Exploring Drake Bay - What To See

If you are currently looking for ways on how to enjoy a great vacation, you can try exploring Drake Bay and find various activities to keep you busy as well as tons of scenery that you've got to see. There are live crocodiles and the scarlet macaws in Carara National Park as well as miles of beautiful coastlines such as Tortuga Island and all of its marine life.

Beaches

Jaco Beach

This popular spot is great for both novice and connoisseur surfers. Its year-round beach breaks and accessibility to other nearby surf spots makes it a great home base. With some serious riptides, lifeguards man the towers during high season, even so, take caution when swimming.

Playa Hermosa

Beautiful beach is the exact definition of Playa Hermosa, and it holds true. With wide grey sanded beaches and white surf, Playa Hermosa is not only known for its tranquility but also for being the biggest beach break (after Dominical) on the country's Pacific Coast. The ten kilometer beach is part of Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge. Experienced surfers from all around the globe gravitate to this place, still preserved from overdevelopment, to experience the incredible surf and see international surf contests. Beware, the riptide is strong and makes it hard to swim. This isn't a place for little kids to play in the surf; even big kids need to be extra careful.

Location: 5 Kms south of Jaco

Playa Herradura

This is home to the only Marina (Los Suenos Marina) in Costa Rica (others are in development). Herradura means horse-shoe and that's exactly what is so special about this beach. Due to its shape the waters are calm and swimming friendly. The beach is dotted with excellent seafood restaurants and you can get a full service sport fishing charter boat for big game fish: billfish, marlin, mahi mahi and tuna. Contact us for tour info. Also book a snorkeling and dive trips that leave from here to nearby reefs and islands.

Location: 10 minutes north of Jaco.

Playas Esterillos

Not even half an hour north of Jaco you'll find Playas Esterillos. These three peaceful, palm-fringed beaches: Esterillos Este, Centro and Oeste, have long stretches of coastline and pretty good waves for long rides. The strongest beach breaks of the 3 are: Esterillos Centro and Este. They can ALMOST compare to Playa Hermosa. Swimmers can have their fun too, the northern end of Esterillos Oeste, is a calm tidal pool offering shelter from the area's dangerous riptides.

Location: 20 kms north of Jaco

Playa Bejuco

Going southbound towards Quepos is Playa Bejuco. Here you will find raw, untouched coastal beauty. Do you want to walk for miles and not see another soul? come to Bejuco which is another surf spot with the swimmers remaining at bay due to super strong riptides.

Location: 30 kms south of Jaco

Day Trips - Extra Goodies for You

Tortuga Island

This island is between Jaco and Nicoya Peninsula with beautiful white sanded beaches and crystal clear waters. You can spot dolphins, turtles and whales on your way over there. Contact us for a full-day excursion including roundtrip boat services, snorkeling, beverages and lunch.

Rivers and Waterfalls

The Tarcoles River

Do not miss this attraction! Rarely are you able to see firsthand one of the world's largest population of American crocodiles (over 2000!). This croc can grow as large as 12 feet from nose to tail. Make a pit stop at Tarcoles Bridge and check this creature out in the flesh when traveling from San Jose or Puntarenas. Another great way to see them is on boat tours of the river which is also known for its rich avifauna, with over 120 birds living in its mangrove estuaries.

Bijagual Waterfall - One of the tallest waterfalls in Costa Rica (600 feet) is right here! Only 35 minutes north of Jaco.

Waterfall del Zorro - Not far from Jaco is a 35 ft.

Waterfall de la Gloria - Located in the hillside of Playa Hermosa

Parks

Carara National Park

With the increasing development in this region, Carara National Park has become a critical sanctuary for wildlife. A mix of wet rainforest of the southern Pacific and the dry tropical forest of the northwest is home to over 2000 crocodiles, 450 scarlet macaws and much more.

Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge

Ten minutes south of Jaco is Playa Hermosa which is part of this wildlife refuge. July and December months are worth a trip to see the female Olive Ridleys locally known as Tortuga Lora) come ashore to lay their eggs.

Everybody Loves Butterflies. Have you seen a morpho butterfly flutter through the air? At the local butterfly farm and serpentarium you can see that and a lot more.