I’m Scott Young, 28, and I wouldn’t have called myself a “beach person” before this trip. Jaco Beach changed that pretty quickly. I stayed in a sleek Contemporary Airbnb Apartment near Jaco Beach and somehow found myself barefoot in the sand every day before lunch.

The big four for me were Surfing on Jaco Beach, a wild ATV Jungle Ride, burgers and beers at Rolling Thunder Saloon Bar, and a late, chill session at Mynt Lounge Jaco. Surf instructors were patient with my wobbly stance, ATV guides made sure we had just enough mud, and the staff at every restaurant treated me like a regular by day three.

When I wanted to mix things up, I grabbed a taxi to Playa Hermosa to watch surfers who actually know what they’re doing, hopped over to Herradura and Los Sueños to walk around the marina, and took a bus toward Tarcoles to see crocodiles and more of the coastline. Transportation was effortless—Ubers, taxis, and buses all felt safe and easy to manage.

Locals were the secret sauce. The guy at a tiny café taught me the correct way to say “pura vida” and then laughed when I said it back. A ride-share driver pointed out different neighborhoods and gave me a mini history lesson on Jaco and the surrounding areas like Herradura and Parrita.

Nights were a lot of fun without ever feeling sketchy. I bounced between dance clubs, casinos, and lounges like Mynt, met other travelers and plenty of friendly Ticos, and always felt comfortable walking back to my apartment afterward with the ocean still humming in the background.

By the time I left, I realized I’d become that person who checks the tide and thinks about when the light will be best for a beach walk. Jaco did that to me. Now the only question is how soon I can get back down here for round two.