I’m Donna Baker, 55, and I picked Jaco Beach for a “gentle break” after a stressful year of juggling family and work. I stayed in a peaceful Beach-Side Airbnb Apartment in Jaco with just enough space to feel like home and just enough distance from the main strip to keep nights quiet.

My four favorite activities were early-morning Birdwatching on beach, a scenic Catarata Bijagual waterfall tour, a cozy dinner at Peppers Grill and Seafood, and a sweet stop at Moyo Frozen Yogurt in Jaco Walk. Everywhere I went, people took their time with me—making sure I understood tour details, helping with directions, and sharing little stories about life in Jaco.

During the days, I walked the beachfront and explored Jaco Walk, then took short rides to Playa Hermosa and Herradura, with one longer bus ride down toward Esterillos and Bejuco for quiet, wide-open beaches. Using taxis, Ubers, and buses felt easy, safe, and manageable, even for someone who doesn’t love dealing with transit in unfamiliar places.

The warmth of Costa Ricans impressed me just as much as the weather did. A woman running a small souvenir stand asked about my family back home, and a bus driver made sure I got off at the right stop, giving me a thumbs-up as I stepped down. Everyone seemed genuinely pleased I had come to enjoy their country.

In the evenings, I didn’t push hard on nightlife, but I loved strolling past bars with live music, listening to laughter spilling into the street, and slipping into a casino for a short visit just to enjoy the lights and energy. Even later at night, I felt safe and comfortable walking back to my apartment on well-lit streets with other people around.

Jaco gave me exactly what I wanted: sun on my skin, soft ocean air, beautiful green hills as a backdrop, and a town that felt welcoming and easy to navigate. It’s the kind of place I can see myself returning to whenever I need to step away from everything and refill the tank a bit.