Jacó Vacation Rentals: Where to Stay and What It Costs

Jacó vacation rentals from $150 to $2,400 a night: condos in town, an oceanfront penthouse and Playa Hermosa villas, matched to your group size.

Jacó vacation rentals come in three kinds: condos in town a walk from the beach, an ocean-view penthouse with its own rooftop, and private villas in Playa Hermosa, the quieter surf beach just south. The seven we list today run from $150 a night for a 2 bedroom condo to $2,400 a night for a 6 bedroom villa. Pick in two steps: decide between town and Playa Hermosa, then match the rental to the number of bedrooms your group really needs.

Jacó town or Playa Hermosa: where to stay

Jacó is the Central Pacific beach town closest to San José. Its main street has restaurants, bars, supermarkets, surf schools and tour operators, and its long beach suits beginner surfers. Stay in town if you want to leave the car parked and walk to dinner.

Playa Hermosa sits just south of Jacó. The waves are bigger, the dark-sand beach is long and quiet, and surfers stay out until the last light of sunset. Stay here if your days revolve around surf, a pool and a long dinner at home, with Jacó's restaurants and tours a short drive north.

• 🏙️ In town: walkable, lively at night, best for couples, friends and families who want everything close.
• 🌊 Playa Hermosa: quieter, more space, best for surf trips and big groups who want a whole house.
• 🎣 Both: the Los Sueños marina is just north of Jacó for sport fishing, and zip-lining and tours run in the hills behind town.

If you are still choosing a beach town, our comparison of Jacó vs. Tamarindo helps first. If you are thinking about staying for months, read our guide to living in Jacó instead; this one is about the week.

What a vacation rental in Jacó costs a night

These are the nightly rates on each listing, from the lowest. Rates can change with the season and the length of the stay, so treat them as the starting point and send us your dates.

• 2 bedroom condo in town, 2 bathrooms, walking distance to the beach and downtown: $150 a night.
• 2 bedroom house in Playa Hermosa, 2 bathrooms, pool in the garden: $200 a night.
• 3 bedroom oceanfront condo in Jacó, 3 bathrooms, balcony facing the waves: $330 a night.
• 2 bedroom condo at La Central in Jacó, 2 bathrooms, long lap pool: $400 a night.
• 3 bedroom penthouse in Jacó, 2 bathrooms, private rooftop jacuzzi: $875 a night.
• 7 bedroom villa in Playa Hermosa, 7.5 bathrooms, infinity pool: $1,900 a night.
• 6 bedroom villa in Playa Hermosa, 7.5 bathrooms, long pool and plunge pool: $2,400 a night.

Divide by bedrooms to compare them fairly. The oceanfront condo comes to $110 per bedroom, the penthouse to about $292, the 7 bedroom villa to about $271 and the 6 bedroom villa to $400. The big villa is not always the expensive way to travel: for a large group, it can cost less per bedroom than a penthouse.

Which Jacó rental fits your group

Count couples and kids, not heads. Every couple wants a door that closes, and a bathroom for each bedroom is what keeps the mornings calm.

Couples and small families: 2 bedrooms

The 2 bedroom house in Playa Hermosa is a newly renovated, single-level home with a covered porch, Adirondack chairs, a fire bowl and a pool in the garden, a few minutes from the surf. At $200 a night it is the simplest way to have a house of your own near the waves. In town, the 2 bedroom condos suit two couples who want to walk everywhere, and the La Central condo has a bunk bed in one room for kids.

Families who want the beach outside: 3 bedrooms

The oceanfront condo on Jacó beach has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, one with a jetted tub. The balcony, with a dining table for six, and two of the bedrooms look straight onto the beach, so the sound of the ocean is part of the stay. For a family, three bathrooms matter more than any view.

Groups of friends: the rooftop penthouse

The ocean-view penthouse in Jacó is a short walk from the sand and has a private rooftop terrace with a jacuzzi, an outdoor kitchen with a gas grill and a covered TV lounge. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, so it works best for three couples who will spend their evenings upstairs and their nights in town. At $875 a night, a week for six comes to $6,125, about $1,021 each before taxes and fees.

Big groups and celebrations: Playa Hermosa villas

The 7 bedroom villa in Playa Hermosa is a Mediterranean-style estate on the hill, with an infinity pool, an outdoor bar and a long open-air dining table facing the ocean. The 6 bedroom villa is modern, on three levels, with a long pool, a separate plunge pool, a chef's kitchen, a kamado smoker and a rooftop terrace over the valley and the coast. Both have seven and a half bathrooms, which is what makes a family reunion or a surf trip with friends work.

What to check before you book

A few questions save a lot of trouble. Ask them for any rental, ours included.

• 🚿 Bathrooms per bedroom: count them, not only the beds.
• 🏖️ Walk or drive: town condos are a walk from the beach, Playa Hermosa homes usually need a car for dinner in Jacó.
• ❄️ Air conditioning in every bedroom: afternoons on the Central Pacific are hot, so confirm it room by room.
• 📝 What is included, in writing: cleaning, linens, pool care, a chef or transfers if you want them.
• 📅 The real price for your dates: the nightly rate, taxes, fees and any minimum stay.

For a wider view of private villas in other areas, our guide on how to choose a luxury villa in Costa Rica compares Los Sueños, Nosara, Sámara and Puerto Viejo.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a vacation rental in Jacó cost?

The Jacó vacation rentals we list run from $150 a night for a 2 bedroom condo in town to $2,400 a night for a 6 bedroom villa in Playa Hermosa. Most families and small groups land between $200 and $875 a night.

Is it better to stay in Jacó or Playa Hermosa?

Stay in Jacó if you want to walk to the beach, restaurants and nightlife. Stay in Playa Hermosa if you want bigger surf, a quieter beach and a whole house with a pool, with Jacó a short drive away.

What is the best rental in Jacó for a large group?

For eight people or more, a Playa Hermosa villa is usually the better value: the 7 bedroom villa comes to about $271 per bedroom a night, less than the 3 bedroom penthouse per bedroom.

Can you walk to the beach from a Jacó condo?

Yes. Our condos in town are within walking distance of the beach and downtown, and the oceanfront condo sits right on the sand.

Plan your stay in Jacó

Tell us your dates, how many couples and kids are coming and what the trip is for, and we will match you to the right rental and check availability. Browse every property on our Jacó area page or all of our vacation rentals, write to mail@thecostaricavip.com or call +506 6263 1036.

Featured property: Luxury Penthouse for Rent in Jaco Beach | Rooftop Jacuzzi

More guides on the blog