Back to results

La Isla, Costa Rica

Stay in Jacó: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Jacó

  • Jaco Surf spot · 0.4 km from Jacó
  • Escondida Surf spot · 2 km from Jacó
  • T box Surf spot · 2.3 km from Jacó
  • Perro Fino Surf spot · 2.8 km from Jacó
  • Roca Loca Surf spot · 2.9 km from Jacó
  • Herradura Surf spot · 4.8 km from Jacó
  • Gully's Surf spot · 5.9 km from Jacó
  • The Tree Surf spot · 6.8 km from Jacó

All 12 on Jacó's map

Watch this spot We email you when La Isla is worth the trip.

About La Isla

Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.

The spot faces S (201°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (21°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 28°C in October, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in March, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually April, May, June and July, with about 6 good days in 7; in January, about 4. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Jacó, 4.9 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 3 surf spots.

Water about 28°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.

Book the trip

From Chicago: about 11 h 20 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to SJO, direct.

    See flights ORD → SJO · Skyscanner from about £255 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 2 h 15 from the airport to La Isla.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in JacóAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Surf lessons in Jacó · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Jacó · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

La Isla on Google Maps · Directions

The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.

One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

La Isla does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.

The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small

DayScoreInter­mediateSwellEnergyWindTemp
Sun 18Oct495 ft14 s919kJ29°C
Mon 19Oct515 ft11 s604kJ29°C
Tue 20Oct583 ft12 s295kJ28°C
Wed 21Oct634 ft10 s352kJ28°C
Thu 22Oct515 ft11 s518kJ28°C
Fri 23Oct525 ft12 s540kJ28°C
Sat 24Oct594 ft11 s395kJ28°C
Sun 25Oct594 ft10 s251kJ28°C
Mon 26Oct523 ft9 s174kJ29°C
Tue 27Oct413 ft8 s108kJ27°C

Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates

  1. Mon 19 Oct
    Travel out

    Direct flight ORD to SJO, then 2h 15 by road. About 11h 20 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Surf Turtle farms

    Best 15:00 to 18:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, wind 2 kn (3 km/h).

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Surf Turtle farms

    Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 4 ft at 10 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Surf Turtle farms

    Best 15:00 to 18:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, wind 7 kn (13 km/h).

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Surf Herradura

    Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, wind 3 kn (5 km/h).

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Surf Gully's

    Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 4 ft at 10 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight ORD to SJO, then 2h 15 by road. About 11h 20 door to door

The plan picks the best of 11 spots near Jacó each day: Escondida, Gully's, Herradura, Jaco, La Isla, Perro Fino, Playa Hermosa Jaco, Roca Loca, T box, The Tree, Turtle farms.

The trip from Jacó, with every spot near it

Rough cost

About £760–£1,415 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.

WhatHow we worked it outEach
Flightsreturn ORD to SJO, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag£255–£530
To the UK airportparking or the train, there and back£35–£65
Hire car6 days, shared£70–£120
Stay6 nights, a mid-range double, shared£170–£280
Food7 days eating out£160–£300
Board and wetsuit5 days, or about £85 to fly your own£70–£120
Total£760–£1,415

Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.

Places to eat near Jacó

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Surf lessons · GetYourGuide Board and wetsuit hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.