All Jaco Tours & Excursions in 2026
Located on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, Jaco is best known for two things: surfing and nature. No visit is complete without catching some waves on Hermosa Beach or venturing into Carara National Park and Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls, teeming with impressive wildlife and beautiful vistas. Arrange for Jaco tours to take you through some of these impressive attractions—take your pick from cruising through the jungle on ATVs, spotting monkeys and sloths from a zipline, or admiring the views on a horseback ride along the beach.
People Also Ask
There are plenty of high-quality tours and experiences in Jaco. According to previous travelers, here are the best tours to book right now:
Yes, guided tours in Jaco are worth it. Excursions make a variety of experiences possible: riding horses on the beach, learning how to catch a wave, visiting Tortuga Island, or ATV trips in the rainforest. Plus, Costa Rica has notoriously rough roads, especially in the green (wet) season—leave the driving to the locals who know where every pothole is and where to park safely.
Per one customer who booked the All-Inclusive Catamaran Day Tour to Tortuga Island, "The staff was highly attentive, some of the best service I've ever had. Delicious food and a beautiful island with great activities. Would do it again! Highly recommend and don't forget to tip the staff, they work hard in the heat!"
Jaco tours are available at pretty much every price point. While there are affordable and budget-friendly options for self-guided walking and biking tours starting from around US$13, there are just as many all-inclusive, luxury options that include private yachts, offshore fishing trips, or horseback rides that run into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
For example, the 7-hour Private Full-Day Charter to Playa Fantasia on Sealounge Catamaran starts around US$2,670 per group of eight. It includes breakfast, snacks, lunch, alcoholic beverages, use of snorkeling equipment, and hotel pickup and drop-off within the Jaco area. In contrast, you can book the Hiking Tour in Bijagual Waterfall for just US$26 per person. It's a 3-hour group tour that can be quite large, so don't expect too much personal attention.
Jaco is a beachgoer's paradise, and as a result, most of the tours available are sea-based: sailing trips to Tortuga island, beachside barbeques, or fishing excursions. However, for visitors without sea legs, tons of adventure activities take place fon land, such as ATV tours and ziplining.
Consider an all-day Jaco tour to pack in as many sights and activities as possible. For example, the Full Day Pass Jaco Jungle Adventure Five in One with Lunch packs in tons of adventures in just under eight hours. You'll get to try horseback riding, ziplining, all-terrain vehicle rides, and even rappelling down a waterfall. The itinerary also includes time for a traditional lunch, and you're pretty much guaranteed to see some wildlife because it's in the rainforest.
Jaco easily warrants two days—it’s centrally located and has a lot to offer, such as nightlife and proximity to unique experiences like crocodile tours. That said, it has a reputation for being very developed and on the seedier side, so you probably won’t want to spend all of your time in Costa Rica here, especially if you want to avoid crowds.
According to travelers, these are the best attractions in Jaco:
View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Jaco.
There are tons of great trips to take from Jaco. According to traveler reviews, these are the best day trips to book right now:
View all of Viator's top Jaco day trips.
You don't have to spend a fortune to have a great time in Jaco. Here are some of the best Jaco activities for US$35 or less:
It's no secret that Jaco is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Here are some of the top outdoor tours to book right now:
View all of Viator's top outdoor activities in Jaco.