Camper vehicles for surfing, the macaws of Carara and the coast down to Uvita
Compare campervan and motorhome rental companies à Jaco to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Hiring a campervan in Jacó means setting off from the beach closest to Costa Rica's capital, in the province of Puntarenas on the central Pacific coast. Surfers find waves all year round, from Jacó bay to Playa Hermosa; nature lovers head for the scarlet macaws of Carara National Park, the crocodiles of the Tárcoles or the monkeys of Manuel Antonio. Our partner company, Costa Rider Campervan, has a depot here.
Jacó lies halfway between the Nicoya Peninsula to the north and the Costa Ballena to the south: two very different trips from the same starting point.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
North of Jacó, Route 34 runs along Carara National Park, where the dry forest of the north meets the humid forest of the south and scarlet macaws show themselves early in the morning. It then crosses the Río Grande de Tárcoles, whose American crocodiles bask beneath the bridge. Then head south via Playa Hermosa, Esterillos and the palm plantations of Parrita to Quepos, gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park.
The Costanera Sur leads to Dominical, a surf village backed by forest, then to Uvita, where Marino Ballena National Park reveals a whale-tail-shaped sandbar at low tide. After the waterfalls of Ojochal, you climb via San Isidro de El General to cross the Talamanca range at Cerro de la Muerte, more than 3,000 m above sea level.
Before the descent towards the capital, the detour to San Gerardo de Dota, the valley of the quetzals, follows a very steep road, best driven down in first gear. The vehicle is then returned to the Rincón Herrera depot, near Alajuela and San José airport.
Puntarenas, a long sand spit reaching into the Gulf of Nicoya, is about an hour's drive north of Jacó. From there the ferry carries vehicles to Paquera, at the southern tip of the peninsula. You then reach the Curú reserve, the waterfalls of Montezuma and the Cabo Blanco absolute nature reserve, followed by the surf beaches of Santa Teresa and Mal País, before taking the ferry back to the mainland.
The best time to leave from Jacó: sunny days, humid heat tempered by the sea breeze, dry tracks all the way to Santa Teresa or Uvita and low rivers. It is also high season on the coast: Jacó is lively in the evening, the beaches of Manuel Antonio are very busy and the sparser foliage of Carara makes birds easier to spot.
Showers return in May, usually as late-day storms after a bright morning, and July often brings a lull of a few weeks. Carara's forest turns green again, the Ojochal and Nauyaca waterfalls fill up and, from late July, humpback whales from the southern hemisphere arrive off Uvita.
The heart of the rainy season on the central Pacific: storms last longer, the rivers along the Costanera Sur swell and landslides sometimes close Route 27 or the road over Cerro de la Muerte. Stay on paved roads, keep spare days in hand and enjoy almost empty beaches and accommodation available without booking.
Most pleasant months: January to March.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 °C | 24 °C | 47 mm | 11 h/day | 30 °C |
| Feb | 29 °C | 24 °C | 16 mm | 12 h/day | 30 °C |
| Mar | 30 °C | 25 °C | 35 mm | 12 h/day | 30 °C |
| Apr | 29 °C | 24 °C | 187 mm | 11 h/day | 31 °C |
| May | 28 °C | 24 °C | 482 mm | 8 h/day | 31 °C |
| Jun | 28 °C | 24 °C | 564 mm | 8 h/day | 30 °C |
| Jul | 27 °C | 24 °C | 588 mm | 8 h/day | 30 °C |
| Aug | 27 °C | 24 °C | 576 mm | 8 h/day | 30 °C |
| Sep | 27 °C | 24 °C | 566 mm | 8 h/day | 30 °C |
| Oct | 27 °C | 23 °C | 660 mm | 7 h/day | 29 °C |
| Nov | 27 °C | 23 °C | 471 mm | 8 h/day | 28 °C |
| Dec | 27 °C | 23 °C | 132 mm | 10 h/day | 29 °C |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Jacó is the weekend beach for people from the Central Valley: on Sunday afternoons and at the end of holidays, Route 27 fills up in the return direction, with slowdowns all the way to the toll stations. If you need to return the vehicle near the airport or catch a flight, drive in the morning or bring the journey forward by a day.
Jacó beach and Playa Hermosa are exposed to strong rip currents, which cause drownings every year. Swim in front of a lifeguard post where there is one, respect the red flags and leave Playa Hermosa, with its powerful waves, to experienced surfers. If you are caught in a current, swim parallel to the shore to get out of it.
The Tárcoles bridge on Route 34 sees tour coaches and cars at all hours: park in the guarded car parks near the souvenir shops, never on the hard shoulder. Cross on foot along the narrow pavement, leave nothing visible inside the vehicle and never go down to the riverbank, whether for a photo or to feed the reptiles.
Jacó lines up supermarkets, banks, cash machines and petrol stations along its main avenue, the widest choice on the coast before Quepos. Further south, in Dominical and Uvita, shops are smaller and more expensive: fill up with fuel, drinking water and food before setting off along the Costanera Sur.
Our partner company Costa Rider Campervan has a depot in Jacó itself, on the central Pacific coast. The exact address and the key handover time are in your booking confirmation; as often in Costa Rica, the location is described by landmarks rather than a street number. Ask the company for the depot's GPS position before you arrive in town.
There is no single rate: the departure date matters most, the dry season being the most sought-after on the Pacific coast. Next come the number of days, the size of the vehicle and the return location, in Jacó itself or at another depot of our partner. Enter your dates in the search engine: every price shown includes mandatory fees and can be booked directly.
Yes: Costa Rider Campervan also has a depot in Rincón Herrera, near Alajuela and San José airport, and another in Liberia, in Guanacaste. A one-way trip lets you end the journey close to your return flight, for example after the Nicoya Peninsula. One-way fees may apply; they are included in the price shown as soon as you enter the return city.
Juan Santamaría International Airport is about 90 km from Jacó, an hour and a half's drive via the Route 27 toll road, then Route 34 along the coast. Shared shuttles, taxis and private drivers cover the trip, and buses link San José and Jacó several times a day. If your flight lands in the evening, sleep in Jacó and collect the vehicle the next day.
Yes, Quepos and the national park entrance are about 70 km to the south, a little over an hour on Route 34. Buy your ticket online from SINAC, as entries are limited, and check the weekly closing day. Leave early, when the animals are most active. Near the entrance, ignore the touts waving you into their car parks and choose a clearly marked one.
The best place is Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita, about two hours' drive to the south. Humpback whales pass through twice a year: from late July to October for those from the southern hemisphere, and from December to March for those from the north. Boat trips leave from Uvita or Dominical; choose a licensed operator who respects approach distances.
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Too rigid computer system
Very good customer experience with Cooldrive. I highly recommend it! Thanks to the team who were attentive and available for organizing my trip to Canada.
Your national licence is generally recognised for the length of the tourist stay granted on entry, to be shown with your passport at police checks. An international driving permit is useful if yours is not written in Latin characters. The minimum age and years of driving required by Costa Rider Campervan are set out in the conditions of each offer.
Jacó mainly has hotels and hostels, some of which accept a camper vehicle in their car park, with access to showers, for a fee. There are also a few private campsites along the coast, notably towards Esterillos and on the Costa Ballena. Sleeping on the seafront is not advisable because of theft: always ask the owner's permission before settling in.
Scarlet macaws are easiest to see at dawn, when the trails of Carara National Park open, and in the late afternoon, when they fly over Route 34 and the mouth of the Tárcoles to reach the mangroves where they spend the night. A wheelchair-accessible trail starts from the visitor centre. Bring binoculars and repellent, and hire a guide to spot birds and snakes.
Yes, the ferries between Puntarenas and Paquera carry cars, vans and camper vehicles; the crossing of the Gulf of Nicoya takes a little over an hour. The fare depends on the length of the vehicle. Buy your ticket in advance when possible, arrive early at the terminal, especially on Fridays, Sundays and during holidays, and check the timetable, which changes with the season.
You can surf all year round on the central Pacific, in water warm enough to do without a wetsuit. In the middle of the bay, Jacó beach offers gentler waves and many schools for beginners. Experienced surfers aim for Playa Hermosa, which is more powerful, especially during the green season, when south swells are most consistent. The wind is often most favourable in the morning.
With only one depot in town, vehicles go quickly for the period from Christmas to New Year, the long Costa Rican school holidays from December to February, and Semana Santa: book several months ahead. For a departure between May and November, a few weeks are often enough, leaving time to adjust the route to swell or rain forecasts.
Jacó is the closest beach resort to San José and its international airport: in under two hours you swap the traffic jams of the Central Valley for the seafront. Its central position on the Pacific coast opens up two very different trips, towards the Nicoya Peninsula via the Puntarenas ferry, or towards Manuel Antonio, the Costa Ballena and the Osa Peninsula to the south.
Between surfing, the transition forest of Carara and the crocodiles of the Tárcoles, nature starts at the edge of town. Our partner company Costa Rider Campervan has a depot here and two more, near San José and in Liberia, so you can end the trip one way. From December to April, the dry season offers the most passable roads, right down to the tracks of Santa Teresa and Uvita.
