Playa Herradura
Beach · Jacó & Herradura
A horseshoe bay of dark sand just north of Jacó, tucked between headlands, so the water is far calmer than Jacó's surf. Tico families love it, and Ridley Scott filmed parts of the movie 1492 here.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 2 h
- Best time
- afternoon
- Kids
- 7 / 10
- View
- 6 / 10
- Crowds
- 6 / 10
- Swimming
- 7 / 10
- Effort
- 1 / 10
- Location
- 9.64577, -84.65855 — Google Maps
Tip
Weekdays are much quieter than weekends. The bay faces west, so stay for sunset.
Be careful
Crocodiles occasionally wander into the bay and are hard to see against the dark sand: swim near other people and stay away from river mouths.
Places nearby
- Coco's Beach Front (Restaurante Coco's Herradura)Food & CoffeeBeachfront seafood restaurant on Playa Herradura with a terrace under string lights, craft cocktails and live music some days.
- Costa Cat CruisesSurf, Boats & Diving · takes 2 h–8 h · from $120A full day on a big, stable catamaran from Los Sueños Marina to Tortuga Island's white-sand beach, with snorkelling, a banana boat ride, a short jungle hike and a barbecue lunch with rum punch.
- Los Sueños Marina VillageFood & Coffee · takes 1 h–2 hThe restaurant row of Los Sueños marina at Playa Herradura, a sport-fishing harbour ringed by forested hills.
- Maverick SportfishingSurf, Boats & DivingA large sportfishing fleet based at Los Sueños Marina in Herradura, running fully crewed offshore charters for sailfish, marlin, tuna and dorado.
- Horseback Riding JacoTours & AdventureGuided horseback rides on Jacó beach, along a river and through nature paths near the mangroves, for riders of all levels.
- Restaurante La Casa de CarmenFood & CoffeeHome-style Costa Rican restaurant where Carmen cooks and her husband hosts.
Sources: OpenStreetMap relation/9697993 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/9697993 · https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jac%C3%B3 · https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/jaco-beaches/ · https://drinkteatravel.com/things-to-do-in-jaco-costa-rica/