Nightlife Hotspots in Costa Rica

Discover popular Costa Rica nightlife hotspots and other activities to do at night.

“Pura vida” — an informal expression that many Costa Ricans take to heart and live by.

It literally means “pure life,” and it perfectly captures the locals’ relaxed, laid-back attitudes. But just because they’re laid-back doesn’t mean they don’t know how to let their hair down when the sun starts to set.

Indeed, Costa Rica’s nightlife is widely regarded as one of the most lively and entertaining in the world.

You can see this for yourself when you read up on the following Costa Rica nightlife reviews:

Partying with Celebrities at Jacó Blu Beach Club

This world class beachfront bar offers stunning ocean views and sits in front of an open-air structure surrounded by tropical palm trees.

But don’t let the laid-back seaside atmosphere trick you into thinking Jaco Blu is just a chill beachfront establishment; this iconic hotspot can get pretty busy late at night until early in the morning.

It is so well-known that even Costa Rican celebrities frequent it. There are VIP tents available for rent if you want some privacy while partying. Don’t forget to order a plate or two from the bar’s restaurant, which is known for serving some of the best food in the beach town of Jaco.

Enjoying Live Music Performances at Zi Lounge

If Coco is on your itinerary, make sure to stop by the Zi Lounge, an upscale bar-restaurant in the heart of the charming area.

It’s just a hundred meters from the beach, making it an excellent location for private parties or activities. From 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., it has the city’s longest happy hour promo.

It’s the ideal place to watch your favorite televised sporting events, with numerous flat screens strategically placed around the venue. Nightly performances by Coco’s top DJs are also available to live music fans.

Drinking Chiliguaro at Bar EL ANCLA

This hangout is known for its beach-bar vibes — with ocean views, sand tables, and ice cold beer welcoming all its guests.

It’s a great place to people-watch in the late afternoon, but at night, it gets even better. The crowd gets very energetic to the jams mixed by the resident DJs, who play loud music from large speakers installed at certain areas around the establishment.

Whether you stay for a few hours or party until the wee hours of the morning, you must try some shots of chiliguaro, Costa Rica’s popular cocktail that will leave you buzzed and with a serious hangover the next day.

Dancing to Western Pop Sounds at Le Loft

Are you feeling a bit nostalgic for the sounds of America?

Then you should head to Le Loft, a contemporary dance bar in the heart of Jaco’s nightlife district. It is popular with tourists and locals alike because it plays high-octane Western dance music and serves American drinks.

It is open until 4:00 a.m. and provides a range of premium services, such as bottle service, as part of their VIP package.

Free Ladies’ Drinks at Orange Pub

This newly remodeled bar is another place where a lot of locals like to hang out.

It is so popular that it is always crowded at any time of the year, regardless of whether it’s the peak or low season for visitors.

From early evening until dawn, the dance floor is packed with clubbers dancing to the best live music in Jaco. The DJs spin a seemingly infinite selection of reggae, reggaeton, and hip hop songs.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the bar hosts stimulating go-go dance shows. On Saturday nights, up until midnight, ladies’ drinks are on the house. If you have something else in mind besides dancing, the establishment also has table football and billiard amenities.

Living It Up at XTC Disco Bar

Complete your Costa Rican trip with a stop at XTC Disco Bar, one of the newest and most exciting ones in the country!

With their sexy and eye-catching gyrations, go-go dancers at this bar help to heat up the action on the dance floor. There is plenty of booze to go around, and there are frequent promos on drinks.

If you’re going to this disco with a girlfriend, she’ll be in luck because every night at XTC is ladies’ night! It also hosts themed parties on a regular basis, such as Halloween Nights.

An exciting view of the entire Jaco strip can be seen from the hotel’s second-floor balcony.

Other Costa Rica Nightlife Activities

If you want to explore Costa Rica’s nightlife, dancing the night (and early morning) away isn’t your only choice.

Aside from the lively nightlife scene, this incredible country is renowned for its remarkable biodiversity and rich culture.

Thus, night tours are also popular with tourists. When visiting the country, you can sign up for any of the following tours, depending on what you want to see:

• Nocturnal Wildlife Tour - At night, guides will drive you through some of Costa Rica’s jungles to see certain species of wildlife that are only active during the night.

• Turtle Nesting Tour - This tour includes a nighttime stroll along the Marino Las Baulas National Park’s coast, where you can spot green turtles swimming in from the sea to lay their eggs on the shore.

• Tiquicia View Point - If learning about the local culture is something you want to do, this tour will provide you with plenty of opportunities to do so, as it brings you to some of Costa Rica’s best cultural shows and views.

• Bioluminescent Kayak Tour - In a kayak, you’ll set out to explore the Gulf of Nicoya, where the waters are said to contain a unique form of algae that is luminescent in the dark.

• VIP City Bus Evening Tour - If you want to restrict your exploration and focus on the San José nightlife scene, sign up for this evening bus tour to view San Jose’s rich history through its buildings and infrastructure.

The Future of Costa Rican Tourism

Much like the rest of the world, Costa Rica’s lively tourism and nightlife industries were also impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic when the country closed its borders on March 18, 2020.

It did, however, reopen its borders to air travel on November 1, 2020. Nighttime establishments such as dance halls, bars, pubs, lounges, discotheques, and the like have also been permitted to reopen on the condition that they follow specific health protocols.

These trends, along with the alleviation of Costa Rica travel restrictions, indicate that life in this laid-back country is gradually returning to normal. In the next year or so, perhaps, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Costa Rica nightlife for yourself.