Casa Amistad
Yoga
We're located next door to an incredible yoga school and retreat center which offers daily public yoga. Find them on IG. Please check in with me or them to make sure they aren’t closed for a training. Pay with cash to the teacher or cash or card at the office.
6 locals recommend
Vida Asana School of Yoga
We're located next door to an incredible yoga school and retreat center which offers daily public yoga. Find them on IG. Please check in with me or them to make sure they aren’t closed for a training. Pay with cash to the teacher or cash or card at the office.
Aurora Yoga & Wellness
local #15 Av. Pastor DíazUpdated daily yoga schedule on IG.
Encantada Ocean Cottages
Updated daily yoga schedule on IG.
Hermosa Beach House
Updated yoga schedule on IG.
Food scene
Best restaurant on the beach. Great vibes, music, and dancing. Sunday fun-day is a must experience!
63 locals recommend
Vida Hermosa
Best restaurant on the beach. Great vibes, music, and dancing. Sunday fun-day is a must experience!
Great spot for juices, smoothie bowls, and poke bowls. The wifi is a little spotty but can be a great place to work. Monkeys and pezotes are daily visitors.
Sunny’s Hostel
Great spot for juices, smoothie bowls, and poke bowls. The wifi is a little spotty but can be a great place to work. Monkeys and pezotes are daily visitors.
My favorite restaurant in Jaco. Great Thai food. You don't feel like you're in Jaco in this little rooftop oasis.
29 locals recommend
Jerah Thai Restaurant
Calle AnitaMy favorite restaurant in Jaco. Great Thai food. You don't feel like you're in Jaco in this little rooftop oasis.
Ohana Sushi, Tapas Y Bar
Calle HicacoTsunami Sushi
Soda Garabito.
Great, inexpensive local food.
Don Toro Beach
Calle Playa EsterillosRancho Colon
Great local food just a quick drive south.
Los Almendros
Open Thursday afternoons and all day on Fridays for fruits, veggies, locally made foods and crafts.
11 locals recommend
Jaco Farmers Market
Open Thursday afternoons and all day on Fridays for fruits, veggies, locally made foods and crafts.
Los Amigos Jaco
Name: Public House
Mirador Restaurant at Villa Caletas offer amazing sunset view and upscale dining. Go for cocktails or stay for dinner. A reservation may be needed. See Villa Caletas Hotel website under Dining.
64 locals recommend
Villa Caletas Hotel
Mirador Restaurant at Villa Caletas offer amazing sunset view and upscale dining. Go for cocktails or stay for dinner. A reservation may be needed. See Villa Caletas Hotel website under Dining.
Italian Steakhouse right on the marina in Los Sueños, Herradura. 25 minute drive. Reservations may be needed.
10 locals recommend
LANTERNA Italian Steakhouse
Italian Steakhouse right on the marina in Los Sueños, Herradura. 25 minute drive. Reservations may be needed.
Coffee
Best coffee in Costa Rica. Fun little coffee shop with great vibes and snacks. Great place to work for remote workers.
13 locals recommend
Café Bohío Playa Hermosa
Best coffee in Costa Rica. Fun little coffee shop with great vibes and snacks. Great place to work for remote workers.
Beach
This a great nearby beach to visit or surf, only 15 minutes away by car. It's wild and rural. Be sure to check out the mermaid and explore the tide pools at low tide.
23 locals recommend
Esterillos Oeste
This a great nearby beach to visit or surf, only 15 minutes away by car. It's wild and rural. Be sure to check out the mermaid and explore the tide pools at low tide.
Beautiful, undeveloped beach about a 30-minute drive away. Surf spot to avoid crowds. Great day trip.
24 locals recommend
Bejuco Beach
Beautiful, undeveloped beach about a 30-minute drive away. Surf spot to avoid crowds. Great day trip.
Crystal clear water, white-sand beaches. Punta Leona is a good surf spot when the swell comes from the south. Waves break over rocks. Note - plan to pay for parking here.
14 locals recommend
Playa Blanca
Crystal clear water, white-sand beaches. Punta Leona is a good surf spot when the swell comes from the south. Waves break over rocks. Note - plan to pay for parking here.
Sunrise to sunset Hermosa Beach is paradise. The beach is well known by surfers for Hermosa’s consistent waves.
A great little adventure is to walk Hermosa Beach to the north and explore the rocks at low tide. Be sure to go at a low tide and bring your shoes as the black sand and rocks get hot during the day.
Or walk south toward el Rio Tulin. Visit Rio Tulin at sunrise for the best bird viewing.
35 locals recommend
Hermosa Beach
Sunrise to sunset Hermosa Beach is paradise. The beach is well known by surfers for Hermosa’s consistent waves.
A great little adventure is to walk Hermosa Beach to the north and explore the rocks at low tide. Be sure to go at a low tide and bring your shoes as the black sand and rocks get hot during the day.
Or walk south toward el Rio Tulin. Visit Rio Tulin at sunrise for the best bird viewing.
This beautiful refuge goes from Punta Mala to the mouth of the Tulin river, in the limit between the cantons of Garabito and Parrita. Hermosa Beach, as well as some estuaries, lakes, lagoons and flooded forests, belong to this refuge.
The primary aim of this refuge is the protection of the olive ridley turtle, which spawns on its beaches every year in August; that is why fishing, camping, lighting fires or taking autochthonous species out of the enclosure is forbidden.
Refugio Nacional De Vida Silvestre Playa Hermosa
This beautiful refuge goes from Punta Mala to the mouth of the Tulin river, in the limit between the cantons of Garabito and Parrita. Hermosa Beach, as well as some estuaries, lakes, lagoons and flooded forests, belong to this refuge.
The primary aim of this refuge is the protection of the olive ridley turtle, which spawns on its beaches every year in August; that is why fishing, camping, lighting fires or taking autochthonous species out of the enclosure is forbidden.
This would be a long day trip from Playa Hermosa (~2 hour drive each way) but we’ll worth it or if you want to take a night or two away. The whales tail is an incredible sight. You can ONLY go out to the whales tail at low tide. If you can time a sunset at sunrise or set set it’s spectacular.
176 locals recommend
Parque Nacional Marino Ballena
This would be a long day trip from Playa Hermosa (~2 hour drive each way) but we’ll worth it or if you want to take a night or two away. The whales tail is an incredible sight. You can ONLY go out to the whales tail at low tide. If you can time a sunset at sunrise or set set it’s spectacular.
Hikes
Short, steep hike with great views of Jaco. Keep left to go to El Miro, an abandoned hotel project with amazing views and interesting art and architecture.
You can also hike from El Miro to Mirador jaco in Hermosa (about 5 miles). Message me for a link to an AllTrails map. You’ll need to get the free version of the AllTrails app. Or use the G Map pin for location of the Mirador jaco lookout.
~.5 miles to first lookout
~.6 miles to split in trail, stay right
~1.5 to the road C Cerró Fresco, turn left (up)
~2.6 to trail To Mirador jaco look out. There’s a pin on G maps and also in this guidebook under sightseeing.
Other hike options from El Miro include waking along C Cerro Fresco up along the ridge. You can even walk down to Calle Hermosa via Hermosa Estates Access rd (very steep!).
Or walk down C Cerró Fresco and come out by Pizzapata/Sabrocita and near Cafe Bohio. Stop for a coffee and head back.
103 locals recommend
El Miro
Short, steep hike with great views of Jaco. Keep left to go to El Miro, an abandoned hotel project with amazing views and interesting art and architecture.
You can also hike from El Miro to Mirador jaco in Hermosa (about 5 miles). Message me for a link to an AllTrails map. You’ll need to get the free version of the AllTrails app. Or use the G Map pin for location of the Mirador jaco lookout.
~.5 miles to first lookout
~.6 miles to split in trail, stay right
~1.5 to the road C Cerró Fresco, turn left (up)
~2.6 to trail To Mirador jaco look out. There’s a pin on G maps and also in this guidebook under sightseeing.
Other hike options from El Miro include waking along C Cerro Fresco up along the ridge. You can even walk down to Calle Hermosa via Hermosa Estates Access rd (very steep!).
Or walk down C Cerró Fresco and come out by Pizzapata/Sabrocita and near Cafe Bohio. Stop for a coffee and head back.
Incredible hiking area following a river and series of 8-10 waterfalls. Hiking is moderate to challenging. Follow the trails on either side of the river or climb along the river. 15-20 minutes from Casa Amistad. Take the road Calle Las Monas and park on the side of the river. You'll see signs for tours but you can just hike on your own.
Catarata Valle Encantado
Unnamed RoadIncredible hiking area following a river and series of 8-10 waterfalls. Hiking is moderate to challenging. Follow the trails on either side of the river or climb along the river. 15-20 minutes from Casa Amistad. Take the road Calle Las Monas and park on the side of the river. You'll see signs for tours but you can just hike on your own.
3.7 mile out and back hike down and back up. Trail is available on the AllTrails App. There's an entrance fee. Tours and horseback riding tours are available in the area. Take route 34 or Jaco Road for the more scenic route.
8 locals recommend
Catarata Bijagual, Garabito, CR.
3.7 mile out and back hike down and back up. Trail is available on the AllTrails App. There's an entrance fee. Tours and horseback riding tours are available in the area. Take route 34 or Jaco Road for the more scenic route.
Explore and relax in the tide pools at Punta Mala at low tide. Park at the beach at Esterillos Oeste and walk on the beach north. Pass la sirena (a metal statue of a mermaid) and continue walking the beach to explore the rocks and tide pools of Punta Mala. Be sure to check the tides. The tide comes in quickly.
Reserva Natural Punta Mala
Explore and relax in the tide pools at Punta Mala at low tide. Park at the beach at Esterillos Oeste and walk on the beach north. Pass la sirena (a metal statue of a mermaid) and continue walking the beach to explore the rocks and tide pools of Punta Mala. Be sure to check the tides. The tide comes in quickly.
About an hour drive away and we’ll worth it!
Ciruit loop hike with suspension bridges over the jungle and river below, water falls and tide pools.
Visit their website for more.
Open every day from 7:30AM - 6:00PM (last tour 4:00PM)
Self-guided hikes are $23 per person and no reservations are needed.
Guided tours are $55 per person and reservations are required.
Private tours are $70 per person and reservations are required.
64 locals recommend
Rainmaker
Red Vial Cantonal 100About an hour drive away and we’ll worth it!
Ciruit loop hike with suspension bridges over the jungle and river below, water falls and tide pools.
Visit their website for more.
Open every day from 7:30AM - 6:00PM (last tour 4:00PM)
Self-guided hikes are $23 per person and no reservations are needed.
Guided tours are $55 per person and reservations are required.
Private tours are $70 per person and reservations are required.
Sightseeing
Perfect day trip - visit the park and/or beaches of Manuel Antonio. You're sure to see much of the animals and natural beauty Costa Rica has to offer.
557 locals recommend
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Perfect day trip - visit the park and/or beaches of Manuel Antonio. You're sure to see much of the animals and natural beauty Costa Rica has to offer.
This beautiful refuge goes from Punta Mala to the mouth of the Tulin river, in the limit between the cantons of Garabito and Parrita. Hermosa Beach, as well as some estuaries, lakes, lagoons and flooded forests, belong to this refuge.
This wild, untouched beach at the mouth of the River Tulin is full of driftwood. Visit Rio Tulin at sunrise or shortly after for the best bird viewing. Low tide offers excellent opportunities for photographing or collecting sun dollars. Great at sunrise or sunset. Don't go in the river or very near as there are crocodiles in the river.
Accessible by car or bike.
Río Tulín
This beautiful refuge goes from Punta Mala to the mouth of the Tulin river, in the limit between the cantons of Garabito and Parrita. Hermosa Beach, as well as some estuaries, lakes, lagoons and flooded forests, belong to this refuge.
This wild, untouched beach at the mouth of the River Tulin is full of driftwood. Visit Rio Tulin at sunrise or shortly after for the best bird viewing. Low tide offers excellent opportunities for photographing or collecting sun dollars. Great at sunrise or sunset. Don't go in the river or very near as there are crocodiles in the river.
Accessible by car or bike.
Royal Butterflies
Nauyaca Waterfalls
Dominical - San Isidro PZBeautiful place to watch the sunrise or sunset.
Drive or hike to the lookout.
If you select “Get Directions” from the Guidebook, use G Maps (not Waze).
Drive: take Calle Hermosa to the highway toward Jaco. After the mechanic before Animal, turn right on Calle Cerro Fresco (has a large billboard for Valle Perdido 2). Take the road up about 2 miles. Small parking spot (1-2 cars) on the right.
Hike: park at Pizza Pata/Sabrosita. Walk back to Calle Cerro Fresco where the Valle Perdido billboard is. Turn left and that the road up about 2 miles.
From the look out you can access additional hiking trails (not maintained) or walk along the ridge on the road. The road can be followed back to Calle Hermosa going down Hermosa Estates access road (very steep, walk. If you drive you need 4w drive).
The C. Cerro Fresco road also connects to the El Miro in Jaco via C Cerro Miro.
Mirador jaco
Beautiful place to watch the sunrise or sunset.
Drive or hike to the lookout.
If you select “Get Directions” from the Guidebook, use G Maps (not Waze).
Drive: take Calle Hermosa to the highway toward Jaco. After the mechanic before Animal, turn right on Calle Cerro Fresco (has a large billboard for Valle Perdido 2). Take the road up about 2 miles. Small parking spot (1-2 cars) on the right.
Hike: park at Pizza Pata/Sabrosita. Walk back to Calle Cerro Fresco where the Valle Perdido billboard is. Turn left and that the road up about 2 miles.
From the look out you can access additional hiking trails (not maintained) or walk along the ridge on the road. The road can be followed back to Calle Hermosa going down Hermosa Estates access road (very steep, walk. If you drive you need 4w drive).
The C. Cerro Fresco road also connects to the El Miro in Jaco via C Cerro Miro.
Activities
Private pool within the community of Opera Salvaje where Casa Amistad is located. The pool is open for lap swimming only. Open Monday & Thursday 8 am-7:30 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Weekends 6:30 am - 7:30 am. One lane is available during classes for open swim. During swim team practice and maintenance no swimming is allowed. The swim team meets Monday - Friday 3 - 5:30 pm. Daily fee $5 (deposit in the mailbox). Swimming classes are available upon request for $30 for one person for 1 hour, group classes $20/person. WhatsApp Ruth at +506 8829 0755
Peak Training Center - swimming pool & classes
Private pool within the community of Opera Salvaje where Casa Amistad is located. The pool is open for lap swimming only. Open Monday & Thursday 8 am-7:30 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Weekends 6:30 am - 7:30 am. One lane is available during classes for open swim. During swim team practice and maintenance no swimming is allowed. The swim team meets Monday - Friday 3 - 5:30 pm. Daily fee $5 (deposit in the mailbox). Swimming classes are available upon request for $30 for one person for 1 hour, group classes $20/person. WhatsApp Ruth at +506 8829 0755
I'm happy to make reservations for you. Located in Playa Hermosa in the same building as Cafe Bohio.
9 locals recommend
Chiclets Zipline
I'm happy to make reservations for you. Located in Playa Hermosa in the same building as Cafe Bohio.
Skydive Costa Rica
I'm happy to make reservations for you.
Hidden in Playon de Parrita are three natural pools surrounded by trees, perfect to go to cool off and have a good time. A place that not many know about but for sure is worth visiting. There's a charge to park and cross private property.
Route 27 Playón of Parrita Central Pacific use Waze.
Las Pilas Waterfalls
Hidden in Playon de Parrita are three natural pools surrounded by trees, perfect to go to cool off and have a good time. A place that not many know about but for sure is worth visiting. There's a charge to park and cross private property.
Route 27 Playón of Parrita Central Pacific use Waze.
This is a variation on the Native American inipi or temezcal. Participants are led by a trained shamanic practitioner to release toxins of both a physical and emotional nature through sweating induced from fire heated sacred stones. Prayers and blessings are offered up during each of four sessions, or doors, each lasting around 20 minutes and interspersed with dipping in the cool sitting pool or under the shower to prepare for the following door. After the final door, the group walks across the road to the beach to enjoy the sunset and process the experience.
https://www.instagram.com/temazcalsanador
Temazcal Sanador El Buda
This is a variation on the Native American inipi or temezcal. Participants are led by a trained shamanic practitioner to release toxins of both a physical and emotional nature through sweating induced from fire heated sacred stones. Prayers and blessings are offered up during each of four sessions, or doors, each lasting around 20 minutes and interspersed with dipping in the cool sitting pool or under the shower to prepare for the following door. After the final door, the group walks across the road to the beach to enjoy the sunset and process the experience.
https://www.instagram.com/temazcalsanador
The best surf school in the area. I'm happy to make reservations for your surf experience.
Soul Surf Surfing School
Calle MadrigalThe best surf school in the area. I'm happy to make reservations for your surf experience.
Contact me and I'll help you make reservations for this amazing Costa Rica experience!
Skydive Costa Rica
Contact me and I'll help you make reservations for this amazing Costa Rica experience!
The Park At Ocean Ranch
ATVs and horseback riding tours right around the corner!
La Iguana Golf Course
CalleTake a day trip to Isa Tortuga, private beaches accessible by boat or a sunset catamaran.
10 locals recommend
CostaCat Cruises
Take a day trip to Isa Tortuga, private beaches accessible by boat or a sunset catamaran.