The million - plus people who live on the Meseta Central in round San Jose, the Playa Jaco region offers the closest opportunity Pacific Ocean beaches (as opposed to those facing the Golfo de Nicoya). From the residential resort at Punta Leona to Playa Hermosa south of Jaco, a string of beaches bring thousands of weekenders for surfing, swimming, and partying. Since its only about a two-hour drive from San Jose, its entirely possible to drive here in the morning, enjoy the surf, and be home in time for supper. Not surprisingly many Meseta Central residents have weekend homes here, and a large number of expatriates live here full-time. Several hundred North Americans and many Europeans make their permanent homes here.
Jaco is the largest and most developed town along the entire coast (about 4,000 inhabitants), and it has everything you need, from good medical care to discos and casinos. The main street is sprinkled with open-air restaurants where members of the foreign community can be seen socializing, day or evening. Since Jaco is one place where beach property can be owned rather than leased, its possible to find a home right on the ocean, with beach and surf for your front yard.
Many if not most tourist businesses here are owned by gringos and Europeans. Some do quite well because the areas many tourist attractions bring streams of visitors in search of adventure. Every surf and nature sport, from surfing to crocodile safaris, ensures plenty of tourist business. Two eighteen-hole golf courses are open to public play here, one at Marriotts Los Suenos resort, 5 kilometers north of Jaco, and another about 15 kilometers south at Quebrada, Amarilla, the Tulin Resort.
When I asked Mike Gernazian (better known as Gringo Mike) why so many Americans choose to live in Jaco, he replied, We want to be close to the big city but still have the pleasure of the clean air and the beach. There are several hundred of us in the area, yet Jaco is small enough that we all know and help one another. If you need to borrow a tool, there is always someone to help. The only spat I have ever seen is over the one copy of USA todays crossword puzzle at Zarpes Bar (a gringo hangout). We all want to work it. Mike rents cabins near the beach and says business is booming.

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