I’m Gregory Lee, 38, and I picked Jaco Beach after one too many late nights in front of a spreadsheet. I booked a Central Jaco Airbnb Vacation Rental close to the ocean and decided I was going to say “yes” to anything that looked fun for an entire week.

My four big highlights were Surfing on Jaco Beach, a scenic and adrenaline-filled day at Vista Los Suenos Adventure Park, dinner at Graffiti Restaurant, and a smooth, upscale-feeling night at Mynt Lounge Jaco. Each experience made me feel like I’d stepped into a different chapter of the same great story.

When I wasn’t surfing or ziplining, I explored the nearby region: Playa Hermosa for world-class surfing spectating, Herradura and Los Sueños for marina views and jungle-covered hills, and a bus ride down toward Esterillos for empty, postcard-level beaches. Getting around was easy with taxis and Ubers, and I was impressed by how safe and straightforward the buses were too.

The Costa Rican hospitality stood out everywhere. A bartender at a small rock bar in town taught me a few local phrases, a tour guide pointed out wildlife I’d never have noticed on my own, and a shop owner recommended the best time to walk the beach for macaw sightings.

Evenings in Jaco were exactly what I needed after months of office life: bar-hopping with live music, a few hours in a casino chasing small wins, and then winding down at places like Mynt, where the lighting and music make it feel like time doesn’t matter. I walked back to my place each night feeling safe, happy, and pleasantly exhausted.

By the time I got on the plane home, I felt like I’d traded at least some of my stress for sun, salt, and late-night laughter. Jaco didn’t just give me a vacation—it gave me a reminder that life can be lived at a much better pace than my inbox would suggest.