Costa Rica Real Estate News – Jaco beach, Costa Rica is the heart of the Central Pacific and is one of the primary real estate hotpots in country for good reason. As the closest beach to San Jose, Jaco is one of the most visited coastal destinations in Costa Rica. This popular little beach town has a little over 2 mile (4 km) of beach front and offers world renowned surfing, plenty of authentic local culture and a sizzling nightlife.
Jaco has all the services and amenities such as, post office, health clinic, multiple supermarkets and four major banks as well as a large number of restaurants, clothing stores, surf shops, bars, hotels, and resorts. Accommodations for travelers range from budget to private beach villas to luxurious penthouses with ocean views.
Families living in Jaco area have a variety of activities to choose from such as movie theaters, art festivals, local celebrations and festivals, music concerts, a public library and more. A short drive north or south and you and your family can enjoy a selection of beaches and towns all offering unique activities and events.
Jaco Beach also has a strong tourist economy as visitors come to enjoy the many adventure experiences throughout the area. Visitors can choose from every type of adventure activity in Jaco: canopy tours, crocodile river tours, ATVs, jungle hiking, waterfall tour, deep sea sportfishing… you name it, Jaco Beach has it.
The Carara Biological Reserve is only 10 minutes north of Jaco, with several miles of trails open to explore Costa Rica’s abundant wildlife. The Tarcoles River, which borders the park is where you see the American crocodile close up and lots of them, with more crocs per kilometer than any place else on the planet. Boat tours are available to see these crocs up close; many of these monsters grow to be several meters in length!
Just 5 minutes south of Jaco is Playa Hermosa, a quieter 6 mile (10 km) beautiful black sand beach which hosted the World Surfing Championships recently. Just 5 minutes north is Playa Herradura, a small beach whose name in Spanish means “horseshoe”, referring to the shape of the bay. Playa Herradura has different types of hotels, cabins, restaurants and plenty of activities for families and tourists to enjoy.
Herradura is home to the prestigious Los Suenos Marina and Golf Resort (featuring the Marriott Los Suenos), and is acknowledged to be the most successful resort community in all of Central America. This 1,100-acre master planned destination resort features a private 600-acre rainforest reserve; a 201-room plus five star Marriott hotel; over 500 
luxury residences, including single-family luxury homes, condos, lots, and lavish villas; a full service 200-slip international marina; an exclusive Beach Club for residents; an 18-hole championship golf course and a small commercial center offering great services to local residents.
Since the beginning of the first real estate boom in Costa Rica, around 2004, the Jaco real estate market has always captivated international interest. The market did greatly stall during the U.S. and the World’s economic slowdown beginning 2008 and even some developments were abandoned. However, the market really began picking back up in 2012/2013 and this year experts are anticipating even better growth. Improvements to infrastructure and access has improved dramatically in the past couple years with more direct international flights opening and the most importantly the opening of Highway 27 (Ruta del Sol), the new highway that connects San Jose and the Central Pacific coast, reducing the drive to less than 80 minutes.
Jaco beachfront condos have been a hot commodity since 2004, as the town started to see improvements thanks to the Jaco-Cenpac Chamber of Commerce. New roads got paved, new businesses came in, more family activities were initiated, and a greater police presence was seen. Now there is a plethora of ocean view choices on the bay. Not only are 2 new developments underway but the resale market for condominiums is hot right now with some fantastic deals.
If you are looking to retire, or own a second home providing you with rental income in a tropical paradise, make sure Jaco Beach-Playa Hermosa-Los Suenos are all on your must-see list, and see for yourself why Jaco is Costa Rica’s number one beach destination.
By Terrance Johnson
