I’m Benjamin Evans, 34, and Jaco Beach is now my official recommendation for any group of friends looking for the perfect guys’ trip. We needed surf, nightlife, casinos, and enough adventure to keep everyone happy. Jaco delivered all of that with room to spare. Our group stayed in a Central Jaco Airbnb Vacation Rental big enough to hang out in and close enough that we could split up and still get home easily.

Four experiences really defined the trip: Surfing on Jaco Beach, a day of laughs and bruises at Jungle Paintball, dinner and craft beer at Puddlefish Brewery Restaurant, and a late night hopping between Croc’s Casino Hotel for Gambling and downtown bars. Surfing gave us a daily challenge and a pile of inside jokes. Jungle Paintball took us into the trees and had us sneaking around shouting and laughing, and Croc’s plus downtown casinos checked the “Vegas energy, ocean backdrop” box we didn’t know we needed.

Our days were full from start to finish. We’d hit the beach in the morning, grab boards, and see who could hold the longest ride. After that, we’d either head to activities like paintball, ATV tours, or fishing, or use taxis and Ubers to explore Playa Hermosa, Herradura, and the Los Sueños marina. We even rode buses down toward Esterillos and Bejuco on a “no plans, just see what happens” day. Everywhere we went felt safe and straightforward to get to, even when we split up into smaller groups.

The locals made the trip even better. Surf instructors were patient with the group, happy to joke around but serious about safety. The staff at Puddlefish took time to talk beer and food with us, pointing out their favorites. Casino employees were friendly and helpful, even when we asked a ton of questions about different games. It felt like the whole town was used to groups like ours and honestly happy to see us having a good time.

At night, Jaco turned into a playground built just for us. We bounced between beach bars with live bands, crowded dance clubs, and casinos that glowed late into the night. Even when we stayed out until ridiculous hours, walking back to our Airbnb felt safe. The streets were busy, lit up, and full of other groups just like ours, all riding the same good mood.

By the time we flew home, every guy in the group said the same thing: “We’re doing this again.” Jaco’s combination of surf, adventure, nightlife, casinos, friendly people, and easy access to nearby spots like Herradura, Tarcoles, Quepos, and Manuel Antonio makes it pretty much the ideal guys’ trip base. I honestly don’t know why we’d go anywhere else next time.