Bahia Encantada

The rooms were modern and tastefully decorated, with comfortable beds, thoughtful amenities, and a fully stocked kitchen. There’s laundry in the unit, plus little extras like paddle boards and flotation noodles. The location is excellent, right on Jaco beach and only a few steps from the sand. We enjoyed the ocean views from the balconies and the private rooftop, especially at sunset. We’d love to stay again on our next visit to Jaco.

Getting help with a problem was difficult because they rely HEAVILY on AI for customer service. Still, we had a good experience overall: decent prices, a good location, and good rooms with strong A/C, though the furniture could be more comfortable. Management found my new hiking shoes after they wandered off my porch in the middle of the night and returned them. Hallelujah!

The pool area was well maintained, had free wifi, and security was always around. It didn’t feel necessary, but it was reassuring. Each condo has a different owner, so the experience can vary. Construction on both sides caused some early morning noise. Our unit had a great layout and decor, though I hadn’t realized it was pet friendly. Ask about that if you have allergies or sensitivities.

Anything but Pura Vida! We planned to rent in Jacó Beach for the next few months, but we’ve decided to back out, mainly because of the HOA. The board felt completely over the top, enforcing rules that seemed more like personal power trips than real community standards. The place has signs saying it’s family friendly and that anything “un-family-friendly” won’t be accepted, yet a board member, Brianna, criticized our kids’ behaviour. They can be loud sometimes, but they’re normal children, and her criticism would have been inappropriate either way. She seemed very clearly to be drunk by the pool all the time. My guess is she probably has little contact with her grandchildren. Bahia Encantada says it’s a family friendly environment, but I’m pretty sure we’re being straight up discriminated against because we have children. The beach has potential and it’s nice to be near the ocean, but it’s littered with garbage. I’ve been going out to clean it up, though that doesn’t seem to be a common practice here. Brianna initially said a service dog could stay with us, which is allowed under the rules, and the dog belongs to a U.S. veteran. After someone above her scolded her, she denied ever saying that. The situation was handled incredibly poorly. It was especially disappointing to see so little appreciation for someone who served their country. It came across as entitled and tone-deaf. My husband has now been sitting at the gate for over an hour because they say our guest can’t come in. Apparently she isn’t on a list we didn’t even know we needed. They’re trying to reach the owner of our rented unit, but the whole thing is being handled inefficiently. The environment feels like a retirement community run by people who thrive on power trips, except it’s mostly older men with much younger women. Probably because their wife’s are back in the states and this is where they go to get away from them. There is one genuinely kind and helpful security guard, about the only positive thing I can say. Between the loud ongoing construction, being told our music was too loud despite the construction noise, HOA drama, and an unwelcoming atmosphere even though we paid to be there, it’s no surprise the owner is trying to sell. It’s a shame, because this could have been a great place if it were managed better.