Playa Herradura, Costa Rica
Why We Went to Playa Herradura
After talking about a Costa Rican adventure for years, Ronnie and I finally pulled the trigger and booked a couples' vacation for January 2025. We absolutely loved our trip — from the food to the people to the diverse range of activities, there was an endless amount of fun to be had.
We debated heavily on where to go, since the Guanacaste region (fly into Liberia) is said to be gorgeous and offers plenty of luxurious options. But Ronnie — ever the fisherman — had heard that the ocean that far north isn't nearly as good for fishing in January as it is down by Playa Herradura, about an hour and a half’s drive from San José.
We were looking for a destination where we could fly direct, get there in under six hours, have great weather, guaranteed great fishing, awesome surfing, and amazing food — plus an explorable downtown area that wasn’t too far from a major airport. Bonus points if we could stay at a Marriott property.
Our search led us to Los Sueños Resort in Playa Herradura, just 15 minutes from downtown Jacó, and it did not disappoint. Technically, we stayed in a vacation rental condo within Los Sueños and not the Marriott, but honestly, there’s nothing I would’ve done differently.
Things We Loved About Playa Herradura
There were a few things that really surprised and delighted us about Los Sueños. First — for anyone who doesn’t speak Spanish (I do okay, but Ronnie has zero Spanish skills) — we met tons of English speakers from a variety of backgrounds, mostly expats who snowbird in Costa Rica. We also met a number of people visiting from other parts of Central and South America who spoke plenty of English as well.
Second — prices in the places we visited were comparable to the U.S., maybe slightly cheaper. Tourism is clearly the main business in this area, and it shows. There was no shortage of genuinely wonderful service. From the office that helped us rent our condo, to the security guy at the main gate, to the charter captains and their crews — everyone was incredibly kind, professional, and made our trip that much more enjoyable.
And finally — there’s truly no shortage of activities to do. Some of our personal highlights included:
multiple days of deep sea fishing and shore fishing
private boat charters
snorkeling
horseback riding
ATVing
hiking (including cliff-jumping into waterfalls!)
searching the rainforest for monkeys and sloths
surfing
lounging at the pool
poolside piña coladas and subsequent naps
It’s truly paradise. Just ask Ronnie…
Know Before You Go
The drive from San José to Playa Herradura is not for the faint of heart. Drivers are pretty aggressive, and traffic laws seem more like suggestions than actual rules. You’ll want a confident driver behind the wheel.
We’d also heard that sometimes Americans get taken advantage of — for example, wait staff might add a few extra drinks to your tab and hope you don’t notice. That didn’t happen to us, but it’s worth keeping in mind. Just double-check your bills before paying.
Car rental plus insurance? Shockingly expensive. Renting an SUV for 7 days cost us over $1,500 with insurance. FYI, your U.S. insurance won’t cover you in Costa Rica, and considering the driving situation there, I definitely recommend maxing out the coverage they offer — just in case.
Also, be aware of Costa Rica’s rainy vs. dry seasons. In the rainy season, roads can get washed out or blocked, and an SUV is a must. We were there during the dry season, so it wasn’t an issue, but other travelers shared wild stories about rainy season detours and delays.
One last surprise: not all beaches in Playa Herradura are white sand. In fact, many of them are ashy-colored due to volcanic minerals in the soil. It's totally natural and beautiful in its own way — but definitely worth mentioning, since a lot of people expect white-sand beaches and are caught off guard.
All in all, we stayed in Costa Rica for 7 days (Saturday to Saturday), and it felt like the perfect amount of time.
Ronnie and I are explorers at heart, and we always ask ourselves two questions at the end of every trip:
Was the financial investment worth the memories we brought home? Like, did the joy we experienced far outweigh the dollars we spent? For us, the answer was an emphatic yes.
Would we go back — knowing it would be at the expense of visiting somewhere new? Again, emphatically yes.
We found ourselves saying over and over again how much we can’t wait to return — this time, with our daughters. That said, we’d also love to explore other parts of Costa Rica. So many people we met raved about Uvita (on the beach), the Guanacaste region (on the beach), the rainforest and volcanoes in La Fortuna, and even the east coast around Limón and Playa Bonita (also on the beach, but on the east side of the country).
So maybe the better way to put it is this: yes, we’d absolutely return to Playa Herradura — especially with our kids — and we’re equally excited to explore other corners of this incredible country.
Okay, onto the good stuff: where to Eat, Stay, Workout, and Play in Playa Herradura… this is my best-of list. Enjoy!
Eat
Breakfast/Coffee — Cafe Bohio on the main street in Jaco.
Lunch — Cocos Beachfront about 5 minutes down the beach from the Los Suenos resort.
Dinner — Villa Caletas about 5 mins up the road from Los Suenos resort. Warning the hike up the mountain on foot or via car will excite, delight, and maybe freak you out, but the payoff is SO worth it.
Drinks — Green Room Cafe Bar in downtown Jaco.
Stay
Los Suenos Resort is an incredible option for those traveling alone or with their significant other who want access to a pool and a beach. We ended up making our trip a couples trip, so the best way (and most fun) to house six of us was in one of the Condos that are available to rent from Los Suenos. They are technically not affiliated with the Marriott, but the two companies share the amenities and restaurants in Los Suenos village, which is incredible.
Workout
Surf! Rent a board for ~$30/hr on the beach right in front of Hicaco in Jaco.
Play
Charter a Boat or Yacht for a day / halfday and cruise the coastline, we chartered from the Los Suenos Marina, a gorgeous vessel called “Authentic”
Four Wheeling, Horseback Riding, Ziplining and more at Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park
Pro Tip
Getting through customs and the airport in San Jose can take a bit of time, and traffic is notoriously unpredictable, so we decided to take some stress off our plate and stayed at the AC Marriott in downtown San Jose on the day of our arrival and the last day of our trip. While I wasn’t sure if this was necessary, I do think for anyone looking for a low stress vacation, you’ll be happier giving yourself the time buffer this allows and not having to trek all the way to the beach from inland in the dark, nor during peak traffic hours.
