December is when Jacó's dry season begins: the rain drops away, the sunsets return and the town fills up for Christmas and New Year. The first three weeks are good value; the holiday week is the busiest and dearest of the year. Here is how to plan December 2026.
What You Should Know
- December is the start of the dry season. Puntarenas, the nearest long-term station to the north, falls from about 15 rain days in November to under 6 in December, and Quepos, to the south, to about 15, so expect drier days as the month goes on.
- The month has two price levels. In our hotel sample for December 2026, nights from 1 to 23 December cost about $147 to $167, then about $198 on Christmas Eve, $258 on Christmas Day and $193 on New Year's Eve.
- Rooms go early for the holidays. Only 6 to 12 of the Jacó hotels in our sample still quoted a price for the nights from 24 December, against about 20 earlier in the month, which suggests holiday rooms were already selling in October.
- Costa Rica's school year ended on 9 December in 2026, and Jacó is the nearest big beach to San José, so expect Costa Rican families as well as foreign visitors from mid-month.
December in Jacó: The Honest Picture
⭐ Best December 2026 window: about 10 to 20 December, midweek. By mid-month the rain has usually eased, while our hotel sample still showed about $147 to $167 a night, before the Christmas jump from 24 December.
| Factor | December Rating |
|---|---|
| Weather | 8/10: dry season begins; occasional showers early |
| Crowds | 6/10 early December · 2/10 Christmas to New Year |
| Prices | 7/10 to 23 December · 2/10 over the holidays |
| Beach & Swimming | 7/10: calmer, clearer water; rip currents still present |
| Surf (Beginners) | 9/10: dry-season mornings, gentler waves |
| Boat Trips | 8/10: calm crossings; book holiday dates ahead |
| Wildlife (Carara, Tárcoles & Turtles) | 8/10: drying trails; turtle releases on the beach |
| Families | 8/10: school holidays begin; plan ahead |
| Couples | 8/10: sunsets return; early December is calm |
💰 December hotel prices in our sample (Jacó, 3 to 4 star, room for two):
1 to 23 December: ~$147–167/night · 24 December: ~$198 · 25 December: ~$258 · 26 December: ~$248 · 31 December: ~$193 · 1 January: ~$324
Median of 16 to 22 Jacó hotels for 1 to 23 December and only 6 to 12 for the holiday nights, checked 20 October 2026. A small sample, so treat the pattern as more reliable than the exact figures.
Planning Jacó for December 2026? December is when Jacó's year turns: the rains of the green season give way to the dry season, the sunsets come back and the town fills up for Christmas and New Year. The weather figures here are long-term normals from the nearest official stations, not a forecast; the prices and schedules are what we found for December 2026 when we checked on 20 October.
A December trip to Jacó is two different trips. Before about 23 December it is a quiet, increasingly sunny beach town at prices close to the low season. From Christmas Eve to New Year, it is the busiest and most expensive week of the year, with hotels filling early and the beach, restaurants and tours at capacity.
We'd lean toward the first three weeks of December for most travelers: in our view it is the best combination of weather and value on the whole calendar. If you want the holiday atmosphere, book now; our sample suggests most holiday rooms were already being taken in October.
Who December suits best:
- Value seekers: early December brings dry-season weather at near low-season rates.
- Beginner surfers: the dry season brings gentler morning waves.
- Holiday-makers: Christmas and New Year in a lively beach town, if you book early.
- Quiet getaways over the holidays: less ideal. Come before 20 December or in late January instead.
Jacó Weather in December
| Metric | December |
|---|---|
| Avg High | 31°C (88°F) |
| Avg Low | 22°C (72°F) |
| Water Temp | 28°C (82°F) |
| Rain Days | ~6–15 |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Wind | Low to moderate |
| Rain Level | Low and falling (dry season begins) |
Temperature and Humidity
Highs climb back to about 31°C (88°F), with nights near 22°C (72°F). Quepos to the south averages 30.6°C and 22.3°C in December, and Puntarenas, across the Gulf of Nicoya, 32.0°C and 22.1°C. Humidity drops as the rain eases. Sunrise moves from 05:40 to 05:54 and sunset from 17:16 to 17:28.
Rain Pattern
December is the start of the dry season. Quepos averages 160 mm over 15.2 rain days, down from 349 mm in November, and Puntarenas just 28 mm over 5.7 days, so expect roughly 6 to 15 days with some rain around Jacó, most of them early in the month. Most people don't realize how fast the change is: Puntarenas goes from about six hours of sunshine a day in November to about seven and a half in December.
Sea and Outdoor Conditions
The sea stays near 28°C (82°F). Swell eases from its green-season size, which makes morning surf gentler for beginners; our Jacó surf lessons guide names December, with April, as the best month for pure beginners. Trails in the hills dry out through the month, and Carara National Park moves to its dry-season opening time of 07:00.
December in Jacó: Crowds and Prices Week by Week
December starts quiet and ends as the busiest week of the year.
- 1 December (Abolition of the Army Day): a public holiday since 2020, marking the day in 1948 that Costa Rica abolished its army; a Tuesday in 2026. In our sample it cost about $147, no more than a normal night.
- 2 to 13 December: about $147 to $150 on weeknights and $159 to $160 on Saturdays in our sample. Costa Rica's school year ended on 9 December in 2026, so Costa Rican families start to arrive from mid-month.
- 14 to 23 December: still about $156 to $167 in our sample. The beach gets busier at weekends as the school holidays begin.
- 24 to 26 December (Christmas): about $198 on Christmas Eve, $258 on Christmas Day and $248 on 26 December, with only 7 to 12 hotels in our sample still quoting.
- 27 to 31 December: about $171 on Monday 28, $185 on Wednesday 30 and $193 on New Year's Eve; New Year's night, 1 January, was about $324, the dearest night we found all year.
Tour prices do not change for the holidays, but availability does. When we checked, the Jacó food walk already showed 22, 23 and 31 December as unavailable, with fewer start times over Christmas week, and the Tortuga Island catamaran showed 29 December as unavailable. Book holiday-week tours as soon as your dates are fixed.
The Dry Season Returns: Sunsets, Turtle Releases and Calm Seas
December's signature draw is the return of the dry season, with longer sunny spells, clearer evenings and calmer water after months of rain.
Sunsets on Jacó Beach
Clear evenings come back in December, with sunset between 17:16 and 17:28. The Taste of Costa Rica food walk is timed around it: December guests describe a watermelon drink at a beachfront restaurant as the sun went down and a scenic walk along the beach at sunset.
Turtle Releases
Olive ridley turtles nest at the Playa Hermosa–Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Jacó, from July to December, and eggs hatch after about 45 to 50 days. Several food-walk guests who posted reviews in December and January describe stumbling on a turtle nursery releasing hatchlings on Jacó beach. Releases are not scheduled for visitors, so treat any you see as luck; keep your distance and never use a flash.
Calm Seas for Boat Trips
The Tortuga Island catamaran runs daily at 07:15 from Los Sueños, and the Playa Fantasia catamaran sails on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 08:30. Playa Fantasia dates were bookable to 14 December when we checked; later December dates had not yet been published, although the trip has run in past Decembers. Whales are rare this month, mentioned in only 2 of 129 Costa Cat reviews posted in December, but humpbacks from the north appear more often in January.
Drier Trails
The hills dry out through December, which makes the ATV ride, horseback rides and zipline more reliable, and Carara National Park opens at 07:00 from December, the best hour for birds and monkeys.
What to Watch in December: Holiday Prices, Crowds and the Sea
The weather is rarely the problem in late December. The calendar is.
Christmas and New Year Prices
From 24 December, rates in our sample rose to between about $171 and $258 a night, and New Year's night reached about $324. Fewer hotels had rooms to quote at all, so if you need those dates, book early, and if you don't, come in the first three weeks of December or after 6 January.
School-Holiday Crowds
With the Costa Rican school year over from 9 December, Jacó's beach, restaurants and roads from San José get busier through the second half of the month, especially at weekends and between Christmas and New Year.
Rip Currents
Holiday weeks are when Costa Rica's beaches near San José see the most rip-current emergencies, and Jacó has strong rips in every season. Swim near the municipal lifeguard towers, follow their flags, avoid darker, foamy channels flowing out to sea, and if you are caught, swim parallel to the shore and raise an arm. The emergency number is 911.
Early-December Showers
The dry season does not arrive on a fixed date. Early December can still bring showers, so keep afternoons flexible in the first week or two.
Where to Stay on a December Trip to Jacó
December starts quiet and ends at the year's peak. In our sample, early-December stays cost far less than 24 to 31 December, when rates rose sharply and fewer hotels had rooms.
Most visitors stay in the center, near Avenida Pastor Díaz, within walking distance of the beach, restaurants and tour pickups. The south end of Jacó Beach is quieter, and Los Sueños on Playa Herradura, about 10 minutes north, is the resort-and-marina choice and the departure point for the Tortuga Island catamarans.
Compare Live Jacó Hotel Prices for December
Live rates from our hotel reservation system for a sample three-night stay in December for two adults, so you can see what a December trip costs before you pick tours.
Change the dates at checkout to match your own trip, and book with instant email confirmation.
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Croc's Resort & Casino
One of the largest resorts in Jacó, on the beach at the north end of town, with pools, four restaurants and a casino. Guests praise the clean, spacious rooms; food and casino drinks are pricey.
Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
The luxury option on Playa Herradura, about 10 minutes north of Jacó, beside the Los Sueños marina where the Tortuga Island catamarans leave. Beach, golf course, spa and kids' club; extras add up.
Club del Mar Oceanfront
Oceanfront rooms and apartments at the quiet south end of Jacó Beach, with a pool, restaurant and bar. Guests rate the location and staff highly; it is a short taxi ride to the center.
Best Western Jaco Beach All Inclusive Resort
Jacó's big beachfront all-inclusive in the center of town, with pools and children's activities. Guests like the staff and the kids' program; rooms are dated and the sea out front is rough.
Apartotel Girasol
Beachfront apartments with kitchens, a pool and a garden gate onto the sand, a short walk from the restaurants on the main strip. The highest guest score in this list.
Hotel Mar de Luz
A quiet garden hotel in the center, a few minutes' walk from the beach, with pools, a hot tub and rooms with kitchenettes. Guests praise the breakfast and staff; there is no restaurant or bar.
Indicative nightly rate for 3 nights, Dec 15 – 18, 2026, 2 adults. Live pricing at checkout.Room only. Local taxes and fees are added at checkout and can add roughly 20%.
Search all resorts & dates →Jaco Food & Culture Tours: Taste of Costa Rica
The outing we'd book first in December. The dry season brings back Jacó's sunsets, and this afternoon walk is built around them, ending at a beachfront restaurant as the sun goes down, with caldosa, chifrijo, seafood, drinks and a Churchill dessert along the way. December guests even stumbled on turtle hatchlings being released on the beach. It is one of the best-reviewed tours in Jacó, starts between 14:30 and 16:00, and has fewer start times over Christmas week, so book holiday dates early.
Book NowThe Best Things to Do in Jacó This December
Every tour we cover around Jacó runs in December. The table rates each activity for the month; over the holidays, book everything ahead.
| Activity | December Rating | Best Time of Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Tour | 9/10 | Late afternoon | Sunset stop near 17:20; from $99 |
| Surf Lessons | 9/10 | Early morning | Gentler dry-season waves; from $49 |
| Tortuga Island Tour | 9/10 | Full day from 07:15 | Calm seas; book holiday dates early |
| Carara National Park | 9/10 | 07:00–08:00 | Dry-season opening at 07:00; from $45 |
| Tárcoles Crocodile Tour | 8/10 | 08:30 | Runs daily; from $40 |
| ATV Tour | 8/10 | 09:00 | Trails drying out; from $105 |
| Zipline | 8/10 | Morning | Clearer views as the rain eases; from $75 |
| Horseback Riding | 8/10 | 07:00 or 15:30 | Beach rides at the cool ends of the day |
| Waterfall Hike | 8/10 | 08:00 | Falls still running well; trails drying |
| Playa Fantasia Catamaran | 7/10 | 08:30 | Dates to 14 December published so far |
Best in December
We'd give the food walk the edge as the December outing, because the return of clear evenings makes its sunset stop the highlight, and it is a natural first-night activity that gives you restaurant tips for the rest of your stay. Surf lessons are at their best for beginners, and the Tortuga Island trip is the full day out.
Mornings in the Hills
As the trails dry, the ATV ride, the zipline and the waterfall hike, with the falls still running well after the rains, are all good choices. A 07:00 start at Carara pairs well with the Tárcoles crocodile boat.
More December Activities Worth Knowing About
These December-friendly experiences do not have their own guides on this site yet.
Playa Hermosa
Five minutes south of Jacó, Playa Hermosa is a powerful beach break for experienced surfers only. December is the last month of the turtle-nesting season on its refuge beach.
Herradura Bay
The bay beside the Los Sueños marina, about 20 minutes north, is more sheltered than open Jacó Beach and the gentler choice for young children on a busy holiday weekend.
Abolition of the Army Day
On 1 December, Costa Rica marks the day in 1948 that it abolished its army, a public holiday since 2020. It is a quiet, civic occasion rather than a beach event, and in our sample it did not raise hotel prices.
New Year's Eve on the Beach
New Year's Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year in Jacó. If you plan to celebrate in town, book dinner and accommodation well ahead and arrange transport home in advance.
Our Take
Decide early which December you want: the first three weeks offer dry-season weather at close to low-season prices in our sample, while the holiday week costs up to twice as much and was already selling out in October, so the cheapest way to see Jacó at its sunniest is to come before 20 December.
Tips for a December Trip to Jacó
- Come between 10 and 20 December for the best value: the rain has usually eased, and our sample showed rates of about $147 to $167.
- Book holiday dates now: only 6 to 12 hotels in our sample still quoted rates for 24 December onward.
- Reserve holiday-week tours early: the food walk already showed 22, 23 and 31 December as unavailable when we checked.
- Do the food walk early in your stay: guests say the guide's restaurant tips are half the value.
- Start Carara at 07:00: the park's dry-season opening time is the best hour for wildlife.
- Swim near a lifeguard tower: holiday beaches near San José see the most rip-current emergencies.
- Visiting at a different time of year? Our Jacó in November guide covers the turn toward the dry season and low-season prices, and our Jacó in January guide covers the New Year peak and the best beginner surf of the year.
- Not sure what to book? Our best things to do in Jacó guide ranks the top nine experiences year-round and covers the free ones, from the beach to the crocodile bridge.
- Where to stay. Our best hotels in Jacó guide ranks 12 hotels by guest score, from $66 a night in our sample.
How We Put This Guide Together
Jacó has no long-running official weather station of its own, so the weather figures are World Meteorological Organization normals for the two nearest stations, Quepos (1984 to 2003) and Puntarenas, with Jacó placed between them; sea temperature is a long-term average from published sea-temperature records, and sunrise and sunset are calculated for Jacó's coordinates. These are normals, not a forecast for December 2026. Hotel prices are the median nightly rate for a room for two at 3 to 4 star Jacó hotels that returned a price for each December 2026 date when we checked on 20 October 2026; 16 to 22 hotels quoted for early December but only 6 to 12 for the holiday nights, so treat those figures with extra caution. Tour prices, schedules, cancellation terms and December availability were checked live the same day. The sunset, turtle-release and whale notes come from reading every review of the Taste of Costa Rica food walk and Costa Cat's Tortuga Island trip and sorting them by the month they were posted. Turtle-nesting dates for the Playa Hermosa refuge and the 2026 school calendar come from Costa Rican news reporting. Ratings in the tables are our editorial judgment of how December suits each activity, not guest scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jacó good in December?+
Yes. December is the start of the dry season, with rain easing through the month, sunsets returning and calmer seas. The first three weeks are good value, at about $147 to $167 a night in our hotel sample; the Christmas to New Year week is the busiest and most expensive of the year.
What is the weather like in Jacó in December?+
Warm and drying out. Expect highs around 31°C (88°F), nights near 22°C and roughly 6 to 15 days with some rain, judging by the nearest stations at Puntarenas (5.7 days) and Quepos (15.2 days), with most showers early in the month.
Can you see turtles or whales near Jacó in December?+
Turtles, sometimes. Olive ridleys nest at the Playa Hermosa refuge from July to December, and several December food-walk guests saw hatchlings being released on Jacó beach by chance. Whales are rare in December, mentioned in 2 of 129 Costa Cat reviews posted that month, but become more common in January.
How much does it rain in Jacó during December?+
Much less than in November. Puntarenas averages 28 mm over about 6 rain days in December and Quepos 160 mm over about 15, with Jacó in between. Showers are most likely in the first half of the month.
Is December expensive in Jacó?+
Only over the holidays. In our sample for December 2026, nights from 1 to 23 December cost about $147 to $167, Christmas Day about $258, 26 December about $248 and New Year's Eve about $193, while New Year's night, 1 January, reached about $324.
What is the best week to visit Jacó in December 2026?+
About 10 to 20 December, midweek. The rain has usually eased by then, the holiday rush has not started, and our sample showed rates of about $147 to $167 a night.
What are the best things to do in Jacó in December?+
The Taste of Costa Rica food walk with its sunset stop, beginner surf lessons, the Tortuga Island catamaran and a 07:00 start at Carara National Park. As the trails dry, the ATV ride, the zipline and the waterfall hike become more reliable.
Is Jacó busy at Christmas and New Year?+
Yes, it is the busiest week of the year. Costa Rican schools finish in early December, foreign visitors arrive for the holidays, and in our October check only 6 to 12 Jacó hotels in our sample still had rooms to quote for the nights from 24 December. Book rooms and tours as early as you can.
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