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52 places to practise yoga in Costa Rica

Regions of Costa Rica

Central Pacific: Costa Rica's Closest Beaches to San José

The Central Pacific is the beach region closest to San José, from Jaco and Playa Hermosa down to Quepos and Manuel Antonio. It suits short trips and first-time visitors who want beaches, surf and wildlife-filled national parks without a long drive, with drop-in yoga and a few retreat options.

By Sara Zen · Published · Updated

The Central Pacific is the stretch of Costa Rica's Pacific coast closest to the capital. You can be on the beach at Jaco about 1.5 hours after leaving San José, which is why the region is so popular for short trips and with Costa Rican families at weekends. Behind the beaches, green mountains come right down to the sea, and several protected areas keep a lot of wildlife close by.

Turquoise water lapping a sandy Central Pacific beach

The main areas

  • Jaco and Playa Hermosa. Jaco is the region's busiest town, with surf schools, restaurants, nightlife and high-rise condos. Playa Hermosa, just south, is a more powerful surf beach that hosts national surf competitions. See our three Central Pacific beaches and hotels in and near Jaco.
  • Carara National Park. About 30 minutes north of Jaco, where the dry forest of the north meets the wetter forest of the south. It's known for scarlet macaws, and crocodiles are easy to spot from the nearby Tárcoles River bridge.
  • Quepos and Manuel Antonio. About 157 km (98 miles) from San José. Manuel Antonio National Park is small but one of the most visited parks in the country, with forest trails, monkeys, sloths and calm, curved bays. Buy tickets online from SINAC, the national parks service, before you go; the park closes one day a week.
  • Beaches in between. Long, quieter beaches such as Esterillos and Playa Bejuco lie between Jaco and Quepos, with fewer crowds and strong surf.

A clean sandy beach backed by trees

When to go

Like the rest of the Pacific side, the Central Pacific has a dry season from about December to April and a rainy season from about May to November. It's wetter and greener here than in Guanacaste to the north. The rainy months are quieter and the surf is often bigger, but September and October can bring a lot of rain.

A beach under a colorful sunset sky

Yoga on the Central Pacific

The Central Pacific has drop-in yoga studios in Jaco and around Manuel Antonio, and a few places that combine yoga with surf. Vida Asana, in the forest at Playa Hermosa near Jaco, is a yoga school and eco-retreat with teacher trainings and surf trips, and DoceLunas in Jaco has long hosted yoga retreats. If surf is part of your plan, see our yoga and surf guide. For the bigger picture of where retreat centers cluster, see our guide to where to do yoga in Costa Rica.

Frequently asked questions

How far is the Central Pacific from San José?

Jaco is about 1.5 hours by car and Manuel Antonio about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

What's the best time to visit the Central Pacific?

The dry season, from about December to April, has the most sun. The rainy season is greener and quieter, but September and October are usually the wettest months.

Can I see wildlife on the Central Pacific?

Yes. Manuel Antonio National Park is known for monkeys and sloths, and Carara National Park for scarlet macaws, with crocodiles visible from the Tárcoles River bridge.

[Updated on: 4 November 2026]

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