I’m Olivia Morgan, 29, and I came to Jaco Beach at a weird moment in my life—between jobs, between cities, and not totally sure what comes next. I figured if I had to think about the big stuff, I might as well do it where there’s an ocean view. I stayed in a Stylish Jaco Beach Airbnb Apartment close to the sand and used it as my base camp for one of the best “thinking weeks” I’ve ever had.

Four experiences really colored my time there: an empowering session of Surfing on Jaco Beach, a peaceful Isla Damas Mangrove Tour, dinner and live music at Mono Verde Restaurant, and an unexpectedly fun night of dancing at Jaco Vice Nightclub. Surfing made me feel strong in my body again, the mangrove tour reminded me how wild and alive Costa Rica is, and Jaco’s nightlife proved that I can still go out and have fun in a totally new place.

My days followed a gentle routine: morning beach walks with coffee in hand, journaling at a café in Jaco Walk, and then hopping around to nearby spots like Playa Hermosa, Herradura, and down the coast toward Esterillos and Bejuco. Buses were cheap and safe; taxis and Ubers filled in when I wanted to move faster. The whole region around Jaco—Puntarenas, Tarcoles, the road toward Quepos and Manuel Antonio—felt like this stretch of coastline full of different moods and views.

The people in Jaco were a huge part of why I felt so comfortable. A waiter at a small restaurant asked how my day was going and then spent ten minutes helping me plan a bus route for a day trip. A woman running a shop in town told me about her own big life move from San José to Jaco and how she’s never looked back. Their stories made mine feel less intimidating.

At night, I let myself go out without overthinking it. Some evenings were low-key: a drink at a beach bar, watching waves in the dark. Others were louder—casino visits, music, and dancing at places like Jaco Vice. I met other travelers from all over the world, and walking back to my apartment late at night always felt safe and manageable.

By the time I left, I didn’t have every answer about my life, but I felt clearer, stronger, and a lot more hopeful. Jaco, with its beach life, rainforest backdrop, friendly locals, and easy transportation, turned what could’ve been a stressful in-between phase into one of the best weeks I’ve had in years.