Bahia Encantada

This place is really beautiful. The furnishings are top notch, the kitchen is gorgeous and well stocked. The living room is a little small but it is sufficient. Each room has 3 balconies which is so nice!! The staff is very accomodating, with a nice family feeling.

“Gorgeous !”

Bahia Encantada

Luisa at the pool bar is very nice.

This place has a lovely view of the beach. It is toward the end of town so it is not right in the middle of everything. It about a 2 min drive to the main part of Jaco.

It includes a free breakfast.

“5 Great Days @ Bahia Encantada”

Bahia Encantada

Just got home from 5 days @ Bahia Encantada. Can only say great things about our stay there. We had a 2 BR 2 bath unit right on the beach. 4 balconies gave us great views of the beach and pool. Everything is just about brand new. So much nicer having a kitchen, washer dryer, extra Bedroom and bath as opposed to a hotel room especially since we were traveling with our 18 and 21 year olds. Free wireless internet was also a very nice touch.

Booking the room with Lidia at DayStar Properties was very pleasant and she was helpful in booking tours as well as a great recommendation for a surf instructor for my kids. Without a doubt, surfing with Ishmael was the highlight of my kid's trip. DayStar Properties really has their act together and they are a real force in Jaco Real estate. I would stay at any of their properties in a minute.

Security was at the front entrance as well as the beach 24 hours. Short walk to town or guard @ front entrance can call you a cab for $1-2 into town. Multi-level pool with a swim-up bar beautiful and was lots of fun. Can't wait to go back!

“An Incredible Trip”

Bahia Encantada

We had a similar experience as the first reviewer. The hotel is spankin' new. I had a "somebody pinch me" moment when we first walked in. Everything is very clean and well cared for. Cris the property manager is really great and kind with teenagers wanting to borrow the boogie boards.

We were a little slow figuring out that the bimbos at the pool in the evenings were paid professionals. The second to our last night, one of the bell staff palmed my husband a card with a phone number. I found this particularly offensive since myself and my two children were only about 20 feet in front of them. Once my teenagers figured it out....it wasn't very family friendly.

It also seemed that we had a lot of 45-65 aged single men in small groups that had come down expressly for the purpose of staying someplace nice and being supplied with women. Talk about how to ruin a perfectly wonderful hotel.

I hope management will cater in the future, to the kind of clients that such a beautiful property deserves. For this purpose I could not recommend this hotel for a family vacation.

“The Best in Jaco!!”

Bahia Encantada

This is the best place in Jaco! It was clean and very comfortable! The security was 24 hours and we felt very safe. Very nice place, highly recommended! We got a 3 bedroom for $265/night.

“What a Place!!!”

Bahia Encantada

What a place!!! Arrived at the gated entrance at 2am and was met by two attendants that provided our keys, showed us the condo and assisted with the luggage. Inside the condo we were greeted by towel art in the bedrooms and baths as though we were entering a 5 star resort hotel. The condo was spotlessly clean and kept that way by maid service every other day. And the Pool!!! Wow...big, beautiful and walked out to the beach. We especially liked the convenience not only to the beach, but to the town that is within walking distance from the front gate. Was also please to discover a grocery convenience store and restaurants located right outside the entrance gate. We did not want to leave. And we will go back.

“Good Property but ...”

Bahia Encantada

Our main reason for picking Jaco and this property is 'coz this town seemed to be more developed for tourists and is closed to San Jose and so here are our experiences :

Property : beautiful (we had unit 3A which is the top 2 bedroom right next to the beachfront and pool, this unit comes with a small roof deck with chairs, lounger and tables) but lacking in amenities for kids (eg. pool toys, games, movies, books, etc)

The unit has everything u need but if anyone is partying on the beach, u will definitely hear them (fireworks on the beach, poolside parties, etc). The washer and dryer comes in handy for an extended stay so dont need to bring much. Pool is great but the swim up bar is not open all year round (only during peak season or full occupancy, when we were there, it is 60% but still no service, u r not allowed glassware around the pool so only can drinks, no bottles). There are 4 balconies (2 smaller ones had one rocking chair each and another one off the 2nd bedroom overlooking the pool), one of the 2 smaller balconies leads to the roof top deck. Great place to watch the sun set and hundreds of birds flying around. There is a rest/bar right next to the property, a place for breakfast or a meal if u wish. Weekend nights are a bit noisy with loud music.

For unit details, please see photos. We have no complains about this property (staff are superb and friendly, Cris the on-site manager is always round to help, cleaning ladies will clean ur room every other day) except that "ladies of the night" were hanging out at the pool area as they were 'invited' by some guests who were staying on the property. Not exactly family oriented if u know what I mean.

The town itself has a lot of development (new resorts and retail outlets, at the moment, it is dusty and everyone walking/shopping in their swimwear). I wouldnt recommend it for families with little ones (maybe in a few years).

Tsunami (japanese rest) in town is ok, Aberdeen Angus is great for a grilled dinner (they make their own cinnamon buns and whole wheat bread for breakfast), there are 2 bakeries in town (the one before the supermarket Mas X Menos has good donuts which are only available after 9 am, and those cinnamon/caramel sticks r wonderful) which makes good breakfast choices. There is one restaurant that serve breakfast all day. But the one restaurant that I would highly recommend is a local restaurant that serves up some darn good local food -> Soda Jaco Rustico (one price for as many side dishes u can pile on your plate, with drinks. Be warned : there is always a line during lunch time so get there early or late). U have to try the ice cream (both of them are great) in town.

The fish tacos are great but at US$10 each, u can really spend quite a bit of $ in this town when u r dining out. There is a farmers' market every Fri at far end of town.

Overall, Costa Rica is beautiful, Jaco will become a great town to visit in a few years' time but at the moment, it is a town for those seeking a very casual and beach lifestyle.

Tips :

1) well worth a day trip to Carara, get a guide (US$20 per adult) and average about 4 hours hike/walk. Only 15 mins cab ride from Jaco

2) Waterfall horseback tours - this takes 2 hours and the waterfall is well worth the trip, hiking is also possible though might take 4 hours or more and is for serious hikers

3) Tarcoles Bridge - u can just drive pass this bridge and find crocodiles along the riverbanks for some photo ops.

4) Jaco Beach doesnt offer much sea shells but lots of beautiful stones/pebbles. If u collect these, bring them home and polish them up (Home Depot has some on the shelf chemicals u can purchase to shine these stones up after some soaking and brushing). These stones have a wonderful shine and makes a lovely display in a see through glass container (momento for the kids to remind them of their trip)