fisherhood

We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 boys 17&19) planning a week in CR in July. We can stay at Costa Linda Condominiums in Jaco Puntarenas OR The Sanctuary Resort and Spa in Guanacaste... looking for your expertise on which location/which airport/getting around once we're there....and seeking (and booking) adventures such as zip line, volcanoes, beaches, food, culture....Thanks - we appreciate your help!

hipvirgochick

I don't know anything about those condos, but based on everything I've read the past five years I've been careful NOT to include jaco in my trips. Also I think if you like the sanctuary you should check out www.luxurylink.com as they often have deals.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I don't know those condos either, but I think a lot of the people here will agree that Jaco has become kind of seedy. You're nowhere near a volcano there either. I might have liked Jaco when I was 17 or 19, but Guanacaste will have all the things you're looking for and will be a lot of fun for teenagers.

If you go to Guanacaste, look into flights into Liberia (airport code is LIR). That will save you a lot of hours on the road to and from San Jose. The major airlines all fly there.

fisherhood

This is great information, thanks so much! I'm starting the planning with accommodation choices because of a great offer on a week at a timeshare. Looks like we're better off skipping Jaco. I have been reading related posts and garnered lots of info to get started. I appreciate your input and will probably have many more questions....we're excited about this trip.

turaj

Just drove through there enroute from MA to San Jose and the driver took me through the "main area" just to show me how tacky and awful (at least my impression as well as his) it has gotten in Jaco. I also would not want my kids there with the drug issues etc. (not that they can't see that elsewhere) but I think you are far better off in the Guanacaste area in all respects. Good luck.

Oasisofthetoucans

Jaco is the 'other armpit" of Costa Rica. Limon was first.
Tamarindo will catch up, in time.

Dyer

Tamarindo is a town our 21 yr. old daughter and 18 yr. old son enjoyed. The surf is good for novice surfers. We stayed at Hotel Capitan Suizo which is an 8 minute walk from the center of town, right on the beach and that beach is safe for swimming. We used these tour guides: www.mandingosail.com and www.jandctours.com We had a great experience on our first snorkel venture - and I hear so often the snorkeling isn't good here. Juan (the j in jandc) was our guide for horseback riding in the rainforest, ziplining, hot pools, all 2 hrs. away from Tamarindo.Carol, his wife, is American and gives tours too. The kids shouldn't be left on their own in town at night. Ours were a little older and were fine, but they were asked to buy drugs once. The reports all said those offering to sell won't bother you if you just say no and that was the case.

GeorgeVacation

This topic/replies are really out of date. The good news Jaco is quite different now (April 2013) then it was 4 or 5 years ago. there is a strong local community and the town has really cleaned up. It is a great place for families with kids and makes a convenient place to stay while exploring less developed (ie. no services/restaurants) places to the south. It also offers a good choice of restaurants, shopping and tours and has a mostly Costa Rican population contrary to some of the other comments - there is an expat. community but this is still a Tico town where some Spanish will be very useful. I recommend it.