I’m Rebecca Hernandez, 31, a nurse who usually spends nights in bright hospital hallways instead of under the stars. I took a week in Jaco Beach to reset, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed. I stayed in a Downtown Jaco Beach Airbnb Apartment that let me walk almost everywhere I wanted to go.

Four experiences stand out clearly: a refreshing Waterfall Tour in Bijagual, a lively evening at Orange Pub for Dancing, dinner at Green Room Restaurant, and a laid-back afternoon wandering Jaco Walk Open Air Shops. Guides and staff were insanely kind—everywhere I went, I felt genuinely looked after.

On other days, I explored the surrounding region: I watched surfers in Playa Hermosa, took a quick ride up to Herradura and the Los Sueños area, and rode the bus down toward Esterillos just to enjoy a quieter, more open stretch of coastline. Taxis and Ubers filled in when I didn’t feel like thinking about bus schedules. Everything about getting around felt easy, safe, and intuitive.

The people here were what really made the trip special. A barista at a local café told me about her own dream trips between making my cappuccinos, and a taxi driver spent half the ride telling me about national parks around Quepos and Manuel Antonio I should see next time.

At night, Jaco flipped into this vibrant but still comfortable nightlife scene: live music, dance clubs like Orange Pub, casinos that glowed in the humid dark, and a steady stream of happy, relaxed people. I felt safe walking back to my apartment, even after late nights of dancing and talking with new friends.

As someone who spends most nights under fluorescent lights, trading that for tropical air, ocean sounds, and neon reflections on wet pavement felt almost unreal. Jaco gave me back some energy I didn’t realize I’d lost. I’m already talking with a couple of my coworkers about making this our next group escape between shifts.