We’re Brian Johnson (39) and Laura Brown (37). We picked Jaco because we wanted something easy—beach, good food, and nightlife we could walk to. Our home base was a Central Jaco Airbnb Vacation Rental just a few minutes from the sand, and it turned out to be perfect.

We built the trip around four highlights: Paddle Boarded in Ocean, a thrilling morning at Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park, dinner at Tsunami Sushi Restaurant, and a late, low-lit stop at Mynt Lounge Jaco. Every cab driver, server, and guide we met seemed happy we were there and excited to point us toward their favorite spots.

Daytime meant options. We spent time watching surfers at Playa Hermosa, wandered the marina in Herradura, and grabbed a bus down toward Esterillos for a more laid-back beach afternoon. Transportation was simple—Ubers and taxis when we wanted door-to-door ease, buses when we felt like riding with locals. Everything felt safe, straightforward, and surprisingly stress-free.

One of my favorite moments was a random tip from a surf instructor who told us exactly when to be on the beach for macaws at sunset. We showed up, and sure enough, they crossed the sky in bright red pairs while the whole horizon went gold.

Nights were where Jaco really shined for us. We hopped from beachfront bars with live music to a few hours of gambling at a local casino, then over to Mynt Lounge for hookah, cocktails, and people-watching in a chill, upscale atmosphere. The vibe was fun and social but never sketchy, and we always felt comfortable walking back to our place together.

By the end of the week, we had a little loop of favorite spots and a running list of things we want to try next time—more hikes, more day trips, maybe a deep-sea fishing charter out of Los Sueños. Jaco made it easy to relax and even easier to imagine coming back year after year.