Jaco, Costa Rica

Jaco, a small beach town nestled along the Pacific Coast, provided the perfect end of January escape for my 27th birthday girls’ trip. Well known for its’ big waves, Jaco is a quintessential surfers’ haven, with both regional and national competitions occurring on its rocky black beaches throughout high season. Paired with it’s proximity to national parks (where you can see beautiful macaws) and miles of quiet black sand beaches, Jaco is an amazing getaway from the hustle and bustle of 9-5 life. Fresh, local products were the backbones of all of our meals, creating simple yer robust meals for our entire stay. Below are some of my highlights and recommendations should you ever find yourself in this energetic beach town with an empty stomach.

Green Room Cafe

Located on the main strip, Green Room Cafe is an electric and open space; local art is displayed in every corner and the owners display a commitment to the community by showcasing local talent. The space is bright and welcoming- wooden swings near the front entrance and an outdoor space in the back with greenery and local merchants selling all sorts of products. We stopped here after a mural walking tour to cool down with fresh juices. Be sure to double back for Sunday brunch- our last day in Jaco before heading to the airport we had omelets, bananas foster French toast, fresh fruit and the real winner, 3USD mimosas! On the way out make sure you grab a photo with the giant wooden swings out front.

Jaco Bar

A few minutes walking distance from our hotel, Jaco Bar is a great happy hour spot or first spot on your bar crawl (Jaco is known as a party town with tons of bars packed on the main strip). My favorite thing here, outside of the drink specials, was the ceviche. I don’t have a big appetite so the small bites portion was perfect for me and my bill never went above 25USD when combined with a few frozen cocktails. The ceviche was fresh and bright, with flavor notes of red onion and lime. Happy hour runs 4-6pm with half off all drinks, including discounts on Costa Rica’s famous chili guaro shot and my new favorite, a Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot with rumchada and fireball. Bottoms up!

Images: Author