I’m Megan Rivera, 30, and I decided to celebrate a milestone birthday in Jaco Beach. By the time I left, I’d already made up my mind: I want to spend every birthday here from now on. I stayed in a Contemporary Airbnb Apartment near Jaco Beach that became party HQ, relaxation zone, and sunrise viewing spot all in one.

Four birthday-week highlights stand above the rest: Surfing on Jaco Beach, an unforgettable Horseback riding by Sunset tour, a big night out at Jaco Vice Nightclub, and one of the best meals of my life at Lemon Zest Restaurant. Surfing made me feel strong and alive heading into my thirties, the sunset ride along the hills and beaches was pure magic, Jaco Vice gave me the “dance until you can’t anymore” night I wanted, and Lemon Zest made sure my actual birthday dinner was next-level.

During the days, my friends and I bounced between beach time and adventures. We walked Jaco Beach every morning, then used taxis and Ubers to go to Playa Hermosa, Herradura, and the Los Sueños marina. One day we rode buses down toward Esterillos and Bejuco, just to explore more coastline and take a ton of photos. Transportation always felt safe and easy to figure out, even after late nights out celebrating.

What really made it a perfect birthday trip was how warmly we were welcomed everywhere. Our horseback guides made the ride feel special, taking extra time for photos and pointing out views over Puntarenas that we’ll never forget. The staff at Lemon Zest surprised me with a birthday dessert and sang. Bartenders, servers, and even people we met in line for clubs wished me happy birthday and told us about their favorite places in Jaco, Quepos, and Manuel Antonio.

At night, the town felt built for celebration. We hopped between beach bars, casinos, and clubs, always surrounded by people in a good mood. Jaco Vice ended up being the centerpiece of my actual birthday night—great music, friendly crowd, and a wild but still safe-feeling atmosphere. Walking back to our apartment in the early hours felt comfortable; the streets were lit, busy, and full of other groups heading home with the same “best night ever” smiles on their faces.

By the time our trip ended, Jaco had set a new standard for what a birthday should feel like: ocean, mountains, rainforest, adventure, dancing, incredible food, and genuinely kind people everywhere we turned. I’m already planning next year’s celebration here—and probably the one after that too.