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Voykit pocket guide · Costa Rica
Esterillos
A quiet beach stop for a day or two between Jacó and Manuel Antonio: surf, walk the dark-sand shore, then move on.
Esterillos is a spread-out beach town 20 min south of Jacó, split into Este and Oeste (also called Bejuco). It's quieter than Jacó, with good surf on the Oeste side and a fishing community near the rocky point. Most travellers use it as a one-night stop or a half-day beach break between the Central Pacific and Manuel Antonio.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy season, rough surf)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CRC
- Money
- Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₡30,000–50,000 excl. bed · Mid ₡50,000–80,000 excl. bed · High ₡80,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Kölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per tour.; Shuttle drivers: US$2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a local soda | ₡4,000–7,000 |
| Beer (bottle) | ₡1,500–2,500 |
| Coffee | ₡1,500–2,500 |
| Taxi from Jacó | ₡10,000–15,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SJO · Juan Santamaría International
- About 1.5 h drive via Route 34; shared shuttles and rental cars available.
Typical fares
- SJO → Esterillos shared shuttle
- about $25–35, 1.5 h (check)
- Taxi Esterillos → Jacó
- about $20–30 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
No public bus within town; walking or a rental car is best. Taxis from Jacó cost about $20–30 (check).
See and do
Known for
- Dark-sand beach with surf breaks
- Esterillos Este and Oeste (Bejuco)
- Quiet, underdeveloped atmosphere
- Estuary at the south end
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jacó | Drive or taxi north on Route 34, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Manuel Antonio | Drive south on Route 34, about 45 min | 45 min |
| Playa Hermosa, Garabito | Drive north on Route 34, about 25 min | 25 min |
Sleep
- Esterillos Oeste (Bejuco)
- More bars, restaurants and surf; Hotel Rancho Coral and vacation rentals.
- Esterillos Este
- Quieter, fewer services; closer to the estuary.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa?DOHN-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Buenas' and a handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Conflict: Stay polite and indirect; avoid: Raised voices
- Time: Be on time for tours; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Nature: Stay on trails, keep quiet; avoid: Feeding animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Rip currents: swim only where locals do.
- No ATM in town; bring cash from Jacó or Quepos.
- Roads are unpaved in parts; a 4×4 helps in the rainy season.
Safe during the day; avoid walking alone on the beach after dark. Watch for rip currents.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Esterillos yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Dark-sand beach with surf breaks
- Esterillos Este and Oeste (Bejuco)
- Quiet, underdeveloped atmosphere
- Estuary at the south end
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Esterillos, revision 5109240 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5109240
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Esterillos
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Dollars widely accepted; change may be in colones.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/esterillos). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.