gta694

we are planning a 2wk trip to CR, by bus.
After Poas, Arenal, and Monteverde, we'd like to relax for a few days at the beach.
Does anyone know of a nice one, not too built up, where we could rent a cabin, simple, not too expensive, and easy to get to by bus??? Thank You!

Percy

You will have a wide selection of cabins and small hotels in Tamarindo.

Also Coco Beach has soome cabins almost right on and facing the cheap...they are probaly quite cheap.

Coco Beach and Tamarindo are town,so you will have the option of walking about a town and sort of shop a bit just for something to do.

Playa Hermosa is a beach only with some nice cabins both toward the beach area and also some across the road, which would be about 2-3 blocks from the beach.

At Hermosa Beach you can have a nice meal and or a drink at a place called Gingers, or just sit on the deck and have a beer and watch the people go by.

At Coco Beach I nice place for any type of meal , is Louisianna Bar and Grill... it is on the second floor with a wide open entrance.

If you just want something cool..have the ice cream with lava(chocolate) ..yum yum !!)

However , there is no shortage of nice little places to eat.

Percy

Percy

ttt

must be trouble at Fodros again

Percy

shillmac

Percy has excellent suggestions. Another option (and close to Tamarindo) is Potrero. It is a very short distance (5 minutes) from Playa Flamingo (Americanized, not much town, but very beautiful beach). Playa Potrero would give you a nice feel for rural life in Costa Rica as well as a beach location with a few rentals available. The entire area from Flamingo to Tamarindo would be fun for you to explore. You could stay one place, then hop on the bus to visit the other places. Also, Flamingo Beach Resort right in town (and on that beautiful stretch of beach) is an excellent place to stay for the buck, in my opinion.

Another place that comes to mind (but wouldn't be for everyone) is Playa Brasilito between Tamarindo and Flamingo. There is a little hotel on the beach (RIGHT on the beach) called Hotel Brasilito. Very inexpensive, good restaurant. Small town--several good restaurants. Camaron Dorado is excellent.

The Coco Beach/Playa Hermosa area would be one way to go and the Tamarindo/Flamingo/and everything in between also a good choice. I'd probably lean more toward the latter just because I think it offers more options.

shillmac

Hi Percy! Did you just get back from a trip? If so, how was it? Hope you and Vi (right?) had a great time!

shillmac

gta694: Go to today's wwwticotimes.net (Costa Rican newspaper in English). There is an article (click on weekend) about Playa Coco and some condos--I think Mapache is the name. Might interest you if you are thinking about this area!

Percy

Hi shillmac, you gave gta694 some good advice as always.

Yes, Vi and I just got back ( yawn) from Costa Rica ( 16 days) and I am just recovering from the 7 hour flight but cannot complain because a direct flight for almost 7 hours is better than airport hopping !!

I stayed at the Fiesta Premier and all I can say is what a lovely place.

Some of the tours I took were:

1. Beach Hopping from Tamarindo to Coco Beach..to Hermosa Beach ..to Panama Beach.

2. Turtle Egg Laying Tour at Playa Grande.

3. Palo Verde Tour
4. Monteverde
5. Rincon de la Vieja
6. Nicaragua ( 16 hours ) what a trip!!!
6. 4 hour sailing from Playa Panama and out to the sea. You sure get a different perspective of the land contour,going out and coming in.

7 Toured about from Liberia to Filadefia, Santa Cruz , Nicoya, did the whole area but not to Samara.

8. From Liberia all the way down to Sardinal , stopping to see a private Zoo farm ( just past Canas but before Juntas) and saw almost every conceiveable animal in Costa Rica ...amazing!

Also stopped to see the multiple Waterfall just about a mile out of Bagaces.

Also off to Santa Rosa Park as I always wanted to see the Museum and arch to the Los Heroes of 1856.
As you know this area was the battle ground places for several battles for Costa Rica's Independence.


I will do a report on the Turtle Egg Laying Tour and also on Nicaragua as these have not been done ,at least not recently.

How was the weather you ask !!! 90F was the coolest day...

Take Care

Percy

shillmac

You've been to our favorite stomping grounds in CR! I love Guanacaste!

Yet so many of those things we haven't done--gives us more reason to return once again! Santa Rosa definitely on "the list"--also the waterfalls at Bagaces.

I'm so glad you had a great time. The sail sounds like a lot of fun. And yes, I'm sure the country is beautiful from that angle as well!

Glad to hear you liked Fiesta Premier. We've stayed at the one near Puntarenas, and have a friend who works at the new one. Did you by any chance see Roberto? He is on the activity/entertainment staff.

Merry Christmas to both of you!

Percy

shillmac

Yes,I was waiting for you to ask about Roberto.
He and I walked the beach together several times and I have pictures of him and I.

I asked him :
"Do you know shillmac"?

he said:
"Yes, but I am trying to forget, you would have to mention her name, now the painful healing has to start all over again."

I had this answer to you planned from the moment I met Roberto !!! . Ha ,Ha.!!!

Seriously ,though, Yes he said he knows you.
He is a nice looking fellow.

He showed me my first view of the Howler Monkeys... in the trees just back of the Resort.

You can hear them very clearly as you are having breakfast by the pool each morning

We had Vargas Tours all the time. Ricardo Vargas is terrific. Small tours only, no hotel hopping to pick up lots of other people etc. I could go on and on.

Merry Christmas to you also.

Percy

Jessie_

Playa Potrero is a beautiful place and I enjoyed my homestay there for a week with a wonderful family.

Unfortunately, it may be 10 minutes by car but it is a 30-45 min walk on the beach or along the road from Flamingo, which is also called the monkey trail because of all the monkeys hanging around in the trees along the way. It is a pretty walk but would take up a good bit of your time.

There are just 3 public buses a day to Potrero so timing could be a little tricky unless they have added some recently. Particularly if you are coming from someplace other than San Jose. Jacques up at Pension Santa Elena would be a good person to contact up in Monteverde for bus info. It is a 6hr ride by public bus from San Jose. I took a private transport up to Monteverde from Flamingo and it was a 4hr trip so it would take a lot longer by bus. There aren't many taxis in that area (Potrero).

An alternative to Flamingo Beach from monteverde would be an inexpensive shuttle. Flamingo Beach is very pretty but as was mentioned very N. American. There isn't much there although you can take some great tours. There won't be much in the way of inexpensive cabins in that area. If you travel light you could walk to Potrero.

Not as cheap as the public buses but a direct trip are the shuttles. About 6 hrs. There are stops along the way which is what accounts for the added time.

Hitchhiking is not uncommon along that road between Flamingo and Portrero and often people will stop and ask you if you want a ride.

Percy

ttt

for shillmac!!!

shillmac

Yeah, Jessie, (Suzie?) I've hitched on that road! I suppose you have as well. I was staying in Brasilito and missed my bus to class one morning.
So happened a 20 something student missed it as well and it was SHE who flagged down a passing vehicle. The chica was nervier than I, but I felt better doing it since there were 2 of us! We've offered some rides on that road as well!

Percy, LOL! Actually, Roberto is more a friend of my kids since he is their age, but my husband and I have visited him at a couple of different hotels where he was working the past 3 years. He's a pleasant guy, and does an excellent job with activities, etc. A good people person. He probably didn't know who you were talking about, however. The name "Shillmac" wouldn't mean anything to him. How was his English? He used to send e-mails to our family in English and I finally told him just to do it in Spanish! He speaks better than he writes. We haven't corresponded in about a year now and haven't seen him since July, 2003. So glad to know he is well.

At any rate, I hope we are talking about the same person and I am glad you met him. Send me a photo and I'll return to you a photo of my husband and I with him at Tambor a couple of years ago. [email protected]

"Painful healing--!" You're a character, Percy!

Percy

shillmac

But I told him your real name and the state you were from and he said he knows you!!!

How did I know you real name?

I have spies in your City !!!( just kidding)

He is from Nicaragua and maybe about 21 to 26 years old.

I will dig up his picture and send it.

Percy

Percy

shillmac

many times after I write a message and then clcik on "post my reply"...it does not show up ,so I have to go back and send another using the ttt ...hmmmm

percy

shillmac

Thanks, Percy. I received the photos and was SO delighted! Yes, you found the right person; that's just great--makes me want to hum "Small World"!

gta694

thanks everyone for all your suggestions, looking into things...
Shillmac, why is Playa Brasilito 'not for everyone'?

shillmac

Oh, I don't know. It is just a little town on the highway between Playa Conchal and Playa Flamingo. There isn't a "nice" hotel there, and many folks require that, if you know what I mean! We like the smallness of the town, the little Hotel Brasilito on the beach, and the true Costa Rican lifestyle encountered there. Very Tico!