From San Jose, Playas del Coco is 244 kilometers (152 miles), about a 4.5 hour drive. Playas del Coco is the closest beach town to an international airport in Costa Rica.
What is the nearest beach to San Jose Costa Rica?
Playa Jaco Jaco Beach
Playa Jaco. Jaco Beach is the closest beach to San Jose and one of the most crowded. The closest beach to San José, Playa Jaco is good destination for a quick beach getaway.
How close is San Jose to the ocean?
The closest beaches are about 45 minutes away in Santa Cruz. From Santa Cruz, it’s a short drive north on Highway 1 to unique cove beaches near the town of Davenport. More sandy options near Santa Cruz include the beaches in Aptos and Capitola.
How far is San Jose Costa Rica airport to the beach?
There is a distance of 88 km between San Jose International Airport (SJO) and Jaco, and it will take around 1 hour 30 minutes by car, traffic dependant.
How far is Costa Rica from the beach?
From: San José Downtown
| To | Distance | Car / Private transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Jacó Beach, Puntarenas | 73 miles / 117 km | 1 hr |
| La Fortuna, Alajuela | 94 miles / 150 km | 3 hr 30 min |
| Liberia, Guanacaste | 136 miles / 217 km | 2 hr 30 min |
| Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas | 120 miles / 192 km | 2 hr 6 min |
What is the nicest beach town in Costa Rica?
Manuel Antonio is one of the top destinations in Costa Rica and one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica. This Central Pacific coastal village is home to white sand beaches and the most popular national park in the country: Manuel Antonio National Park.
Is San Jose Costa Rica worth visiting?
San Jose is most famous for being the entryway into Costa Rica. The country’s largest airport is here, and so the vast majority of travelers to CR come in and out of there. In addition, San Jose has some wonderful museums (especially the gold museum) and perhaps the best nightlife in the country.
Is San Jose safe for tourists?
Generally speaking, San Jose is a safe city to visit, so long as visitors keep their wits about them and behave in a street smart manner. Knowing which neighborhoods to avoid and keeping an eye on your possessions is key.
What is San Jose known for?
San Jose is known for being the capital of Silicon Valley, boasting many top tech and financial companies. With more millionaires per capita than other U.S. cities, it has one of the most expensive housing markets as a result. It is famous for museums, Great America, and the Winchester Mystery House.
Is San Jose safe?
Is San Jose, CA safe? San Jose isn’t just the safest large city in the Bay Area, it’s frequently ranked as one of the safest large cities in the U.S.! In 2020, Freeway Insurance named San Jose the 4th safest city with a population of 500,000 or more after San Diego; Mesa, AZ; and New York.
How many days do you need in San Jose Costa Rica?
Six days is a great amount of time to experience Costa Rica—you can easily combine two of the country’s biodiverse national parks with a day of exploration in San José.
Should I visit Liberia or San Jose?
Liberia is closer to some of the best surfing beaches in the country but flights can be more expensive. San Jose is closer to nature activities and the hustle and bustle of the capital city with generally cheaper flights, but has more expensive local transportation.
Can you swim in the ocean in Costa Rica?
4. Safest Beaches in Costa Rica: Where Can You Swim? With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea pounding the other side, Costa Rica’s beaches are famous for having big waves and fast currents. These are perfect for surfing, but not so much for gentle, safe swimming.
Does Costa Rica have mosquitos?
Are the mosquitoes bad in Costa Rica? No. While there are mosquitoes in Costa Rica, they are localized to certain areas and compared to other tropical regions really not that bad. Is Costa Rica safe from Zika virus?
Which side of Costa Rica has better beaches?
Although, the Pacific Coast has the greatest diversity in beaches. The Northern Coast is the dryest- with beaches backed by dry forest and cacti. As you move south, the beaches get lusher and wilder – with more wildlife. There are so many different beaches to discover in Costa Rica.
How long does it take to get to the beach from San Jose Costa Rica?
How far is the beach from San Jose Costa Rica? Located at about a 45-minute drive from San Jose, Jaco Beach is the closest to San Jose and one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.
Which side of Costa Rica is better Caribbean or Pacific?
If you go by what the locals say, the Caribbean coast wins. Well-traveled Costa Ricans love to visit the area south of Limon with its most famous beach towns of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, and Manzanillo. It is less crowded, not as expensive, and known for a great food scene.
Are there sharks in Costa Rica?
Among the most dangerous species found in Costa Rica are the tiger shark and the bull sharks (commonly found in Bat Island); tiger sharks, in fact, had not been seen for almost 30 years, but the population started growing in 2012.
Can you get around Costa Rica without a car?
The best way to get around Costa Rica is by bus, which is reliable, navigable, inexpensive and frequently runs through San José, Costa Rica’s capital. Driving on your own is not highly recommended as some roads are tricky (speckled with potholes and ambiguously marked intersections).
Why you shouldn’t go to Costa Rica?
In Central America and The Caribbean overall, Costa Rica is ranked the number one most peaceful country in the region out of 12. However, the homicide rate increased from 11.9 homicides per 100,000 people to 12.3 in the last year, and crime is still a significant threat to travelers in Costa Rica.
Is Costa Rica safer than Mexico?
The US State Department considers Costa Rica among the safest countries for US nationals. As per its safety ranking, Costa Rica is Level One whereas Mexico is Level Two.