Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [286]
Eating out in Jacó with children is a breeze, since nearly all of the places in town offer English menus and/or have English-speaking staff. If your children aren’t accustomed to eating typical Costa Rican food (such as rice and beans), you can easily find more US-style fast-food items as well as pizza and pasta. Fruit smoothies are an excellent way to keep your kids properly hydrated, and Jacó is one place in Costa Rica where you definitely don’t need to worry too much about the drinking water.
GOING TOPLESS?
Though it’s the cultural norm in several corners of the globe, going topless is heavily frowned upon in Costa Rica. This of course shouldn’t be surprising, as more than two-thirds of Ticos are practicing Catholics. Sure, if you bare it all the guys on the beach will hoot and holler, but remember that families often frequent Costa Rican beaches. If the temptation to get a little extra sun is too much to bear, be considerate and move to an isolated stretch of sand.
Just for the record, there is one place in the central Pacific where topless sunbathing is tolerated, namely La Playita in Manuel Antonio. However, it’s worth mentioning that this beach is predominantly a pick-up scene for gay men on vacation – for more information, see boxed text.
One last thing: it’s worth taking the time to read Dangers & Annoyances as Jacó has something of a dirty underbelly that children should be sheltered from. Generally speaking, most of the ill happenings occur under the cover of dark, at which point you might want to keep the young ones safely inside the confines of your hotel or a nearby restaurant. Once again though, it’s worth pointing out that aside from a few rough edges, Jacó is regarded as a safe and family-friendly destination through and through.
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Sleeping
The center of town, with its many bars and discos, can mean that noise will be a factor in where you choose to stay. The far northern and southern ends of town have more relaxed and quieter accommodations.
Reservations are highly recommended on weekends in the dry season and become critical during Easter and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The rates given are high-season rates, but low-season rates could be as much as 30% to 40% lower. If you plan on a lengthy stay (more than five days), ask about long-term rates.
HOSTELS
Las Camas Hostel (Map; Av Pastor Díaz; dm/d US$14/30; ) With little more than the word ‘Hostel’ scribbled onto a whitewashed exterior wall, this young backpacker start-up is an understated but highly personable shoestring offering. Centrally located next to the KFC, Las Camas puts you steps away from the beach and the nightlife, yet guests seem content spending more of their time on the expansive rooftop deck. Rooms are a bit rough around the edges, but shabbiness is easy to forgive at this price range.
Hotel de Haan (Map; 2643-1795; www.hoteldehaan.com; Calle Bohío; dm/d from US$19/48; ) This Dutch-Tico outpost is one of the top budget bets in town, and is perennially popular with backpackers from around the world. Freshly tiled rooms with steamy hot-water showers (dorms have shared bathrooms) are clean and secure, and there’s a shared kitchen with fridge, plus a pool and free internet around the clock. The highlight of the property, however, is the upstairs balcony where you can congregate with fellow backpackers, and swap travel stories over a few cans of Imperial until the wee hours of the morning.
BUDGET
Cheap budget hotels are scattered around the Jacó area, though we constantly receive reports from travelers about petty theft. Indeed, sometimes it’s worth spending a few extra dollars for the safety and peace of mind that comes