Portugal
Canary Islands
France
England
Morocco
South Africa
Indonesia
Philippines
South Pacific Islands
Australia
New Zealand
Barbados
Dominican Republic
Sri Lanka
India
Maldives
Hawaii
Fiji
USA
Costa Rica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
El Salvador
Brazil
Peru
Ecuador
Uruguay
Colombia
Chile
- Gallery
SELINA SURF CLUB JACO
Explore our Available Surf Packages
The Place
Private & Shared room options
Couples
Families
Groups
Solo travellers
4.5 out of 5
Located on the sandy shores of the Punteras Region, Selina Jaco is the ultimate hideaway for sunseekers, surfers, and nature to lovers. Surrounded by views of Miro Mountain and beautiful beaches, embrace the true essence of Costa Rica at our eco to friendly hotel. Just a short walk from the buzzing Main Street, spend your days exploring the town or experience the best surf breaks in the area.
Along with a range of beautifully to designed rooms and unique accommodation, other on to site features include a swimming pool, a beachfront bar and restaurant, a shared kitchen, a CoWork, a wellness area, and a movie room.
Rise with the sun and enjoy a smoothie bowl at our beachfront cafe before riding the first swells of the day with our surf instructors. Spend the afternoon getting productive at our CoWork, trek through the rainforest, and catch the stunning sunset. Back at Selina, order a drink at the bar before dancing barefoot under the stars at a silent beach rave.
Location
Selina Beach Hotel Jaco is located near all the best spots in town and has everything you need to feel right at home in this surfer’s paradise. Located just a short walk from Playa Hermosa, a dream spot for surf aficionados looking to ride the region’s best waves, the Selina Jaco hotel is home to local experiences unlike any other.
Get caught up in Jaco’s anything to goes lifestyle. Ride on horseback through the rainforest or take an ATV tour to waterfalls and beaches off the beaten path. Get your adrenaline pumping with our surf lessons or zipline through the forest canopy. Selina stands out for its connectivity, sense of community, and commitment to sustainability. Jaco truly has everything: every modern convenience, great cuisine, shopping, and an all to you to can to handle nightlife.
Jaco has incredible year to round surf conditions for all surfing levels, probably one of the best places worldwide to improve your surfing or learn to surf for the first time. The long beach of Jaco features a small beach break with lots of peaks. The waves break over a sandy bottom to the right and left. Although the waves have an average quality with ordinary power, they remain consistent throughout the year and provide a great base for all sorts of surfers. Unlike other beaches, a southern swell creates small surf as it is protected by a western bay.
- Reviews
- Facilities
- Room types
- Getting there
- Surf Lessons
- Waves
- Terms
9 REVIEWS
Summary
Additional Fees:
**FOR GUESTS STAYING IN DORMITORIESThere is a small towel fee for around USD $10.00, and the deposit will be refunded once the towel is returned at check-out. Also, guests in dormitories will be charged a small key deposit of USD $6.00, and it will be refunded once the key is returned at check-out.
Room Type: Private
Sleeps: 2
A standard room is perfect for someone who likes their privacy & also needs to stick to a budget. Enjoy a comfortable bed & a private shower. Be a part of the community with a little space to chill.
Room Type: Private
Sleeps: 2
Similar to a ship or train cabin, this is our most basic sleeping solution. Compact and modest, the micro room is perfect if you’re looking for a place to sleep and a small area to store your belongings. The bathroom is shared between up to 4 micro rooms.
Room Type: Shared - Mixed
Sleeps: 1
A bed in a Community Room offers security, comfort, and the chance to connect with fellow travelers. You’ll receive a twin size bed or bunk bed, an individual storage locker, and access to a shared bathroom.
Room Type: Shared - Mixed
Sleeps: 1
Community rooms have a seating area, reading light and personal shelf at each bunk, and a locker per bed so you can keep your things secure. Bathrooms are shared.
You can never get lost
When you book you will receive our confirmation email with full travel directions of how to get to us.
We don't provide airport transfers but you can book one easily here: Airport Transfers
- - Nearest Airport: San José
- - Distance from Airport in kms: 95
- - Time from Airport in a car: 1:30 Hour
- - There is no train from the airport
- - There is a bus from the airport
Come Surf With Us
Surf Lessons can be added in the booking steps if they are not already included in a package.
Instructors
Mike
Main Surf Beach: Playa Jacó
Surf Lessons we offer:
Beginner Surf Lessons
2 hours, Surfboard included. Student ratio: 1/4. Key concepts:
Beach safety
Positioning yourself correctly both on the surfboard & in the ocean
How to paddle, pop up & ride your first wave in the broken white water waves
How to get “out back” to the gree unbroken waves & ride them to the beach
How to play with speed & Turn in both directions
You will learn about rips, tides & surfer etiquettes
Intermediate Surf Lessons
2 hours, Surfboard included. Student ratio: 1/4. Key concepts:
How to paddle out through waves-acquire advence turtle rolling & duck diving skills
How to pisition yourself correctly in the line up
How to catch unbroken waves
Improve your timing
Taking the drop
Learn to turn (backside & frontside) and slow down on your board
How to read the ocean, to get the best waves, rips and current
Advanced Surf Lessons
2 hours, Surfboard included. Student ratio: 1/4. Key concepts:
How to paddle out through waves-acquire advence turtle rolling & duck diving skills
How to pisition yourself correctly in the line up
How to catch unbroken waves
Improve your timing
Taking the drop
Learn to turn (backside & frontside) and slow down on your board
How to read the ocean, to get the best waves, rips and current
Private Surf Lessons
2 hours per day. Surfboards included.
Lessons for your level
Surf Guide
Surf guidings are perfect for all advanced surfers. Our staff is here to accommodate all your needs & are equipped with the best local knowledge as well as a passion for surfing.
SUP Lessons
2 hours, Surfboard included.
Playa Hermosa
Level: Intermediate
Is a 7km beach break, one of the most perfect and powerful waves in Costa Rica. This is where some of the world’s top surfers come to pay homage to the sport, the locals call it the “national stadium of surf”. The small and medium swells are perfect for intermediate surfers who want to get to the next level and perfect for those advanced surfers looking to show off a little. For the non to surfers, there are great beaches and beautiful landscapes to be enjoyed.
Type of waves: Beach break (sandbar); right and left to hander (picky wave), all tides work well with hollow and fast waves in low to medium tide (good barrels), fast and slow in the high tide (good for turns).
For intermediate and advanced surfers.
Playa Esterillas
Level: All Levels
Is a 12km beach break with all kinds of waves imaginable. You’ll be surfing solo with very few outside of the group taking on this swell. This spot is for beginners to advance, all surfing the same beach.
Types of waves: beach break (sandbar); right and left to hander (picky wave); slow and fatty waves especially for longboarders (beginners to advanced), to hollow and faster waves for those more advanced.
Palo Seco
Level: Intermediate
Is a 6km long quiet and empty beach. Depending on the day the swell can be good for beginners to advanced. Quips (the pier) is a small bay and marina. Where the pier meets the river mouth it produces the perfect sandbar, which is great for beginners through to advanced
Types of waves: Beach break (Sandbar); right and left to hander (picky wave). Low to mid tide is normally hollow and perfect for surfing, especially in Quepos where the break is a long left to hander (point break with a good sandbar). In Palo Seco the break is better in the mid to high tide and is very good for curves and turns.
For intermediate and advanced
Playa Herradura (La Isla/Escondido)
Level: Intermediate
Is great for those surfers who are experienced and want to push themselves. The wave break outside the Herradura bay near the island is good for those trying outside point breaks out at sea. It’s a ten to minute boat ride with amazing views of the beach. This is a great trip for those intermediate surfers who want to try a special wave.
Type of Wave: Point Break (rocky point); left to hander (approx 700 metres). This wave works well in the low to mid tide and big swells, big walls for turns and cutbacks.
For intermediate and advanced
Punta Leona/Agujas
Level: All Levels
On this trip, you’ll find waves for all levels of surfers. There are two small bays with fantastic clear water, making it an amazing place for snorkelling as well as SUP. When the beach break is good, this is one of the best options for beginners or intermediates who want to try surfing a longer wave.
Type of wave: Beach/Point Break (rocky/sandbar); right and left to hander (in different points). Playa Agujas, Type of Wave: Point Break/Rivermouth (rocky/sandbar). Punta Leona, Type of Wave: Beach/Point Break (rocky/sandbar); right and left to hander (in different points) this waves work well in all the tides but only when the swell is pumping.
Boca Barranca
Level: Intermediate
This trip to Boca Barranca will take you to a big river mouth where the left roll is one of the longest in the world during the perfect swell. When it’s on this is the best place for intermediates and advanced surfers who want to surf the longest waves of their lives.
Type of Wave: Point Break/Rivermouth (rocky/sandbar); left hander (aprox 900 meters ride). This amazing wave works very well in all tides. During low tide it makes a perfect hollow wave and in the high tide it’s great for turns.
For intermediate and advanced
Surf conditions in Central Pacific - Dominical, Hermosa & Jaco:
Beginners:
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Intermediates:
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Advanced:
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Rain
Wetsuits
JAN/FEB
MAR/APR
MAY/JUN
JUL/AUG
SEP/OCT
NOV/DEC
Air Temp (°C)
JAN/FEB
MAR/APR
MAY/JUN
JUL/AUG
SEP/OCT
NOV/DEC
The bigger swell season in the Central Pacific area is from May to November with waves consistently from 2-6 feet, sometimes bigger. Costa Rica's summer months & dry season is from December to April. Waves tend to be really fun clean 3-4 foot.
Surfing Jaco
The main beach in this surf town is a long 3 km beach break good for beginners and intermediates with many different peaks. If the swell gets above head high it tends to close out. South of the bay is Roca Loca, a right reef break that can hold up 10 feet at times.
Further south is Hermosa beach. It has a really good vibe to hang out, meet people and get in the water every day. It is a 7km long dark sandy beach breaks that works best on high tide. If you want to escape the crowd head further south. The beach packs a punch and when it's bigger it will rip those board shorts right off you and challenge even the best surfer.
Further along the coast you will find Esterillos about 10k south of Hermosa. Another fun beach break that is a swell magnet and if your looking for an uncrowded wave, take a walk down the beach and pick a peak.
Still heading south you will find other spots include Seco, Bejuco and Playa Espadilla, a great beginners surf beach in the popular surf town of Manuel Antonio.
Surfing Dominical
Less crowded than other surf towns in Costa Rica. Dominical is a much longer trek from San José so it does not tend to get the same amount of surfers that Jaco has. Dominical is a wave magnet and has been called the most consistent surf spot in Costa Rica. The towns main break, Playa Dominical works best on Mid to high tide as at low tide it can be just a shore dump. It tends to be a better spot for Advanced, intermediates as it can get powerful.
2km south is Dominicalito, a beachbreak that is great for beginners. Further on 1 km is The point, with rides of up to 250 meters! There are many more breaks to be discovered, and teh further on south you go the emptier the breaks.
Come surf Jaco, Dominical & Central Pacific Costa Rica with us....
PAYMENT
- A small deposit is required to secure your booking.
- Your balance is due to the property 7 days before arrival. The Property will contact you to collect payment. If you book within this 7 days then the property will contact you shortly after you book to collect the balance.
CANCELLING YOUR BOOKING
- To cancel go to the MyAccount section and log in or register and you can cancel from within your account.
- Your deposit is non refundable but can be used for the same property/surf school within one year of your original booking.
- TERMS AND CONDITIONS Check-in is at 3:00 PM. If you arrive in the early morning you'll be more than welcome to chill in the common spaces, have some breakfast, use all of our facilities or just store your luggage with us and go exploring around the town while you wait for your room to be ready Check out is at 11:00 AM, but we will keep your bags for free all day long if you need us to Smoking is not allowed inside bedrooms. In case you omit this rule $300 USD fine will be applied for smoking. AGE RESTRICTIONS Guests must be 18 years or older to stay in shared dorms. Please ask us for our children policy Please ask us for our pets policy CANCELLATION POLICY Cancellations or modifications must be made by 3:00 pm (in your destination’s time zone) at least 3 days prior to arrival, depending on the property. Cancellations made after the given period and no-shows will incur a one-night cancellation fee, plus tax. BOOKING CONDITIONS To fully confirm the booking we ask for a credit card number as guarantee. A deposit will be charged to this credit card (30%) and the rest can be paid upon check in. Until the deposit is not charged, the booking is not confirmed. This deposit will be refundable if cancellation policies apply. CANCELLATION / MODIFICATION During HOLIDAYS, BANK HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, cancellations / modifications are free of charge up to 15 DAYS prior your arrival. After that, we will charge your credit card with 100% of the surf camp (including tax). Cancellations / Modifications are free of charge prior to 7 DAYS days before your check-in date the rest of the year. After that, the surf package will be non-refundable and you will be charged with 100% of the surf package. In case of No-show, 100% of the surf package will be charged to your credit card. We reserve the right and you hereby authorize us to charge your credit or debit card for any damage incurred to your room or the hotel during your stay (including without limitation specialist cleaning) or for any items that are missing when you leave. Same applies for our surf equipment. Different cancellation/modification policies apply for groups.
The following cards are accepted at this property:
Similar Surf Packages in Central Pacific - Dominical, Hermosa & Jaco, Costa Rica
The Surfholidays Advantage
Easy messaging with a local surf host & expert to plan & book your dream surf holiday
-
1
Customize your surf trip with the help of a local surf host
Surfholidays has handpicked the world’s top surf camps, accommodation & surf schools so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements. -
2
Secure & easy booking
You can book instantly or message a host directly & request a custom option. Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via Surfholidays’ secure payment platform. -
3
Support before and after your trip
Our team at Surfholidays and your local host onsite are available before and during your trip to ensure things run smoothly. -
4
Authentic travel experiences
Surfholidays hosts ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local surf towns. -
Surfholidays offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee
If you are not fully satisfied, we’ll work with you to make it right.
- Host: SELINA TEAM
November 2022
Travelled solo
How did you like the accommodation?
All of the staff was super friendly and accommodating. Food was good and the proximity to the town and beach can't be beat.
How were the surf lessons?
This review will only apply to surfers in the intermediate+ category, as I did not take nor require beginner lessons like many visitors. I am an intermediate-advanced level surfer - comfortable in bigger surf, and someone who brings 2-3 boards on most trips I take for context. The biggest thing I personally look for when choosing a surf camp is that part of the surf package includes a guide and a vehicle who transports more apt surfers around to the best waves each day depending on the swell, tides, etc. This has been my experience on the handful of solo trips I've taken in multiple countries.
The Selina Jaco page (as of 11/21/2022) indicates "Surf Guide: Surf guidings are perfect for you as it include transport to/from beaches with the best conditions for your level. Our staff are here to accommodate all your needs & are equipped with the best local knowledge as well as passion for surfing." I used this information to book Selina expecting a guide and transportation similar to other camps (I had also confirmed this via the chat feature prior to booking), only to find out that the only lessons they were providing were for beginners, located solely at Jaco beach. After a lot of back-and-forth I was able to have the surf lessons portion of my package refunded, however I was still left without transportation or a guide to help point me in the right direction. One of the surf instructors at the hotel (the surf lessons are not provided by Selina, but a contracted local surf school) provided me with a local surfer who fortunately was willing to help me out. Overall, the confusion about what exactly was offered created a lot of stress I was hoping to avoid on a vacation, and I would not have booked with Selina had I known the reality of the surf guiding situation. The "lessons" portion of the Selina Jaco page needs to be updated to reflect the reality of what is available to travellers.
Hi Hunter!
Thank you for your review! All of the feedback provided will help us it will help us improve the service we offer in our surf packages. Unfortunately, the surf package you booked of 5 Nights does not include transportation, this is only for Surf Guiding. Communication is something that we consider valuable in our brand, which is why we will always try to make it that way. Thank you again for letting us know what to improve to make the best experience our guests could have.
How did you like the accommodation?
Wonderful!!!
We are delighted with the friendliness, facilities, quality and service !! Magnificent surf club, very friendly instructors !! They got my children and I to stand on the surf board within an hour. Swimming pool was a nice addition as was the restaurant on the beach.
How were the surf lessons?
Magnifico
November 2019
Travelled solo
How did you like the accommodation?
Un nuevo concepto
Me parece un lugar muy cool, tienen un concepto muy completo para vacacionar y para todos. Esta todo nuevo y en la playa!
October 2019
Travelled as a couple
How did you like the accommodation?
Recomendable al 100%
Encontramos un paraíso dentro de jaco. Un lugar diferente, tranquilo, con buena estética, servicios, comida, piscina, personal amable y capacitado. Y para los amantes del surf en frente a la ola.
Lugar para descansar en pareja y si vas soltero también ya que hay una movida de viajeros y un bar dentro del hotel con 2x1 all day.
August 2019
Travelled with friends
How did you like the accommodation?
Chillout en jaco
Me encanta el lugar, la ubicación, y sobre todo la increíble atención del personal desde la recepción, los chicos del surf que son demasiados atentos para enseñarle a como surfear mejor y el personal del restaurante demasiados amables y rápidos la comida súper recomendada y muy buen precio... y tienen happy hour ...pero lo mejor la piscina a la par del restaurante y con la vista del mar... ...
July 2019
Travelled solo
How did you like the accommodation?
Accommodation was nice! Great AC in the 8 bed dorm and comfortable bed. Cleaned daily as well. Staff was very helpful. Banks close by and lots of restaurants. Bar and restaurant at the hostel was great! Good food, awesome staff. Hostel located on beach with pool as well. Ideal location and conditions!
How were the surf lessons?
Surf lessons were fantastic. Rodrigo and Matias were very knowledgable and took great care of me! They always had great tips and made sure I was comfortable but still were able to push me and make me a better surfer. I felt very safe with them. Beaches were beautiful! Good size waves as well! Quite clean.
July 2019
Travelled with friends
How did you like the accommodation?
Great environment to just chillout and relax. Recommend taking the surf lessons offered with Rodrigo and Matias - great people and real pros
How were the surf lessons?
All good
May 2019
Travelled as a couple
How did you like the accommodation?
We loved our stay at Selina Jaco! We rented a car to get from the San Jose airport; we parked at Selina and didn’t take the car out again until driving back to the airport. The food was great, the rooms were cleaned daily, and everyone was very nice and helpful. We had most meals at Selina but found plenty of good restaurants in walking distance. Selina is right on the beach and can’t be beat for convenience!
How were the surf lessons?
We loved our surf lessons with Vanessa and Andrés! This was the best opportunity to have multiple lessons to really learn the proper techniques.
April 2019
Travelled solo
How did you like the accommodation?
I’m super happy with my stay at Selina Jaco!
Suggestion: More equipment in the kitchen!
How were the surf lessons?
My instructor Andres at selina where fantastic! He teach me a lot!