According to the US State Departments website, Mexico should be avoided as a destination for travel. The site offers the general mix of safety suggestions; travel in groups, be aware of your surroundings, etc. This is coming on the heels of ever increasing violence and killings that the police, Mexican army cannot stop. Currently, Mexico’s border towns are lawless but the perpetrators thought to be drug gangs know that hurting or destroying Mexico’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry has a greater impact than the killings of police, soldiers, and civilians.

Surfinjaco.com and many other sites have seen a huge increase in visitors seeking information about Costa Rica. Most are concerned with the violence in places like Cancun, Cozemel, and Mazatlan where they would typically spend their college spring break. Students are increasingly searching for safer destinations for their spring break and are choosing Costa Rica. Just when the global economy was putting further pressure on the tourism industry here in Costa Rica, it is actually grabbing another niche travel market. more…

As many of you already know, Jaco is filled with surfers and champion surfers from around the world. So it is normal for most people to see surfers standing up on their boards. But the look on peoples faces when they see a person standing up on a surf board while holding a boat oar or Paddle ranges from “what is that person doing?” to “WOW!” Officially known as  Stand up Paddle boards aka SUP or SUPS.

Stand up paddle surfing is the most ancient form of surfing or the original form dating back hundreds of years to the south pacific, according to surf historians.  But it was not until recently has the sport taken on new levels in competition. What is great about this type of surfing is that it has greater reach to both genders and age groups. The ease of standing up, maintaining balance, and the greater mobility is the key to this attraction.

SUP surfing can take place in all wave conditions which makes this type of surfing more flexible when choosing to participate and there is plenty of good surf near Jaco for SUP. Traditionally, most surfers live and breath by the change in tides or swells but not so for SUP surfers, they can surf in most conditions. more…