TOURS & ADVENTURES · JACÓ · HERRADURA · PLAYA HERMOSATours & adventures from Jacó
Every tour here is a live partner listing. Each card shows the duration, pickup or meeting point, age limits and cancellation terms stated on that listing. If a card leaves a field out, the listing doesn’t state it.
FROM ONE BEACH-TOWN BASE~1.5 hrsTypical road time from SJO airport to Jacó via Routes 27 and 34 (traffic varies)
9 categoriesSurf, ATV, zipline, fishing, waterfalls, wildlife, Manuel Antonio, island days, rainy-day
Short driveCarara National Park’s entrance is on Route 34, just south of the Tárcoles River bridge
TOURS & ADVENTURES
Tours you can book from Jacó
Duration, pickup, and cancellation as stated on the partner listing. Confirm current times and terms before you pay.
Surf lessons
Jacó’s long beach break is where many Costa Rica surfers catch their first wave. Book a morning lesson, then keep the afternoon free for everything else.
SURF LESSON · PRIVATESurf Lessons with Pro Team in Jacó
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup offered near the surf spot, or meet at the Surfer Factory surf shop (listing notes a small pickup/drop fee if you're farther away)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- First-time surfers and families; the listing runs this as a private lesson and shows a child age band of 5–11.
Two hours one-on-one with a Jacó surf school, which is the fastest way to stand up on day one.
SURF LESSON · GROUPSurf Lessons
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Pickup
- Free pickup within 1 km of Jacó per listing (fee beyond that), or meet at Jaco Surf School on Calle Bohío
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Groups and younger kids; the listing shows a child age band starting at 3.
A shared lesson in the middle of town that fits neatly before an afternoon tour.
Go deeper on surf at SurfCostaRica →
ATV rides
Muddy trails, river crossings and a swim at a waterfall, all in the hills right behind town. These two rides cover most trips.
ATV · 3 HOURS3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup included in the Jacó area (only) on request, per listing; or meet at the Adventure Tours Costa Rica office
- Ages
- Children under 4 can't ride; ATV drivers must be 16+ with a valid driver's license; under-16s and unlicensed riders ride as passengers (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Couples and friend groups with a licensed driver aged 16+; a credit-card hold is required on the day (see listing).
Jungle trails and two waterfall stops that start right in town. JacoATV compares every ATV and UTV option.
ATV · HALF DAY + LUNCH4-Hour ATV Waterfall & Delicious Rainforest Lunch
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup included in the Jacó area (only) on request, per listing; or meet at the Adventure Tours Costa Rica office
- Ages
- Children under 4 can't ride; ATV drivers must be 16+ with a valid driver's license; under-16s and unlicensed riders ride as passengers (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Riders who want a longer half-day with lunch in the rainforest; drivers 16+ with a license.
Same operator with more trail time and a rainforest lunch, for when three hours feels too short.
Compare every ATV and UTV option on JacoATV →
Zipline & canopy
Ziplines over the ridges above Herradura and Jacó. Pick the ride that fits your group’s ages; both listings meet you at the park and explain how to arrange transport.
ZIPLINE · HERRADURA HILLSOcean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Meeting point
- Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park (Herradura); listing offers transport for an additional cost depending on your hotel or condo
- Ages
- Minimum age is 4 years; maximum weight 250 lb (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Families with kids 4 and up and first-time zipliners.
Cables over the hills above Herradura Bay, reached by a tractor ride up the slope.
AERIAL TRAM + ZIPLINERainforest Aerial Tram & Zipline Tour in Jacó, Costa Rica
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Meeting point
- Rainforest Adventures park entrance near Jacó; transport can be arranged by contacting the operator (per listing)
- Ages
- Minimum age is 8 years (depending on height and weight); minimum height 115 cm; closed-toe shoes mandatory (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Mixed groups: some ride the tram for the view, others want the zipline too. Ages 8+ per listing.
Ride the gondola-style tram up through the canopy, then zip back down with ocean views.
Sportfishing
Charters leave from the Jacó coast and the Herradura / Los Sueños area. Partner listings here are few, so the GetYourGuide rail is worth a look too.
SPORTFISHING · PRIVATE CHARTERDeep Sea Fishing Charters in Jaco, Costa Rica
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Meeting point
- The captain meets you at the beach parking lot described on the listing and guides you to the boat
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Anglers and groups who want a private boat; drinks, snacks and lunch are listed as included.
A full day offshore aboard a 35-foot boat with a bilingual crew.
More on Costa Rica sportfishing →
Waterfalls & jungle
You can walk to the waterfalls in the hills behind Jacó, or climb down them on a rope.
WATERFALL HIKEHike 10 waterfalls in Jaco lunch included
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Meeting point
- Finca los Solis parking lot, about 5 minutes from Jacó Beach (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Active families and friends; the listing asks for at least moderate fitness and shows a child band from age 5.
A jungle walk past a string of waterfalls and swimming holes a few minutes from the beach, with lunch included.
CANYONING · WATERFALL RAPPELCanyoning in Jaco
- Duration
- 4.5 hours
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Thrill-seekers who want to rappel waterfalls; no prior harness experience needed per listing.
Harness up and descend the waterfalls themselves with English-speaking guides.
Wildlife & nature
Carara National Park lies a short drive north on Route 34. A guided morning walk there is the classic way to look for scarlet macaws.
CARARA NATIONAL PARKGuided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included)
- Duration
- 2–3 hours
- Meeting point
- At the entrance of Carara National Park (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Nature lovers and families; the park ticket is included per the title, with a maximum of 10 per booking.
A guided walk in Carara, a scarlet macaw stronghold, with the park ticket included per the listing title.
Manuel Antonio day trip
Manuel Antonio is the big day trip south. Go with a guide and let the tour handle pickup and park tickets.
MANUEL ANTONIO DAY TRIPManuel Antonio National Park Hiking Tour from Jacó
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup at any hotel, house, Airbnb or other place in the area (per listing)
- Ages
- Children must be accompanied by an adult; minimum 2 people per booking (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- First-time visitors who want the park without driving; children must be with an adult and bookings need at least 2 people.
Costa Rica’s best-known coastal park as a guided day with pickup from your Jacó base.
Manuel Antonio guide →
Boat & island days
Take a full day on Tortuga Island in the Gulf of Nicoya on a private boat.
TORTUGA ISLAND · PRIVATE BOATTortuga Island Private Boat Tour from Jaco with Snorkel, Meals
- Duration
- 8.5 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup from your place of stay at 7:15 am, or meet at the Herradura beach bus stop at 7:30 am (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Families and groups who want a boat to themselves; the listing offers infant seats.
A private day on Tortuga Island with snorkeling and meals, leaving from Herradura.
Rainy-day & easy pace
These are editorial picks for a wet afternoon or a slow day: cacao and a food walk.
CACAO & CHOCOLATEChocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Meeting point
- Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park, 1.5 km east of the Herradura / Los Sueños intersection (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Families and couples who want an easy two hours under cover of the trees.
A cacao walk and chocolate tasting near Herradura. Editorial rainy-day pick.
FOOD WALK · TOWNTaste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jaco
- Duration
- 3–4 hours
- Meeting point
- In front of Tequeñeros, public benches in the Jaco Walk parking lot (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Curious eaters aged 10+ per listing; add dietary needs when you book.
A guided tasting walk through traditional Costa Rican food. For where to eat later, see TropicalJaco.
Where to eat in Jacó (TropicalJaco) →
GETTING HERE
Airport transfers to and from Jacó
Duration, pickup, and cancellation as stated on the partner listing. Confirm current times and terms before you pay.
SJO airport transferSJO to Jaco Private Transportation or Vice Versa
- Route
- SJO ↔ Jacó
- Duration
- 1 hour 25 minutes
- Pickup
- Private transfer; you set the pickup time and specific location in the Jacó, Hermosa and Herradura areas (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Arriving at San José (SJO); both directions per title
Departure to SJOPrivate Transfer Los Sueños, Jaco & Playa Hermosa to SJO Airport
- Route
- Jacó / Herradura / Hermosa → SJO
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup from hotels, vacation rentals, Airbnbs and residences in Los Sueños, Herradura, Jacó, Playa Hermosa and selected route locations; must be accessible by a standard passenger van (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Heading home from the Jacó area to SJO
Liberia airport transferPrivate Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas
- Route
- LIR → Jacó
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Pickup
- Private transfer; airport pickup with flight tracking — driver waits 60 minutes after landing with a name sign (per listing)
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Who it suits
- Flying into Liberia (LIR); long drive (listing duration ~4 hours)
HOW TO CHOOSE
Match the tour to your trip
Surf in the morning, explore in the afternoon
Lessons usually run about two hours, so a morning lesson leaves the afternoon open for a zipline, a waterfall walk or the chocolate tour. On the Pacific side, rain tends to arrive in the afternoon during green season, which makes mornings the best time for outdoor bookings.
Check the pickup line on each card
Some listings include hotel pickup, some offer it on request, and some meet you at the park gate. Each card says which, in the listing’s own words. If a card shows only a meeting point, plan your own ride or ask the operator.
Traveling with kids? Check the age line
The age limit shown is the one the listing states, such as a child age band starting at 3 for the town surf lesson, a minimum age of 4 for the Herradura zipline, or 8 for the tram-and-zipline. Where a listing gives no age rule, we don’t tag the tour as family-friendly.
Pair tours by geography
Carara is a short drive north on Route 34, so book it for a morning and keep the afternoon for the beach. Herradura has the zipline park, the chocolate tour and boat departures within a few minutes of each other. Manuel Antonio takes a full day on its own.
Keep one flexible slot
Weather and ocean conditions can move surf, boat and fishing days. Choose listings that state free cancellation, and keep one open afternoon to reschedule into.
PLANNING FAQ
Questions guests ask once they’ve booked Jacó
What can we book for tomorrow?
Open the partner listing and check the live calendar, because open dates and start times are set by the operator and change daily. Favor listings that state free cancellation, and remember that the operator confirms pickup times after you book. We don’t show open dates on this site.
Browse tours →Which tours offer pickup from our hotel?
Look for the pickup line on each card. It repeats the listing, for example “pickup on request in the Jacó area” or “meet at the park entrance”. The Manuel Antonio tour and the Tortuga Island boat pick up from your stay, the ATV rides offer pickup on request in the Jacó area, and both surf schools offer it nearby. The Carara walk, the waterfall hike and the two ziplines meet you on site; the zipline listings say transport costs extra or can be arranged with the operator.
Browse tours →Which adventures work for families?
Start with tours whose listings state an age minimum or a child age band. Examples include the town surf lesson (its child age band starts at 3), the Herradura zipline (minimum age 4), the Carara walk (child band starting at 2) and the chocolate tour (age band starting at 6). ATV drivers must be 16+ with a license on the listed rides.
See the family itinerary →What can we do when it rains?
Green-season rain on the Pacific side usually falls in the afternoon and early evening, so book outdoor tours in the morning. For wet afternoons we suggest the chocolate tour and the food walk. The rainy-day tag is our editorial judgment, not a promise from the listing.
See rainy-day picks →Is ATV riding covered in depth here?
Not in depth. JacoTour lists two representative ATV rides. JacoATV, our sister site, compares every ATV and UTV option around Jacó.
Open JacoATV →Why don’t you show what tours cost?
Costs change on the partner site, so we send you there to check them live. If you are hunting for offers, our sister site JacoDeals covers them.
Looking for offers? See JacoDeals →
JacoTourPlan My Jacó Trip ↗