Herradura, Costa Rica: The Complete Area Guide

Herradura sits on a sheltered bay along Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast, roughly 90 minutes west of San José’s international airport. It’s a small community with outsized appeal: a world-class marina, championship golf, beachfront dining, and the kind of tropical calm that makes you forget you have a return flight. This guide covers everything you need to plan a visit, from where to eat to how to fill your days.

Getting to Herradura

From Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), take Route 27 (the Caldera Highway) west toward the Pacific. The drive is about 90 minutes, mostly along a modern toll highway that cuts through the Central Valley mountains before descending to the coast. Exit at Herradura and follow signs toward Los Sueños Resort & Marina.

Private airport transfers typically run $110–150 for up to four passengers. Shared shuttles cost $35–45 per person but make multiple stops along the way. Renting a car gives you the most flexibility for exploring the wider Jacó corridor, though you won’t need one if you’re staying within Los Sueños and the immediate Herradura area.

Driving Tips and Area Layout

The Herradura exit from Route 27 is well-marked. Once you exit, you’ll see signs directing you either to Playa Herradura (the public beach) or Los Sueños Resort & Marina. The main coastal road (Route 34, also called the Costanera Sur) runs parallel to the beach and connects Herradura with Jacó to the north and Playa Hermosa to the south.

Herradura’s residential neighborhoods climb the hills above the bay. Many vacation rentals and private homes sit on these hillside streets, offering ocean views and privacy but requiring a car to reach the beach (typically 5-10 minutes). GPS works reliably in the area, but some hillside properties have addresses that confuse navigation apps; your property manager should provide detailed arrival directions.

Parking at Playa Herradura is straightforward: there’s a large public lot near the beach with attendants during peak season weekends. Parking costs around $2-3 for the day. Weekdays and off-season periods usually have free street parking available along the beachfront road.

Tolls on Route 27 run approximately $10-12 total from the airport to Herradura. Most toll plazas accept both cash (colones or US dollars) and credit cards.

Playa Herradura: The Beach

Herradura Bay is a crescent-shaped cove with calm, warm water that’s better suited for swimming and paddling than surfing. The gentle conditions make it a favorite for families with young children and anyone who prefers floating to fighting waves. If you’re after surf, Jacó Beach is ten minutes north.

The bay’s sheltered position creates some of the calmest water on the Central Pacific coast. While Jacó and Playa Hermosa see consistent surf breaks and strong currents, Herradura Bay’s crescent shape blocks the worst of the Pacific swells. Local Costa Rican families drive from San José on dry-season weekends specifically for this safe swimming access. The beach has a sandy bottom with gradual entry and no rocks, making it genuinely kid-friendly.

Herradura Beachfront Dining

Along the beachfront you’ll find a dozen open-air restaurants and casual spots serving fresh-caught seafood, traditional Costa Rican plates, and cold beer under palapas with plastic chairs and million-dollar views. This is unpretentious beach dining at its best: the catch of the day is actually caught that day, prices are honest (most meals $8-15), and the vibe is decidedly local rather than resort-polished.

El Pelícano (2637-8910) has been family-run since 1983, making it the anchor of Herradura’s beachfront restaurant row. The mixed ceviche and whole fried snapper are what locals order, and the grilled octopus comes charred exactly right. Open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, with ocean views from every table. Expect to pay half what you’d spend at Los Sueños Marina Village for comparable quality.

Cocos (8822-4747) sits next door with a similar beachfront setup: lunch specials, fresh fish plates, and dinner service. Open daily from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. The menu leans toward whole grilled fish (dorado, pargo, mahi-mahi) served with rice, beans, and patacones (fried plantains).

For traditional Costa Rican cooking, Rancho Manuel (2643-2164) delivers casados (the national plate: rice, beans, salad, plantains, and your choice of protein), grilled meats, and cold Imperial beer in a relaxed, locals-heavy setting. Open daily from 11:00 am until midnight, with a bar that keeps the neighborhood happy well into the evening.

These beachfront spots won’t win design awards, but they deliver authentic flavor, better value than resort dining, and the kind of atmosphere that comes when a place caters to families who drive from San José every weekend rather than tourists passing through.

Marina Village: Dining, Shopping, and Marina Life

The heart of Herradura’s social scene is Los Sueños Marina Village, an open-air complex overlooking the 200-slip marina. This is where you’ll find the best concentration of restaurants, shops, and services in the area.

Where to Eat in Marina Village

The Hook Up is the neighborhood gathering spot: burgers, tacos, a giant video wall for game days, and a laid-back atmosphere that works for families and groups alike. Open daily, 11:30 am to 10:00 pm.

Lanterna Italian Steakhouse is the go-to for a proper sit-down dinner. Wood-fired steaks, imported Angus beef, authentic Italian pastas, and pizzas from a specialty oven. The Lanterna Garden seating is especially pleasant in the evening. Open daily, 11:30 am to 10:00 pm. Upstairs, the Terrace Bar serves the same menu in a more relaxed setting with big-screen TVs.

Bambú Sushi & Asian Cuisine brings fusion dishes and fresh sushi rolls to a terrace overlooking the marina. Choose between air-conditioned indoor seating and the open-air deck. Open daily, 11:30 am to 10:00 pm.

Dolce Vita opens earliest and stays open latest, serving coffee, pastries, breakfast, lunch, and house-made gelato. If you need a morning espresso or an afternoon pick-me-up, this is where you go. Open daily, 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.

For grab-and-go gourmet, Jimmy T’s Provisions (2637-8636) prepares fresh pasta salad, shrimp cocktail, guacamole, and other ready-made items daily. Perfect for stocking your villa kitchen without cooking from scratch.

Shopping and Services

Marina Village houses boutique shops selling resort wear, jewelry, sportfishing gear, and Costa Rican crafts. The Marina Village Market carries basics, sunscreen, snacks, and cold drinks, though you’ll want to drive to Jacó (10 minutes) for proper grocery shopping at AutoMercado or Mas x Menos.

A pharmacy operates within the complex, along with a medical clinic (+506-2637-8610) for minor injuries and illnesses. Two ATMs and a bank branch handle cash needs. The Marriott Hotel concierge desk (accessible to non-guests) can book tours, fishing charters, restaurant reservations, and transportation.

Marina Activities

The marina itself is worth exploring even if you’re not booking a fishing charter. Watch sportfishing boats return in late afternoon (typically 3-5 pm) as crews unload billfish, tuna, and dorado from the day’s catch. The fuel dock and commercial pier area see constant activity: boats departing for dawn fishing trips, catamaran cruises loading passengers for Tortuga Island day trips, and yacht crews provisioning multi-million-dollar vessels.

Thursday evenings (3-7 pm) bring the Marina Village Farmers Market with local vendors selling fresh produce, prepared foods, empanadas, artisan bread, and craft items. It’s a fraction of the cost of restaurant dining and a good way to meet the local community.

Marriott Hotel Restaurants

The Los Sueños Marriott, located within the resort grounds, has several dining options worth knowing about:

• Hacienda Kitchen serves a full breakfast buffet daily from 6:30 am to 11:00 am, with dinner service from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
• Bar Ocho is an open terrace with fresh ceviche, tacos, cocktails, and coffee. Open 11:00 am to 12:00 am.
• 18 & Greene at the clubhouse offers steaks, seafood, and a full bar. Open daily from noon to 11:00 pm.
• Zoe Beachside Restaurant & Lounge serves burgers, sandwiches, and salads poolside. Open daily, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Real Estate and Investment in Herradura

Herradura’s real estate market sits in a unique position: close enough to Los Sueños to benefit from the resort’s infrastructure and marina access, but outside the gated community where property prices carry the full resort premium.

Property Values and Market Overview

Herradura properties split into two main categories: beachfront and near-beach condos along the bay, and hillside homes and villas in the residential neighborhoods above town. Beachfront condos typically run $250,000-500,000 depending on size, condition, and ocean views. Hillside homes with private pools and ocean views range from $400,000 to over $1 million for high-end villas with multiple bedrooms and resort-level finishes.

Compared to Los Sueños (where condos start around $350,000 and luxury villas exceed $2 million), Herradura offers better value for buyers who want proximity to the marina, golf, and beach without paying for gated resort access. Rental income potential exists but typically runs lower than Los Sueños properties because you’re not marketing resort amenities and concierge services.

What Makes Herradura Unique for Buyers

Location: You’re 2 minutes from Los Sueños Marina (world-class sportfishing), golf, and upscale dining, 7 minutes from Jacó’s restaurants and services, and 90 minutes from San José’s international airport. Few places in Costa Rica offer this combination of resort access, beach proximity, and Central Valley connectivity.

Calm-water beach: Herradura Bay is one of the few true swimming beaches on the Central Pacific coast. For families with young children or buyers who want actual swimmable ocean access (not just surf breaks), this matters more than most real estate listings acknowledge.

Lower HOA fees: Properties outside Los Sueños avoid the resort’s homeowner association fees (which can run $400-800/month depending on property type). Herradura hillside communities have their own HOAs, but fees typically run 30-50% lower.

Local character: Herradura retains more authentic Costa Rican beach-town atmosphere than the gated resort. The beachfront restaurant scene caters to Josefino families (locals from San José) rather than international tourists, and the community feels less manufactured.

Investment Considerations

Rental demand in Herradura exists but skews toward families seeking calm-water beach access and groups wanting space without resort formality. Peak rental season (December-April) sees good occupancy, but you won’t command Los Sueños nightly rates. Expect 15-25% lower rental income compared to equivalent properties inside the resort.

Property management is essential if you’re buying as an investment. Hillside homes require regular maintenance (tropical climate accelerates wear), pool care, landscaping, and guest coordination. Local property management companies charge 20-30% of rental income but handle everything from marketing to checkout cleaning.

For buyers seeking a personal-use vacation home with occasional rental income to offset costs, Herradura delivers excellent value. For investors prioritizing maximum rental yields, Los Sueños properties inside the resort gates perform better despite higher purchase prices and HOA fees.

Golf at La Iguana

The La Iguana Golf Course is one of Central America’s most memorable rounds. Designed by Ted Robinson Jr., this 18-hole, par-72 championship course stretches 6,698 yards through primary and secondary rainforest with ocean views, elevation changes, and wildlife encounters you won’t find anywhere else.

Scarlet macaws fly overhead. Monkeys cross fairways between groups. Iguanas sun themselves on cart paths (and occasionally steal golf balls). Water hazards come into play on 12 holes, and the narrow, jungle-lined fairways reward accuracy over raw distance. The par-3 17th with its island green and the oceanfront finishing hole are particular highlights.

Practical details:

• Green fees: $185–210 for 18 holes depending on season, with twilight rates (after 2:00 pm) dropping to $135–150
• Cart rental is included in the green fee
• Club rentals: $60
• Caddies: $30–40 plus tip, and highly recommended. They read greens expertly, know where errant shots disappear into the jungle, and improve the experience significantly.
• Tee times book quickly during peak season (December through April). Resort guests get priority, but public times are available.
• Pro tip: bring extra golf balls. The jungle is unforgiving.

The course also has a driving range, putting greens, and a short game practice area. Book through the La Iguana Pro Shop at +506-2630-9151.

The Marina and Sport Fishing

Los Sueños Marina is a 200-slip facility that has earned its reputation as one of the top sport fishing destinations in the world. Sailfish and marlin waters begin just 8–12 miles offshore, meaning more time fishing and less time in transit.

Peak sailfish season runs December through April, with strike rates that draw tournament anglers from around the globe. The Signature Triple Crown tournament series (January through March) is the marquee event. Marlin fishing peaks June through October during the green season.

Full-day offshore charters (8 hours, targeting sailfish and marlin) run $1,200–2,200 depending on boat size, typically split among up to six anglers. Half-day inshore trips (4–5 hours for roosterfish, snapper, and tuna) cost $600–900. Prices generally include captain, crew, tackle, and fishing licenses.

The Maverick Center, located at the entrance to the commercial pier, coordinates charter bookings. For families or first-time anglers, a half-day inshore trip is the ideal introduction.

Beyond fishing, Costa Cat Cruises operates a 54-foot catamaran from the marina, running day trips to Isla Tortuga with snorkeling, beach time, and the chance to spot dolphins and manta rays along the way.

More Things to Do in Herradura

Spa and Wellness

Sibö Spa at the Marriott Hotel draws on rainforest ingredients for its treatments. Book ahead at +506-2630-9071. Aurora Yoga offers sunset classes on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm at the Los Sueños Beach Club, all levels welcome (mats provided). Call +506-8302-0609 for details.

Beach Club

The Los Sueños Private Beach Club is available to resort homeowners, guests, and renters. It includes a pool, the Al Fresco restaurant (open 11:00 am to 7:00 pm with wood-fired pizzas and a swim-up bar), and direct beach access. The calm bay waters are excellent for paddleboarding and kayaking.

Tennis

Two courts at the Marriott Hotel are available for booking through the La Iguana Pro Shop. Private lessons with the tennis pro and equipment rentals are offered.

Wildlife and Nature

Herradura sits at the edge of serious biodiversity. Carara National Park, a 15-minute drive north, is one of Costa Rica’s premier birding destinations and home to a healthy population of scarlet macaws. The famous crocodile bridge on the Tárcoles River is along the way. Within Los Sueños itself, resort trails wind through rainforest where you’ll regularly spot monkeys, toucans, and iguanas without leaving the property.

Day Trips

Herradura’s central location makes it an excellent base for exploring the wider region:

• Jacó (10 minutes north): surf, nightlife, dozens of restaurants, and a walkable beach town atmosphere
• Manuel Antonio National Park (1 hour south): white-sand beaches, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife
• Carara National Park (15 minutes): scarlet macaws, crocodile bridge, guided nature walks
• Zip line and ATV tours: multiple operators in the Jacó corridor offer half-day adventures through the rainforest canopy

Practical Tips

Getting around: Within Los Sueños, golf cart rentals ($50–75 per day) are the preferred way to move between your villa, the marina, the beach club, and the golf course. For trips to Jacó, the beach, or day excursions, you’ll want a car. Rental agencies operate within Marina Village.

Groceries: Marina Village has a small convenience store for basics, but for a full grocery run, drive ten minutes to Jacó where AutoMercado (upscale, imported products), Mas x Menos, and Mega Super cover every need and budget.

Banking: Two ATMs and a bank branch operate in Marina Village, so you won’t need to drive to Jacó for cash.

Medical: A clinic and pharmacy operate within the Marina Village complex (+506-2637-8610). The Marriott also has a care clinic on site.

When to visit: December through April is dry season with the best weather, calmest seas, and peak fishing. May through November brings afternoon rains (usually a couple of hours in late afternoon), greener landscapes, fewer crowds, and lower rental rates. The resort operates year-round with full services regardless of season.

Budget expectations: Herradura skews upscale. Dinner for two at Marina Village restaurants runs $60–120 depending on where you eat. Beachfront spots outside the gates like El Pelícano and Cocos are more moderate, with mains in the $12–25 range. A golf round, fishing charter, and a few nice dinners add up quickly, but the quality matches the price.

Why Herradura Works

Herradura gives you the best of both worlds: resort infrastructure and natural beauty, activity and calm, world-class amenities and a community small enough that the bartender at Dolce Vita will remember your coffee order by day three. It’s not trying to be everything to everyone. It’s a place for people who want to fish, golf, eat well, and wake up to howler monkeys instead of alarm clocks.

For a deeper look at the resort itself, see our Los Sueños guide. For fishing details, visit our Los Sueños fishing page. And for everything about the golf course, check our Los Sueños golf guide.