We love the beach and will go anytime we get a chance especially if we don’t have other plans. Playa Jaco, Playa Hermosa and Playa Herradura are the closest to home, Gauchipelin. We’ve been there more times that we can remember. Little did we know there was a beautiful secret tucked away in the mountains near Jaco. This place is called El Miro and if you look hard enough you can spot it from Playa Jaco. 

Our story :

In July 2018, we and our friends decided to discover the secret ruins of Jaco. I had seen pictures of this place but when we got there I was completely awestruck. El Miro is an old mansion with white arches, pillars, spectacular wall paintings and jaw-dropping graffiti. As if all this wasn’t enough it also sports a breath-taking panoramic view of the Playa Jaco.

As it’s hidden it is quite easy to miss this spot. Yeah, we missed it too, a couple of times at that. The entrance is a small turn off near the old Gas station, between Playa Jaco and Playa Hermosa. The station has no name, so here is a picture to help you find it.

The turn off leads into an offbeat road that soon becomes a muddy trail. You could drive all the way up to the entrance of El Miro. But, If you ask the locals, most will recommend that you only go up in a 4×4 but If you drive well, you can take any vehicle to the top. If you ask me, I’d recommend that you park at the foot of the trail or the Gas Station and hike to the top. If you drive you will be missing out on the beauty that the trail has to offer. Not to mention a beautiful lookout (mirador).

You will find a hotel in the starting section of the trail Villa Mariposa Bed and Breakfast 

The hike is well maintained and not tedious. It’s an easy 20 minutes to reach the first viewpoint and another 25 mins to the ruins. On the way up, you will see a lot of birds, different types of flora and fauna and the walls along the trail/road are lined with mesmerizing Aztec-like artwork. 

As this was our first time here, when we reached the viewpoint we thought “Ok, we are here”. We stopped to take-in the view and click some pictures. In the corner we saw a sign board that had a map. On reading it we realized that we were just half-way there and the actual ruins were about 1 km away. Trust me, if you don’t see that map, you may just settle here because its soo beautiful. What can be more amazing than this, you’d think 😀 That would be the ruins further up 😀 

We hung out at the viewpoint for about 20 mins and soaked in the breathtaking beauty. This view point is crazy, it’s like a big balcony from where you can see the entire 4 km stretch of Playa Jaco. On the way from the viewpoint to the ruins we saw a lot more paintings. 

Note:

When you are almost to the top, you will reach a confusing junction, shown below. There is another map here. Make sure to turn left heading upwards. 

 

On reaching the ruins we were so astounded by the beauty of the place.

Once my jaw closed, I looked around and noticed that everyone was going a different way just to explore the place. The walls of the ruins are lined with different genres of graffiti.

The day we went up there it was overcast, and we did not get to see the sunset. But looking around, you’d get the feeling that the sunsets from here are absolutely astounding.

The story behind this place! 

People say that a wealthy man wanted to build his house or restaurant up here as it has the best view of the Jaco coastline. But due to an unfortunate circumstance, he passed away before the building was ever completed. Now the half-built property is used as a tourist spot. Even though this place is incomplete, it’s a 3-story building with white pillars and humongous balconies and a view worth dying for. All we wonder is how marvelous it would have been if it had been completed. We suspect that the man’s name must have been Miro, because one of the signs says “Donde Miro?”, which translates to “Where is Miro?”. But we have not found anything concrete, so I’ll leave you to speculate 😀 

 

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What to bring with you! 

Camera
Shoes
Water bottle
Mosquito repellent (oh how we missed this!) 

How to get there? 

Coming from San Jose, you will need to pass Jaco head down the highway towards Manuel Antonio / Quepos. Roughly 3km from the main entrance to Playa Jaco, you will see the Old Gas Station on the right. If you reached Mirado de Jaco (the big Jaco sign), you’ve gone too far. Bang opposite the station is the beginning of the trail to El Miro. Here is where you will start the hike up to this amazing place! 

Location

Waze: https://waze.com/ul/hd1eyd6zjc
Google :

Tips:

The place is pretty humid as it’s near the beach. So, make sure to carry a lot of water.
If you want to see the sunset, pick a day with clear skies.