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Herradura
CENTRAL PACIFIC · AREA GUIDE

Complete Guide to Herradura

Everything you need to know before visiting Herradura, Costa Rica

About Herradura

Herradura is the Central Pacific's quiet achiever: a sheltered bay with calm swimming water, residential hillside neighborhoods, and the advantage of sitting directly between Los Sueños Resort (2 minutes south) and Jacó (7 minutes north). While Los Sueños gets the marina attention and Jacó gets the surf buzz, Herradura operates in the sweet spot: family-friendly beaches, local restaurants, and none of the resort or party-town intensity of its famous neighbors.

The bay itself is a crescent of dark sand with gentle waves, making it one of the few true swimming beaches on this coast. Local Costa Rican families drive from San José on weekends to swim, picnic, and let kids wade without battling surf. You'll find beachfront restaurants serving whole fried fish, cold beer, and rice and beans under palapas with plastic chairs and a view that costs nothing extra. This is unpretentious beach access: no beach clubs, no resort gatekeeping, just public beach with local character.

Herradura works best as a home base for travelers who want proximity to Los Sueños amenities (golf, marina, upscale dining) and Jacó's surf and nightlife without living in either. Families with young kids, couples seeking quieter surroundings, and anyone who values calm water over big waves. The residential neighborhoods climbing the hills above town offer larger homes with pools, ocean views, and the kind of space that makes extended stays comfortable. You're close to everything but committed to nothing.

Best For

  • Families with young children seeking calm swimming water
  • Travelers wanting access to Los Sueños and Jacó without staying in either
  • Groups who value space and prefer larger homes with pools
  • Visitors seeking local Costa Rican beach culture over resort infrastructure
  • Extended stays and remote work situations (quiet neighborhoods, good connectivity)

Getting to Herradura

1 hour 10 minutes from San José (SJO) airport. Take Route 27 west, exit at Herradura (the exit before Los Sueños). The town sits right off the highway. Add 5-10 minutes if your rental is in the hillside residential areas above the bay.

How far is Herradura from Jacó?

Herradura is 7 minutes (4 miles) south of Jacó's central beach via Route 34 (the Costanera Sur highway). The drive is flat, fast, and well-signed. You can easily drive to Jacó for dinner, nightlife, grocery shopping, or tour departures, then return to Herradura's quieter residential atmosphere. Many families staying in Herradura treat Jacó as their restaurant and activity hub while keeping their home base calm and kid-friendly.

Do I need a car in Herradura?

Yes, a car is highly recommended. Herradura is more spread out and residential than walkable Jacó. Most vacation rentals are in hillside neighborhoods above the bay; you'll want a car to reach the beach (5-10 minute drive from most rentals), drive to Los Sueños amenities (2 minutes), Jacó restaurants and supermarkets (7 minutes), and tour departures. Taxis exist but aren't as plentiful as in Jacó or Los Sueños. Rental cars from SJO airport run $35-60/day; having your own vehicle gives you freedom to explore Carara National Park, Manuel Antonio, and beaches along the coast.

What to Expect

Quiet bay, family beaches, and easy access to everything

Calm Swimming Bay

Sheltered crescent bay with gentle waves, ideal for families with young children and swimmers. One of the few true swimming beaches on the Central Pacific.

Adjacent to Los Sueños

2-minute drive to Los Sueños Resort amenities: golf, marina, upscale dining, and resort infrastructure without staying in the resort itself.

Local Beach Culture

Authentic beachfront restaurants serving fresh fish, cold beer, and Costa Rican plates. Plastic chairs, palapas, and no pretense.

Central Location

Perfect midpoint: 7 minutes to Jacó's surf and nightlife, 10 minutes to Carara National Park, 1 hour to Manuel Antonio.

Residential Neighborhoods

Hillside communities with larger homes, private pools, ocean views, and quiet streets. Ideal for families and extended stays.

Weekend Family Destination

Popular with Costa Rican families from San José, giving it a more local feel than tourist-heavy resort areas.

Accessible Beach Access

Public beach with parking, restaurants, and facilities. No resort memberships or access fees required.

Sunset Views

West-facing bay with spectacular Pacific sunsets visible from both the beach and hillside homes above town.

Insider Tips

💡

The beachfront restaurant row has better value and more authentic food than Los Sueños Marina Village, which is 90% tourists. Ask for 'casado con pescado' (fish with the local plate of rice, beans, salad, and plantains); it's rarely on the menu but always available.

💡

Playa Herradura gets crowded with Josefino families on dry-season weekends (January-April). Come early for parking and shade, or skip weekends entirely if you want a quiet beach day.

💡

The hills above Herradura have stunning sunset views over the bay and out to the Pacific. Many vacation homes capitalize on this; ask specifically about sunset-view terraces when booking.

Things to Do in Herradura

Discover the best activities and experiences during your stay

Sport Fishing in Herradura

Sport Fishing

Costa Rica's sport fishing capital. Los Sueños Marina offers some of the world's best billfish waters, with sailfish and...

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Wildlife & Nature in Herradura

Wildlife & Nature

The Central Pacific sits in one of Costa Rica's richest biodiversity corridors, squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and t...

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Dining & Food in Herradura

Dining & Food

The Central Pacific's food scene has evolved beyond tourist-trap mediocrity into a legitimate culinary destination. Fres...

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Beaches in Herradura

Beaches

Each beach in the Central Pacific has its own personality and purpose. Jacó is the long, accessible, action-oriented bea...

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Tours & Excursions in Herradura

Tours & Excursions

The Central Pacific is tour-operator central, with dozens of outfitters running daily excursions to rainforests, waterfa...

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See Upcoming Events in Herradura →
Herradura

Practical Information

Are there restaurants in Herradura or do you need to go to Los Sueños?

Herradura has its own beachfront restaurant row: a dozen open-air spots serving fresh whole fish (dorado, snapper, mahi-mahi), ceviche, rice and beans, and cold beer under palapas with plastic chairs and ocean views. These places cater to local Costa Rican families, not resort tourists, so prices are 40-60% lower than Los Sueños Marina Village and the food is just as good (often better). For upscale dining, Los Sueños Marina Village is a 2-minute drive. For variety and nightlife, Jacó is 7 minutes north. Herradura itself delivers authentic beach-town meals without the resort markup.

Are there supermarkets and services in Herradura?

Herradura has small convenience stores (pulperías) for basics, ice, and beer, but for real grocery shopping you'll drive 7 minutes north to Jacó where there are three full supermarkets: AutoMercado (upscale, best produce), Mas x Menos (mid-range), and Mega Super (budget). Jacó also has pharmacies, medical clinics, banks with ATMs, surf shops, and everything else you'd need. Los Sueños Marina Village (2 minutes south) has a small convenience store and boutique shops, but Jacó is your functional services hub.

Where to Stay in Herradura

Browse our curated selection of homes and condos in Herradura. Full concierge service, seamless check-in, and local expertise included.

Every Nest Stays property comes with 24/7 local support, pre-arrival grocery stocking, and insider recommendations from people who actually live here.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Herradura

What's the difference between Herradura and Los Sueños? +
Los Sueños is a private gated resort community with marina, golf course, beach club, and controlled access. Herradura is the public beach town immediately adjacent: same bay, same coastline, but without resort gates or fees. Staying in Herradura gives you a 2-minute drive to Los Sueños amenities (golf, marina, upscale dining) without paying resort rental premiums. Herradura has its own beachfront restaurant scene with more local flavor and lower prices. The bay itself is public and accessible to both Herradura and Los Sueños guests.
Is Herradura beach good for swimming with kids? +
Yes, Herradura Bay is one of the few true swimming beaches on the Central Pacific coast. The bay's crescent shape shelters it from big Pacific swells, creating calm, gentle water ideal for young kids who want to wade and swim without battling surf. Local Costa Rican families drive from San José specifically for this safe swimming access. The beach has a sandy bottom (no rocks), shallow gradual entry, and lifeguards during peak season weekends. It's the opposite of Jacó's surf break energy; this is where you come to actually swim in the ocean.
How far is Herradura from Jacó? +
Herradura is 7 minutes (4 miles) south of Jacó's central beach via Route 34 (the Costanera Sur highway). The drive is flat, fast, and well-signed. You can easily drive to Jacó for dinner, nightlife, grocery shopping, or tour departures, then return to Herradura's quieter residential atmosphere. Many families staying in Herradura treat Jacó as their restaurant and activity hub while keeping their home base calm and kid-friendly.
Are there restaurants in Herradura or do you need to go to Los Sueños? +
Herradura has its own beachfront restaurant row: a dozen open-air spots serving fresh whole fish (dorado, snapper, mahi-mahi), ceviche, rice and beans, and cold beer under palapas with plastic chairs and ocean views. These places cater to local Costa Rican families, not resort tourists, so prices are 40-60% lower than Los Sueños Marina Village and the food is just as good (often better). For upscale dining, Los Sueños Marina Village is a 2-minute drive. For variety and nightlife, Jacó is 7 minutes north. Herradura itself delivers authentic beach-town meals without the resort markup.
Do I need a car in Herradura? +
Yes, a car is highly recommended. Herradura is more spread out and residential than walkable Jacó. Most vacation rentals are in hillside neighborhoods above the bay; you'll want a car to reach the beach (5-10 minute drive from most rentals), drive to Los Sueños amenities (2 minutes), Jacó restaurants and supermarkets (7 minutes), and tour departures. Taxis exist but aren't as plentiful as in Jacó or Los Sueños. Rental cars from SJO airport run $35-60/day; having your own vehicle gives you freedom to explore Carara National Park, Manuel Antonio, and beaches along the coast.
What is there to do in Herradura? +
Herradura itself is quiet and residential: the main activity is the calm swimming beach and beachfront dining. But its central location makes it the perfect base for exploring everything nearby: Los Sueños Marina (sportfishing, catamaran cruises, golf) is 2 minutes away, Jacó's surf and nightlife is 7 minutes north, Carara National Park (scarlet macaws, crocodiles) is 10 minutes south, and Manuel Antonio is an hour drive. Families staying in Herradura typically spend mornings at the beach, afternoons on tours or at Los Sueños pool, and evenings bouncing between local restaurants and Jacó dining.
When is Herradura beach most crowded? +
Dry season weekends (January-April, especially Saturdays and Sundays) see heavy crowds of Costa Rican families from San José escaping to the coast. The beach, parking, and beachfront restaurants fill up by 10am. If you want a quieter beach experience, go early (before 9am), stick to weekdays, or visit during rainy season when Josefino weekend crowds disappear. Mornings are always less crowded than afternoons regardless of season.
Are there supermarkets and services in Herradura? +
Herradura has small convenience stores (pulperías) for basics, ice, and beer, but for real grocery shopping you'll drive 7 minutes north to Jacó where there are three full supermarkets: AutoMercado (upscale, best produce), Mas x Menos (mid-range), and Mega Super (budget). Jacó also has pharmacies, medical clinics, banks with ATMs, surf shops, and everything else you'd need. Los Sueños Marina Village (2 minutes south) has a small convenience store and boutique shops, but Jacó is your functional services hub.