I’m Abigail Bell, 25, and Jaco Beach will forever be the place where my best friend and I realized we travel really well together. Technically, this was my review, but I’m speaking for both of us when I say we fell in love with this town. We stayed in a bright, modern Stylish Jaco Beach Airbnb Apartment close enough to walk everywhere we wanted to go.

Four experiences shaped our trip: Took a Surfing Lesson at the Jaco Surf School, a jaw-dropping Waterfall Tour in Bijagual, dinner at Graffiti Restaurant, and a dance-until-we-couldn’t-feel-our-feet night at Orange Pub for Dancing. Surf school had us laughing from the first wipeout, the waterfalls looked like something off a postcard, and Graffiti’s food and vibe made it our favorite dinner of the trip.

During the day we walked the beach, browsed Jaco Walk, and hopped around the region. We took a taxi to Playa Hermosa to watch surfers at sunset, rode an Uber to Herradura and the Los Sueños marina, and caught buses down the coast toward Esterillos and Bejuco just to explore new stretches of sand. Every ride felt safe and straightforward—taxis, Ubers, and buses all worked perfectly even for two women traveling together.

The people in Jaco were the main reason we felt completely at ease. A woman at a café in town checked on us every morning, recommended new pastries, and pointed out her favorite lookout spot on the hills behind Jaco. A friendly bus driver made sure we got off at the right stop and even waited an extra second so we could snap a photo of the mountains and rainforest behind town.

Our nights were where Jaco really shined. We hit beach bars with live music, a casino for a little low-stakes gambling, and then clubs like Orange Pub where nobody cared if our dance moves were a bit chaotic. Even late at night, the streets were full of couples, groups of friends, and other travelers, and we never once felt unsafe walking back to our apartment.

By the time we boarded the plane home, we already had a shared note on our phones titled “Next Jaco Trip Ideas.” Between the friendly locals, easy transportation, and the mix of beach, rainforest, and nightlife, Jaco Beach has officially become our girls’ trip blueprint.