With more than 630 miles of coastline to the west facing the Pacific and another 130 miles to the east-facing the Caribbean, Costa Rica’s central American isthmus location connecting North and South America offers one of the most stunning, pristine, beautiful, and diverse beaches in this part of the world. As a tropical paradise located 8-12 degrees north of the equator, the country provides the perfect all-year-round beach vacation getaway for families and kids escaping from the biting cold winters in either hemisphere.
Pacific Coast – Hermosa Beach near Jaco Beach
The Best Beaches Near San Jose, Costa Rica are Not Too Far Away by Car
The country’s most popular beach resorts are just two hours away by car west of the capital city of San Jose. These are the 1.8 mile-long beaches in the town of Jacó along the central Pacific coastline of Puntarenas province.
The town of Jaco is home to several playas (beaches) such as Barranca, Esterillos, Hermosa, Herradura, and Doña Ana, some of which have gained the reputation as party beaches that cater mostly to the nightlife. Nevertheless, they all have a large following among the general tourist population that wants to savor a quiet vacation with clean greyish sands and clear Pacific waters without going too far off from the San Jose capital. These family-friendly beaches will not disappoint.
Jaco Beach Costa Rica 
Playa Herradura
Among Jaco’s major water fun activities is surfing, with an annual international surfing event held at Playa Hermosa, another of Jaco’s major beaches attracting a large tourist arrival from around the planet every year.
Playa Jaco is best reached from the San Jose International Airport (Juan Santamaria) which is just 1.5 hours away by car. In addition, you can visit the beaches north and south of Jaco, which are among the most picturesque and cleanest sands and water, as well as stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s no wonder why this is such a popular destination close to San Jose.