nice, not as nice as manuel antonio, but i doubt as dirty as jaco, few hotels. maybe an option.

I believe DGD is referring to the Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas (the other one is in Guanacaste). Here's more:
http://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=309

BTW, in researching, I came across this great map available as a downloadable PDF, and scaleable up and down by clicking on it the buttons at the top:
http://www.amigosofcostarica.org/discov ... 4AodJnpavQ
There's also enough general info on this site to pass the "Tico Test":
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=38729

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I would call Pura Vida Transport, I think he speaks Texan too
Regards, 911 Driver

_________________
The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

I believe DGD is referring to the Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas (the other one is in Guanacaste). Here's more:
http://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=309


yep, hermosa, five klicks south of jaco, should work for you.

I'll be a first time visitor to Jaco on or around the 23rd Sept. Staying for a few days, getting there by rented motorbike. Will definitely check out the beaches to the south and Manuel Antonio National Park. Not sure of the best place to stay in Jaco .... someone has suggested Hotel Poseiden but I would like to find a place where I can park my bike safely off the road or near to my room. Apparently this joint has no parking area. Anyone have a Jaco hotel suggestion that would be more suitable?

There is a parking lot across the street. BTW, I am in Jaco for the weekend, getting more of my shit and doing some business. I'm in Poseidon this morning and the owner says that through the rest of low season the rate is $55. For CRT we will charge no chica fee. Just wanted to let you know the new price.

Top ten from the bottom maybe. The next one 5k to the south, Playa Hermosa? ain't bad.

Dos Leche:

I have been to Jaco a number of times. I have never had a health problem from swimming in the ocean there. Sometimes one does encounter an unpleasant aroma from one of the streams running into the ocean. For that reason, I sometimes go a little farther south. Others have mentioned Playa Hermosa. Very nice beach with some local restaurants and bars open to the beach. On south a few more kilometers is Esterillos Oeste, a sweet little beach with one or two bars. Beach is much cleaner and atmosphere is way laid back. ENJOY.

Tbone: I would recommend that you check out Clarita's on the north end of the beach at Jaco. They have a parking area which they lock up at night. And, they have security at night. And, since they are right on the beach with a great bar and restaurant, you may never want to leave. They are chica-friendly. They check the i.d., but do not charge a fee.