We’re Brandon King (26) and Olivia Scott (24), and we picked Jaco Beach because we wanted something easy, exciting, and not too fancy. We stayed in a bright, clean Stylish Jaco Beach Airbnb Apartment that kept us close to the ocean and even closer to the action.

Our four favorite adventures were Surfing on Jaco Beach, a crazy fun ATV Jungle Ride, craft beers at Puddlefish Brewery Restaurant, and late-night dancing at Jaco Vice Nightclub. The people we met—from instructors to bartenders—were upbeat, welcoming, and always ready with local tips.

We used Jaco as our base and popped over to Playa Hermosa to watch serious surfers, took a short ride to Herradura and Los Sueños to see the marina and nearby hills, and rode the bus toward Esterillos for a more chilled-out beach vibe. Everything about getting around felt easy and safe, which made us feel confident exploring more.

Locals were constantly helping us upgrade our plans. A server at a small restaurant scribbled down her favorite waterfall tour in Bijagual, and a surf instructor told us exactly where to stand on the beach to see the best sunset colors.

At night, Jaco turned into exactly what we’d hoped for: music, laughter, dance floors, beach bars, and a couple of casinos for when we wanted that little jolt of adrenaline. Even after big nights out, we walked back to our apartment without ever feeling uncomfortable.

When we got back home, all our photos had the same thing in common—huge grins. Jaco gave us the kind of vacation that feels bigger than just a week off. It felt like a preview of trips we’ll take together for years to come.