www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I was curious if anyone can give me a final answer on the water quality of Jaco Beach?? (the ocean water, not drinking water) I have read a ton, so not trying to be lazy, but I can't seem to get a definitive final answer. Some claim that it is totally fine for swimming, surfing, etc, while some claim VEHEMENTLY that it is polluted and should be avoided.

Does anyone know the real deal on this subject?? If I swim in the playa at Jaco for a bunch of days, will I glow at night or have a mutant third nipple grow on my chest, like people from New Jersey? Please let me know the FACTS, not opinions, por favor! Gracias...

Muff,
You got 3 nipples ?!?!?!

Frank,
IMHO, the beach in Jaco is fine. It's no worse than anywhere else. YMMV. Go and have a good time. But bring plenty of sunscreen, because it's hot as a b*tch!
MG

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Hey Muffy,,you want to answer this one. I believe you are from NJ and have a 3rd nipple already !!

Water's fine, just don't drink or swim in it.
Do not know the factual results of recent H2O tests near Jaco but here's a couple factual opinions from knowledgable members.


https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8362

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Thanks, Paco. I was hoping the answer would be that I could swim at will, but I guess not. Has anyone ever gotten sick or skin rashes from swimming at Jaco Beach? (this happens to friends who surf the water anywhere near LA or Manhattan Beach) I was REALLY hoping to spend some quality time in the water while there, but now I am VERY hesitant!!! Any other thoughts from anyone would be appreciated.....

And no offense, Muff!! I just know a lot of people from the "Garden State" who never need a flashlight at night, as they glow like Rudolph's nose.....

I've heard Tarcoles River referred to as the most polluted river in CR, but the crocodiles survive in it - think it dumps (literally) into the Pacific about 10 miles N. de Jaco. Question is which way do the currents take it from there? Of course there are also other sources running into the ocean around Jaco.

But hey the water in Jaco can't be any worse than the air in San Jose...

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Living well is the best revenge
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When I was there surfing last October, the water was so-so when not raining, you couldn't see down more than a couple of feet and there tiny particles floating around.
After a rain was another story, the water was reddish-brown mud colored throughout and you could taste and smell the dirt. Visibility was zip zero. My light colored surf shorts got permanently stained with the reddish-brown color.
That being said, didn't develop any rash or sickness and surfed 5 different times in 4 days. The water at Hermosa seemed to be much cleaner.

I must be a mutant or something. I mainly drink tapwater in Jaco and have been surfing there for over 6 years.

The water is fine, it's the sand that sucks. It's brown and it has a foul odor. The beach is downright fugly.

Costa Rica has a program that awards a "blue flag" to beaches that maintain certain standards including water quality.

When ever you check out a resort or a hotel in a beach community see if the beach has been awarded a blue flag for the current year.

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Its not a very good place to just go for a swim the undertow can be pretty serious sometimes.I have never had a problem with the water in Jaco. The sand isnt black becuase of pollution, its volcanic sand.

Stay away from Boca Barranca that place is pretty bad. i have seen some wierd crap floating around out there.

here you go frank took this from a website:


SDThe awards come after a year-long evaluation of 84 beaches and 40 non-coastal communities, of which 50 beaches and 15 inland communities qualified for the award. Those awarded were categorized in a three-tier rating system:

A - Beaches with a Minimum score of 90% that include basic services such as potable water and waste facilities.
AA - Beaches with a score of 100 % that include the presence of lifeguards during high season and rip-tide warning signs.
AAA - Beaches with a score of 100 % that include the presence of life guards and first aid-trained personnel, access for disabled persons, tourist information, sanitary services and showers.

Begun in 1996 (only ten beaches qualified then), the program rates beaches and communities by criteria that include the quality of the ocean water, quality of drinking water in the community, waste disposal, availability of sanitary facilities, the existence of signs with safety instructions as well as the involvement of the community in keeping the beach clean and educating the local residents about the importance of maintaining their beach in order.
Among the beaches that formerly held the flag but did not make the cut this year are Tamarindo and Penca in Guanacaste, Santa Teresa in the Nicoya Peninsula and Puntarenas, Roble and Doña Ana – the last three due to contamination caused by the nearby Tárcoles River.
The Blue Flag program was begun as a joint effort of various Costa Rican authorities, including the National Water Service AyA, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute ICT, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment MINAE and the National Tourism Chamber CANATUR.

The following is the list of this year’s Blue Flag winners (in no particular order):

1 Playa Blanca
2 Punta Leona
3 Garabito
4 Manuel Antonio
5 Playa Espadilla Sur
6 Playa Puerto Escondido
7 Playa Gemelas
8 Playa Bahía Junquillal
9 Playa Conchal
10 Playa Arenilla
11 Gandoca
12 Isla Tortuga
13 Limoncito
14 Bejuco
15 Zancudo
16 Agujas
17 Ballena
18 Esterillos Oeste
19 Punta Uvita
20 Puerto Vargas
21 Blanca
22 Chiquita
23 Cocles
24 Punta Uva
25 Puerto Viejo
26 Mal País
27 Quitzales
28 Barú
29 La Colonia
30 Mata Palo
31 Pochote
32 Dominical
33 Piñuela
34 Blanca de Jiménez
35 Ocotal
36 Grande
37 Hermosa
38 Pan de Azucar
39 Monte del Barco
40 Flamingo
41 Junquillal
42 Carrillo
43 Punta Islita
44 Punta el Madero
45 Manzanillo de Liberia
46 Panamá
47 Pelada de Nosara
48 Guiñones de Nosara
49 Ostional
50 Langosta

here you go frank took this from a website:

WOW!! 50 beaches with blue flags and Jaco isn't one of them?!?! I guess that says it all. I will be staying out of the water, me thinks. Anyway, thanks, bro, I appreciate the info

Ok, it's getting exagerated. It's not that bad. Ok, so I have a third nut I didn't have when I moved down here.

Hey Thirdworld change your name to Thirdnut
I saw this on a real estate site- when is the Jaco superfreeway really gonna be finished?

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

They've been saying two years since I got here 7 years ago.