I’m Lisa Miller, 44. I chose Jaco because it’s one of those places where the ocean and the mountains shake hands. I stayed in a Beach-Side Airbnb Apartment in Jaco and woke up each morning to the sound of waves rolling in under soft gray light.

The four things that defined my trip were Ziplining through Rainforest, a peaceful morning of Birdwatching on beach, dinner at Green Room Restaurant, and a day trip to Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls. Guides in the rainforest were knowledgeable and funny, the restaurant staff treated me like a regular by the second visit, and even the folks at the little corner market seemed genuinely pleased to help.

When I wanted a change of scenery, I hopped up to Herradura to watch boats ease in and out of the marina, rode down to Playa Hermosa to watch surfers, and took a bus toward Esterillos and Bejuco for quieter stretches of sand. Transportation was straightforward—taxis and Ubers came quickly, and buses felt safe and easy to navigate with a little attention to the signs.

One afternoon, I stopped at a roadside stand just for a cold coconut. The woman who sold it to me carved it open in two swift moves and then spent five minutes recommending beaches and bus routes like she had all the time in the world.

Evenings were relaxed and social. I tried a couple of bars with live music, spent a little time in a casino just for the lights and sounds, and always felt completely at ease walking back to my apartment along the main strip. The whole town seemed tuned to this friendly, welcoming frequency.

Jaco gave me exactly what I came for: warm water, green hills, kind people, and the feeling that I’d slipped into a more liveable rhythm—if only for a week. I’ll absolutely be back for another round of that balance.