PLAYA JACO, CENTRAL PACIFIC, COSTA RICA.
Jacó is a small tourist town on the coast of the Central pacific from Costa Rica , on the outskirts of Gulf of Nicoya . It is located 72 kilometers southeast of Puntarenas and 97 kilometers southwest of San José , capital of the Republic. It is an ideal point to take as an axis for the visit of several places of tourist interest in the area thanks to its wide and varied hotel offer for all tastes and budgets.
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Jacó is the head of the canton of Garabito , in the Puntarenas province . The city has a population of approximately 10,000 inhabitants.
The district of Jacó measures 140 km² and has an estimated population of 17,000 inhabitants.
Jacó is of recent foundation (mid 20th century ), although the area was inhabited since the Precolumbian era by natives of the H uetar ethnic group, settled in scattered villages; at the beginning of the Conquest the main chief was Garabito , who gave rise to the name of the canton. The discoverer of the region was don Gil González Dávila , in the year 1522, when he made the first tour of the national territory, from the southeast sector of the same to the indigenous town of Avancari (today Abangaritos, canton of Puntarenas ).
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The destination is known for its beaches, ideal for surfing or simply enjoying the sun, for the wide range of adventure activities such as canopy, horseback riding, ATV tours through the jungle, hiking, bird watching. , for the wide varied gastronomic offer, the walks around the town and also for its vibrant nightlife. It is also a gateway to national parks such as the internationally famous Manuel Antonio National Park. Jacó beach is gray sand, somewhat rocky, and is located to the west of the city. To the southeast is Hermosa beach, with its big waves. To the north is the Carara National Park, with crocodiles in the Tárcoles River and macaw macaws. Nearby there is a path through the tropical forest that leads to the Bijagual waterfall. ​
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