I’m Christopher Bell, 45, and I picked Jaco Beach for one big reason: fishing. I’d heard about the charters out of Los Sueños and wanted a place where I could chase fish by day and still enjoy beach life and nightlife by night. Jaco turned out to be exactly the right home base. I stayed in a Central Jaco Airbnb Vacation Rental that gave me quick access to both the beach and the road to Herradura and the marina.

Four experiences made the trip: heading out on the water with Los Suenos Marina Finishing, an exhilarating ATV Jungle Ride on a non-fishing day, cold beers and good food at Puddlefish Brewery Restaurant, and an oceanfront dinner at el Hicaco Restaurant. Fishing out of Los Sueños was a dream—calm seas one day, choppy adventure the next, and a mix of catches that kept things exciting. The ATV tour let me see the hills and rainforest behind town from a completely different angle.

My days started on Jaco Beach, watching the light come up over the hills and feeling the warm water on my feet before heading to the marina. Taxis and Ubers made getting from Jaco to Herradura easy, and drivers always had a story or local tip ready on the way. On non-fishing days, I used the same taxis and local buses to explore Playa Hermosa, other stretches of coastline down toward Esterillos and Bejuco, and some of the inland viewpoints where you can see the jungle rolling down toward the Pacific. Everything felt safe and manageable, even with early-morning departures.

The people around Jaco and Los Sueños made the trip feel friendly from start to finish. The fishing crew worked hard, joked with everyone on board, and seemed just as excited as we were when we got a good fish on the line. ATV guides were patient and focused on safety, while still keeping the mood light. Staff at Puddlefish, el Hicaco, and smaller sodas around town were welcoming, quick with recommendations, and happy to talk about life on the Central Pacific coast.

At night, Jaco gave me plenty of ways to unwind after long days in the sun. Sometimes that meant a simple drink at a beach bar while listening to live music and watching the waves in the dark. Other times it meant heading into a casino or busier bar to soak up the nightlife and chat with other travelers. I always felt safe walking back to my rental, even after late nights; the streets were active, well-lit, and full of people enjoying themselves.

By the end of the trip, I realized Jaco and nearby Herradura offer the best of both worlds: world-class fishing and a lively, welcoming beach town. With mountains and rainforest behind you, the Pacific in front, and locals who genuinely seem to love sharing their home with visitors, it’s hard not to start planning your next trip before you’ve even left. I know I’ll be back on a boat out of Los Sueños again soon.