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Costa Rica - Beach Trip
Posted on 8/22/22 at 12:19 am
Posted on 8/22/22 at 12:19 am
Have an old bookmarked message from LSUPimp talking about Costa Rica, so thought I would bring up this topic again. Appreciate any and all thoughts from him or anyone else.
Wife and I and another couple are planning to head down late January-early February. 4 nights. Currently looking at AirBNB's with a private pool and beach access. Seem to be in the $200-$350/night range for that.
We will have access to a car to go do site seeing one or two of those days. Not really looking for the party scene like we used to. Our goal is to get a nice place, have a pool, buy food and booze and chill out for 4 days/evenings. We've done all-inclusives with this same group, but wanted to mix it up, be more mobile if warranted.
Where are the best places to get away from the party crowds but still have access to good food/local flair? Best beaches? Seems from the AirBNB searches that Playa Hermosa/Jaco or getting up towards Tamarindo are our best bet. Anywhere we should be looking that we aren't?
Wife and I and another couple are planning to head down late January-early February. 4 nights. Currently looking at AirBNB's with a private pool and beach access. Seem to be in the $200-$350/night range for that.
We will have access to a car to go do site seeing one or two of those days. Not really looking for the party scene like we used to. Our goal is to get a nice place, have a pool, buy food and booze and chill out for 4 days/evenings. We've done all-inclusives with this same group, but wanted to mix it up, be more mobile if warranted.
Where are the best places to get away from the party crowds but still have access to good food/local flair? Best beaches? Seems from the AirBNB searches that Playa Hermosa/Jaco or getting up towards Tamarindo are our best bet. Anywhere we should be looking that we aren't?
This post was edited on 8/22/22 at 12:20 am
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Posted on 8/22/22 at 2:41 am to LSUShock
Recently back from first trip to Costa Rica. Playa Hermosa is great - quiet old beach town. Tamarindo is party central - offered cocaine and weed ad nauseam while walking the beach. Tamarindo was way too touristy and busy for my taste.
Posted on 8/22/22 at 7:37 am to LSUShock
Consider a trip to La Fortuna-no beach-but maybe better for your group if laid back is the goal. Hot thermal springs and super laid back. The Royal Korin Hotel is usually $250 a night. The Tabacon is excellent. In the same place there is a rustic place called Hotel Mountain Paradise that goes for about $150 or less that I love-very rustic and the bungalows have private pools.
Los Suenos Marriot is right by Jaco and just a 90 minute trip from San Jose. It has immediate access to Tortuga Island for a great day trip of cocktails and snorkeling.
Jaco has all kinds of spots, but it's tourists central and doesn't seem like the spot.
There is one place I HIGHLY recommend in Tarcoles called The Nativa Resort. It is the epitome of non-tourist and laid back and has incredible ocean views and is secluded and filled with nature. This is a great unit LINK. You are 20 minutes outside of Jaco and you'd love it for what you described.
And ofcourse Manuel Antonio is renowned.
Los Suenos Marriot is right by Jaco and just a 90 minute trip from San Jose. It has immediate access to Tortuga Island for a great day trip of cocktails and snorkeling.
Jaco has all kinds of spots, but it's tourists central and doesn't seem like the spot.
There is one place I HIGHLY recommend in Tarcoles called The Nativa Resort. It is the epitome of non-tourist and laid back and has incredible ocean views and is secluded and filled with nature. This is a great unit LINK. You are 20 minutes outside of Jaco and you'd love it for what you described.
And ofcourse Manuel Antonio is renowned.
Posted on 8/22/22 at 10:22 am to LSUShock
Research Montezuma. It would be my top choice. The waterfalls just west of town are unreal. Cabo Blanco is a nature preserve right there and the beaches are deserted.
Don’t get stuck by missing the last ferry out of Puntarenas, you don’t want to sleep there.
Don’t get stuck by missing the last ferry out of Puntarenas, you don’t want to sleep there.
Posted on 8/22/22 at 12:00 pm to Gaston
Montezuma was our favorite as well.
We drove overland to get there (we were coming down from Tamarindo area), and that's a pretty sketchy drive.
Las Catalinas area is pretty cool as well if you want to stay up in Guanacasta area.
We drove overland to get there (we were coming down from Tamarindo area), and that's a pretty sketchy drive.
Las Catalinas area is pretty cool as well if you want to stay up in Guanacasta area.
Posted on 8/22/22 at 1:10 pm to hogfly
We tried to drive up the west coast from Montezuma to Tamarindo as well…failed, had to go all the way back and go around. That coast is dotted with absolutely beautiful towns and surf.
Posted on 8/22/22 at 3:59 pm to Gaston
Leaning towards the Santa Teresa area. Has the combination of beautiful beach views and beach access if warranted with plenty of options for great private pools and lounging. Close to Montezuma.
Posted on 8/22/22 at 6:38 pm to LSUShock
That area is amazing. Surfed just north of there in Hermosa.
The last dot, north on the coast, in Manzanillo starts an amazing stretch of beach that IS the road. Where it ends is where our journey north to Tamarindo ended, momentarily. We unknowingly swam with crocodile’s right got there too. Had no idea they were placed there to keep locals from congregating…found out at dinner that night. Crazy beautiful area with sloths and iguanas and monkeys and likely shite that can eat you in the jungles. We camped all up that coast.
The last dot, north on the coast, in Manzanillo starts an amazing stretch of beach that IS the road. Where it ends is where our journey north to Tamarindo ended, momentarily. We unknowingly swam with crocodile’s right got there too. Had no idea they were placed there to keep locals from congregating…found out at dinner that night. Crazy beautiful area with sloths and iguanas and monkeys and likely shite that can eat you in the jungles. We camped all up that coast.
Posted on 8/22/22 at 8:05 pm to LSUShock
quote:
Leaning towards the Santa Teresa area. Has the combination of beautiful beach views and beach access if warranted with plenty of options for great private pools and lounging. Close to Montezuma.
Great area, lots of nice houses/villas with pools, good beaches, and a few towns with decent/good restaurants, but very laid back.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 9:12 am to NOLALGD
The only issue so far seems to be there is no convenient way to get there from Liberia or San Jose. You're looking at 4 hours regardless, but I guess at least the view will be solid throughout.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 10:38 am to LSUShock
From San Jose I think you have to take the ferry in Puntarenas. The cab drivers don’t mind the long trips, may have to shop around at the airport. The drive will be great if you start it early enough. Getting on the ferry the same day you just got on a plane is a trip.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 10:45 am to LSUShock
My recommendations are based on this factor "4 nights". some of these recommendations have WAY too much travel time for a chill CR beach vacation. These are more 7-10 day recs, imho. I want to land early and be at my destination by 3 or 4 pm.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 11:40 am to Lsupimp
quote:
My recommendations are based on this factor "4 nights". some of these recommendations have WAY too much travel time for a chill CR beach vacation. These are more 7-10 day recs, imho. I want to land early and be at my destination by 3 or 4 pm.
I dont think costa rica is a great spot for only 4 night. Manuel Antonio is a nice beach but I think you can find nicer beaches in another country and be at your destination 30 min away from the airport.
My favorite spot in costa rica was monteverde.
This post was edited on 8/23/22 at 11:42 am
Posted on 8/23/22 at 12:15 pm to diat150
quote:
I dont think costa rica is a great spot for only 4 night. Manuel Antonio is a nice beach but I think you can find nicer beaches in another country and be at your destination 30 min away from the airport.
Suggestions
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:19 pm to LSUShock
Do what you’re planning. Leave the US at the asscrack of dawn and go travel. One night in San Jose at the end may be worth it if you can stretch it a day.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:27 pm to LSUShock
quote:
Suggestions
I just got back from roatan. direct flight from houston and beach where I stayed was 30 min from airport. I stayed at a boutique hotel named brisas del mar. pool and they have a small beach, but you can walk to west end beach in 10 min or take a water taxi to west bay beach for $5 10 min boat ride. hotel has a bar seating near the pool and serves food. lots of great places to eat also 10 min walk away.
costa rica is great but for a short trip Id look at some other options. roatan, curacao, turks and caicos, etc. all will have nicer beaches and easier to get around. Ive been to costa rica twice. great place but pretty much everything is a journey to get to.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:11 pm to LSUShock
Spirit (I know I know) from MSY to Ft Lauderdale leaves at 7 am. Its a 2 hour flight. Ft Lauderdale to SJO is 2 more hours. You will arrive in SJO and be through customs by 12:30. Figure another hour to take the shuttle to Budget rent a car and get your car. Drive to the closest nice area (I suggested The Jaco/Los Suenos areas) and you will be there by 3:00 or so.
That secluded Nativa Resort property (link above) is beautiful and even closer, high above the rainforest with a view of the ocean in the distance and the famous Tarcoles river in the other. It's in a reserve type setting and just pristine. Beautiful 2 bedroom condo . Take the car to Jaco and or Los Suenos in 20 minutes. Book a day trip to Tortuga Island and another one 3 wheeling. This is a perfect 4 day scenario. It's not the jewel of CR but it is still awesome and better yet you don't have to spend all day traveling. If you want a resort setting consider Los Suenos Marriot.
That secluded Nativa Resort property (link above) is beautiful and even closer, high above the rainforest with a view of the ocean in the distance and the famous Tarcoles river in the other. It's in a reserve type setting and just pristine. Beautiful 2 bedroom condo . Take the car to Jaco and or Los Suenos in 20 minutes. Book a day trip to Tortuga Island and another one 3 wheeling. This is a perfect 4 day scenario. It's not the jewel of CR but it is still awesome and better yet you don't have to spend all day traveling. If you want a resort setting consider Los Suenos Marriot.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:14 pm to LSUShock
I loved the beaches in Manual Antonio National Park. Maybe the best I have ever been to. The fact that you have to pay to get into the park keeps the riff raff out and the crowds to a minimum. Plus I like walking through a rainforest jungle with all kinds of plants and monkeys then suddenly it just opens up to a pristine beach with palm trees, clean sand and warm water. I guess the downside is you have to tote your beach gear on a hike that would be longer than if you stayed at a resort on the beach. There are some nice places to stay near the park and Quepos has great deep sea fishing. There are express shuttles to/from San Jose airport.
I heard Jaco and Tamarindo were grimey and catered to the druggies, surfers, roamers and hostel crowds so I chose Manuel Antonio as my beach stop. But there are also nicer beaches in the north if you fly into Liberia.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 3:55 pm to LSUShock
LSU shock, you have the right idea going to Santa Teresa. Sure, it’s fun to go stay in a high end mega resort but Costa Rica’s charm is about its unique Airbnb’s that afford you an opportunity to change the way you experience your surroundings. You should check out the Sea Monkey House in Mal Pais, approximately 2 miles south of Santa Teresa, adjacent to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve and the Mal Pais Canopy Tour & a 200 meter walk to Fisherman’s Beach. The house is a bamboo jungle house with a great pool and a cool jungle experience where you wake up to the sounds of howler monkeys in trees above the house. You get all of the great things about Santa Teresa (food and nightlife) with the peace and tranquility of the jungles of Mal Pais. If you want to get there quicker, take the 30 minute flight on Green Airways from SJO to Tambor and then a 30 minute cab ride from Tambor to Santa Teresa/Mal Pais. hope this helps!
LINK
LINK
Posted on 8/23/22 at 4:37 pm to Topic
have you stayed there? I feel like the bugs would destroy you at night.
two distinct things I remember about arenal and manuel antonio were the bugs kicking our arse at night, even in the rooms.
two distinct things I remember about arenal and manuel antonio were the bugs kicking our arse at night, even in the rooms.
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