For the World Surfing Games in 2009, a giant sign was erected between Jaco and Hermosa Beach that read Jaco, Ciudad de Surf, Tierra de Adventura – City of Surf, Land of Adventure.

Since then, the slogan has faded like the billboard, even though Jaco remains the absolute epitome of the words. Take a walk at dusk along the beach at Calle Morales and watch locals and visitors alike united by the waves in an afternoon of surfing bliss. Try exploring Miro Mountain with the monkeys, frogs and toucans and you will find the true spirit of Jaco.

Then, when the rain comes, don´t hesitate to hit the town for coffee and explore the local art scene. Tico Pod displays and sells sculptures and paintings created by local artists, including ornate Costa Rican Boruca masks.

Indigenous to Costa Rica, Borucan tribesmen initially created the masks to scare away the invading Spanish conquistadors, and now replicate them to celebrate their cultural heritage.

Stewart Invierno, the owner of Tico Pod, is a firm believer in the words on the old billboard and is hoping to rally local business owners and community leaders to revive the motto.

Pat Hundley and DayStar Properties have been in Jaco now for almost 13 years and he is in full support of Stewart’s efforts to bring back the old motto. Both men believe that one way to resurrect the old slogan is through art and community events.

Having had the opportunity to sit in on the initial discussion, I suggested that we organize a few street art murals to be painted around town with City of Surf, Land of Adventure in mind.

I told them about a friend I´d met while living in San Francisco who is famous for painting vivid and lifelike tropical birds and other rainforest creatures on giant walls around the world.

After showing a few pictures of Ernest Doty’s work, Pat became a fan at first glance and immediately volunteered to take care of plane tickets and accommodations for Ernest and his friends to splash some color across the walls of Jaco.

Ernest and friends will be arriving in Mid-June for a long week of painting the town, starting with the giant billboard outside of the DayStar office (across from Pizza Hut).

Ernest Doty is known around the world for his skills painting magnificently lifelike animals and figures on an extremely large scale.

His murals can be seen all over California and the Western United States, as well as the Philippines, Beijing, Hong Kong, China, Mexico and Guatemala.

Jaco has certainly never seen a muralist of this magnitude, and seldom even in San Jose. My hope is that if such artists exist here in Costa Rica, this initial project will put Jaco on their map, along with the maps of other artists who travel the world sharing their similar gifts with the people.

Without a doubt, there will be more walls to paint even after Ernest and his friends have come and gone.

So far, other local businesses and organizations have shown overwhelming support for this and future street art projects by donating blank walls and money for paint. Rooms Board, the surf hostel off Calle Morales, will be sponsoring an additional mural, while Platinum Gym´s newly built third floor will also be receiving the artist´s painted blessing.

Between Jaco and Quepos, other walls have been donated to the cause as well, but we are still in need of additional donations to pay for more paint.

Any surplus of walls that do not get painted in the short window of time the artists have in Jaco will be used for future projects with local artists and youth outreach organizations. More on that later.

With any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at.

For more information about condos, homes and land for sale in the beach town of Jaco and surrounding areas please contact our Recommended Realtors in Jaco Shawn Fletcher and his wife Hannah Fletcher
 using the simple form below: 

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.