I’m Angela Green, 33, and this was my first real solo vacation. I chose Jaco because it looked like it had just the right mix of beach, nightlife, and safety. I stayed in a Stylish Jaco Beach Airbnb Apartment and from the first morning, with the sound of the ocean rolling in, I knew I picked the right spot.

I built my days around four things: Took a Surfing Lesson at the Jaco Surf School, a sweaty climb on the Miro Mountain Hike, wandering and shopping at Jaco Walk Open Air Shops, and dinner at Tacobar Restaurant where I discovered I can, in fact, eat shrimp tacos three days in a row. Everyone—from instructors to waiters to taxi drivers—felt genuinely happy to help me explore their town.

When I wanted to roam, I hopped over to Playa Hermosa to watch the pros catch waves, then headed to Herradura for a softer marina vibe, and even down toward Esterillos for a quieter, endless-stretch-of-sand kind of afternoon. Taxis and Ubers were easy to get, fairly priced, and I felt safe every time. The bus system was simple enough that even with my basic Spanish, I never felt lost.

One morning, a local pointed up as I walked the beachfront path and showed me a pair of scarlet macaws crossing the sky. The whole moment lasted maybe thirty seconds, but it’s one of my favorite memories.

At night, I let myself drift—one evening it was a casual bar with live music, another it was a small casino where I played a few hands and people-watched, and on my last night I just walked the main strip with a cold drink, listening to different playlists bleed into each other from open doorways. The atmosphere was fun, relaxed, and most importantly for a solo traveler like me, it felt safe.

I came to Jaco to prove to myself that I could travel on my own and actually enjoy it. I left feeling more confident, more rested, and already planning who I want to bring with me next time. Jaco made solo travel feel not just possible, but easy and genuinely joyful.