www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hey Guys,

Going back again next month and cant wait!

I have a quick question, I would like to go to Jaco but we are only in CR for five days. In your guys opinion, if we got in to SJO at 2 in the afternoon and arranged for a van to take us straight to Jaco, is it worth it just for a quick overnight trip? If so, any word on a driver that could take us down and bring us back the following day?

Cheers!

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"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" - Maybe Shakespeare was a CRT member?

Yes plenty of time for 1 night. It is roughly 1 or 2 hours there & the same back. IMPORTANT if you have motion sickness bring your medicine for this. No problem for me but budds have barfed along the way!

You are in for some serious fun enjoy.

Zippy

Cheers Zippy. So, any word on drivers and a hotel with some action early next month?

P.S. I have done a search for hotels in Jaco but there are so many mixed reviews and thats why I ask.

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"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" - Maybe Shakespeare was a CRT member?

Hi A.T.
Just check search on drivers and Jaco. That is why we have it there to help evryone. Hope you enjoy your trip. since you are doing a fast one nighter you might want to book a room in advance to save time.

AngloTime,
You can make arrangements with the hotel Copacobana
in Jaco for a van, if I recall correctly, the cost is around $80 each way. Mention that you are a CRT VIP and receive the CRT rate on your room,
and no guest fee. The hotel has a few working girls that show up by the pool around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Not much action during the day in Jaco. Your best bet is the Beatle bar at night, which is a short walk from the hotel.
ShyOne

Like the last guy said, action in Jaco starts around 8 or even 8:30 so you have plenty of time to get there.

The trip is at least 2 hours.

Stay at the Paradise - it is advertised on here and cheaper than the other hotel that was mentioned (can't spell it... starts with a c).

Getting there, use a driver since he can simply meet you at the airport (flexible).

Coming back, schedule an interbus at http://www.costaricapass.com/ (very cheap - 17$$ per person I think).

Depending on the driver and the number of people to divide the cost of a driver, could be cheaper getting a driver back to SJ but not sure of how many drivers in Jaco. Too bad the driver for the ride down couldn't spend the night and bring you guys back, but hotel plus driving expense might not be to your advantage.

I found Jaco to be a nice place. I'm be there Aug 29 to Sept 3.

Action during the day ---> the internet cafe across the street from the Beatle Bar on the second floor, the Chicas hang out there using the phone and are more than willing to do business. Sometimes, however it takes them forever to get off the phone! Still, you can drink beers at the Beatle Bar while you wait. You have to act fast when one exits the internet cafe - can be ackward because it is day time and so talking a deal on the sidewalk while others are around can be a challenge if you are shy.

Why would you want to spend one night in Jaco? Of all the beach towns, that's probably the worst. The night scene is nothing compared to San Jose and the prices are higher in Jaco. The weather can be hot and humid and as the others have said in their posts, the road there sucks. If you pay $100 for transportation, you're already $100 behind the 8 ball.

Enlighten me please!

ElGamin

For informational purpose only - opinionated too.

The road really isn't all that bad these days. I was on it in February.

Jaco is the only place with any working girl to my knowledge and it is what it is... just a little town.

It is hot, but as long as you are mentally prepared for the hot, it shouldn't be too bad (not like 95 degrees will be a surprise, like oh crap!). The good thing is that the beer goes down really easy, tastes good too.

I'd go for 2 night myself - if you leave really early in the morning after the second night you'll get to SJ just in time to check in, shower, get something to eat, go enjoy yourself.

SJ is okay, but you can't be doing girls all day every day. When I walk the streets in SJ, it is just another city so nothing special. Jaco - well at least they have some bars that are looking out at the ocean and so the atmosphere is just perfect in my opinion.

Try Clita's (spelling?) - on the beach at the far end of town.... near the Best Western. Ask and someone will give you directions - nice casual place with some nice non-working girl barmaids.

Good luck - everyone has their preferences.

If you like Jaco, you would love Cartagena, Colombia. More girls that are far more beautiful and inexpensive, a truly beautiful city with history that goes back to the 1500's, caribbean atmosphere, and a nice cool breeze every night. Tour packages can be purchased in country that include airfare from Bogota, all ground transportation, hotel, and all the food you can eat for less than $100 per day. After experiencing Cartagena, Jaco would never be the same.

ElGamin

When I was a newbie I enjoyed visiting jaco for an overnighter but now I probably wouldn't.Mainly I dislike that there is no daytime action.One can visit Jaco with efficient transportation for far less than $100 plus.Just take the express bus from San Lose and back.It is about $5 to $6 each way best I recall and takes right at 2 hours counting about a 15 minutes rest stop.It is an interesting cultural experience and a great way to see Costa Rica on a budget.Just leaves more money for the chicas for me.rbc100

I vote against the Jaco trip.
It's hot and humid.
As RBC100 says, there is no daytime action.

If you want a beach, OK, otherwise why bother?

In November I went for the day (noon to 3 am) and feel it was a wasted trip.
Well, I did get a continous BJ on the ride down there, but I could have stayed here and done the same.

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

CR in general is not a monger beach destination. There is no Pattaya, Phuket, Boca Chica, Sosua, Cartagena, Rio in CR. The closest REAL concentrated action (SJ) is 2 hours away from the nearest beach. If you want to monger and lie on the beach, go to those other places, plain and simple. If you want to get a small taste of the beach while you visit the main monger action in SJ, you are going to have to make some sort of compromise.

You can go to Jaco. It is the closest. RBC is absolutely right public buses are cheap and for such a short 2 hour trip not appreciably slower or less comfortable than much more expensive alternatives. The financial cost of getting there is NOT one of the compromises. But it is still a 2 hour trip and even on new roads has a lot of twists and turns on part of the route as you descend through the mountains. The beach itself in Jaco is nothing special and the waters there are less than pristine. There's no daytime monger action and the nighttime action is limited to just a few venues and is pricey when compared to SJ.

Other places on the coast have MUCH better beaches but they're even further away from SJ and they have virtually no monger nightlife (at least compared to SJ or even Jaco) let alone daytime monger action.

Bottom line: head to the beach if you want, Jaco can even be done as a long day trip (returning to SJ for the evening), but be aware of the compromises if you do.

Thanks for the input guys. I think I've decided against Jaco and I'll jut stay in SJ. We had a great driver for daytrips last time I was there and I think I'll give him a call (if I can still find his number) and just arrange a couple excursions. Hell, maybe we'll take a couple chicas for the ride (no pun intended).

Any update on the cell phones in the last 6 months? Still no service using GSM phones?

Finally, anyone remember a chica called Vivian that worked at the little bar in the DR on the left as you walk through the door? I don't think she was a working girl last time we met but I'd certainly like to find out if time has mellowed her!

Again, thanks for all the suggestions.

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"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" - Maybe Shakespeare was a CRT member?

IMHO: Working in the DR will not 'mellow' a bar-tender.
It will harden her, if anything.

_________________
It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

Anglo,

Have you ever been in jaco?

If not, I would go for it. As you said you have 5 days, why not take a look of both places.....it's a short trip, not that bad of a road, you will have time to relax and prepare for the night action. you will be at the beach, drinking beer and chasing girls . what else you want? I mean. If you haven't seen the action there, go for it!!! that way when you get to SJ you will be able to speak for yourself and not based on what other say....

Live it..... there's got to be some new experience on every trip.

Mente

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Tico and Panama, let me know if you need any help down here.
Panamaexplorers.com