eva_m

I am considering a trip to CR in mid-March with a friend--male to celebrat the end of my treatment for breast cancer.

I live in Maine, so somewhere warm is a must.

After reading so much about Costa Rica, I am overwhelmed by the "adventure-style" trips most people take in CR.
I looking for some input on where might be the right CR destination for me. I bascially want to sit in the sun, read, maybe a little light kayaking, and do one or two cool day trips--see monkeys, etc...I also prefer not to drive for hours and hours from San Jose where I'd fly into.

My priorites are:

Hotel ON the beach
good swimming waters
Four Seasons girl, without the Four Seasons budget.
Do not like mega-resorts
restaurants close
safe area for tourists

I would also be interested in a cool city-girl-roughs-it-a-bit type of lodging.
Thanks for any suggestions. I've always received such great help on this board.
Eva

Guy18

I'm not an expert on Costa Rica, but I did spend some weeks there about 10 years ago and have been planning a trip back myself. You might want to consider Manuel Antonio as the right balance between au natural and luxury. It's on the beach and adjacent to a stunning (although I hear increasingly touristy) national park nearby. Lots of wildlife (monkeys and sloths abound) and trails through the forest. Touristed enough that whatever adventure excursions you want will be available. Do some research and you'll find a very upscale hotel, I'm sure.

jamesg

i would recommend the Tamarindo area. Great beaches, inexpensive beach house rentals. Mid-March weather in that area will be dry and very warm. rental recommendation would be through RPM(they have their own site). Veryu economical area for food and other provisions.

eva_m

Thanks for the quick reply. I will check out those areas. Someone on this board described "Tamarind" area as Mad Maxx post nucluer, so that put me off. Is that a correct description???

cesca

Sugar Beach hotel in Playa Pan de Azucar would be perfect for you. We love it there. And, no, I am in no way associated with them.....just really like it there.

ewesthoff

Regarding the driving time from San Jose, Manuel Antonio is about 3-1/2 hours and Tamarindo is 4-5 hours, and San Jose really isn't close to any beaches, so you will have to drive and catch an additional flight, which is easy and normally quite inexpensive compared to paying someone or renting a car. You also have the option of flying into Liberia, northern CR and the beaches are within a half hour to hour away. Good luck and have fun.

Dyer

I am 52 yrs. old and we took our 18 and 21 yr. old children to Tamarindo in May for 6 nights and we loved it there. We stayed at the Hotel Capitan Suizo, an 8 minute walk south from Tam. on the beach. We think the Ville Alegre Bed and Breakfast in Langosta (an 15 minutes walk south of Capitan) would be a great place to stay also. Go to www.visittamarindo.com (chamber website) and click on lodging/accomodations and activities. There was plenty to do, check out JandCtours (Buena Vista Combo Tour), Mandingo Sail, snorkel express and just walking on the beach early morning was great. The sunsets (where you can thank your higher power that you are able to watch his/her sun go down!) are awesome. It wasn't so busy the end of May. I am a 4 1/2 yr. breast cancer survivor (4 1/2 yrs. since my last chemo) and there is no place I'd rather spend every vacation than Costa Rica, so you've made a good choice. I want to explore other locations but my husband really liked Tamarindo, as did the kids. My son had been to the Caribbean side the yr. before. There are monkeys at the Hotel Capitan Suizo, great pool where you can see the ocean or walk the FEW STEPS to be on the beach! Enjoy and let us know how your trip was eva_m.

SassTraveler

Capitan Suzio in Tamarindo is the answer. Easy peasy, right on the beach. Monkeys and iguanas right there. Tour desk is great, including close and easy kayaking trip.

Can you fly right into Liberia airport? Much closer to Tamarindo.

If you need a deal on cheap overnight hotel near San Jose airport, try Brilla Sol. About $40 including airport transport and dinner. Basic but safe and friendly.

My other favorite is La Paloma lodge in Osa penninsula. Really off the beaten track. Beautiful, off the beaten track. Great food. Great people. 3 or 4 nights is fine. Fly Sansa or Nature Air hoppers from San Jose.

swim

Sugar Beach, as "cesca" mentioned, nice place, but for you it is far from everything, even from a little village and long drive from SJ. The Nicoya Peninsula is very nice if you land in Liberia. Tamarindo is a bigger tourist place, the Hotel Capitan Suizo is really good, I like smaller, quieter beaches. If you have a car, you can visit Playa Grande, Playa Conchal too.

jf77389

We loved Samara. Paved road all the way.
Laid back beach town. On the beach is the Fenix(small, we loved it) or the larger Las Brisas del Pacifico.