A quick reference to the geography and climate behind surfing in Jacó. Figures are general and approximate; always check current conditions.

Location

Jacó is in the canton of Garabito, province of Puntarenas, on Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast.
It is roughly 1.5 hours by road from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO).
Nearby communities include Herradura and Los Sueños to the north and Playa Hermosa to the south.

Coast and Beaches

Jaco Beach is a long sandy beach, and most surf nearby breaks over sand (beach breaks).
Playa Hermosa, just south, is known for more powerful waves.
Further south are longer, more exposed beaches such as Esterillos and Bejuco. See surf spots near Jaco.

Climate and Seasons

Dry season: roughly December to April — sunnier and drier.
Green (rainy) season: roughly May to November — often sunny mornings and afternoon rain. September and October are usually the wettest months.
Month-by-month detail is in the surfing calendar.

Water Temperature

The Pacific around Jacó is warm year-round, so most surfers don't need a wetsuit. See what to wear.

Daylight

Costa Rica is close to the equator, so day length changes relatively little through the year — sunrise and sunset stay around early morning and early evening. Exact times are on the live surf report.

Tides

Costa Rica's Pacific coast typically has two high and two low tides roughly every day, and the tidal range can be large. See Jaco surf tides.

General Swell Patterns

The green season generally brings more consistent swell to the Pacific coast, including swells from the Southern Hemisphere; the dry season is often smaller. See understanding swell.

Official Sources

Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT): visitcostarica.com
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN): imn.ac.cr
Forecast data on our surf report: Open-Meteo

Ready when you are: book a Jaco surf lesson or ask about today's lesson options on WhatsApp.

Jaco Surfing Facts