Arenal & Tamarindo
 

Hi

We are staying at the Arenal Paraiso and the Barcelo Playa Langosta.Has anybody stayed there and what are they like ?

Does anybody have a contact for the dive centre at the Playa Langosta

Thanks

I stayed at the Paraiso this year. It is in the best area for viewing the volcano at this time. Between Tabacon and the Paraiso is the best area and includes Montana del Fuego.
The deluxe bungelows are nice and have mini fridges and hair driers. Not a super fancy place but very nice. They have an enclosed front porch that faces the volcano and an open back porchon each of the bugelows. There is a volcano heated swim up pool and the breakfasts (included) include an omlet station. Just up the road towards Tabacon is a little open air restaurant called El Novillo. It has very good food and you can sit outside and watch the volcano while eating.

We stayed at Arenal Paraiso for 2 nights in August 2001. We stayed in a deluxe bungalow. Very rustic, all done in wood, but clean. The only things that bothered me were: mattress too soft and a strong smell of disinfectant/antiseptic coming from the bathroom.
I agree with Suzie that breakfast was very good, especially the omlets which are made with local free-range eggs. I would not recommend their restaurant for dinner.

Hi Iza,
I thought the mattresses were wonderful after having spent several nights up at Rara Avis. The beds there were just thin mattresses on top of a piece of plywood. Yuck.

The only dive center operating directly from Tamarindo (which will save you a lot of travel time) is Agua Rica Dive Center in Tamarindo. Claudio and Toni, the Italian owners, are very knowledgeable, experienced, relaxed and go out of their way to make your diving experience unforgettable.
You can contact them by phone (506) 653-0094 or through email: [email protected] .
Happy diving! Rudy and Odette, Playa Tamarindo, www.geocities.com/casalaloma , www.geocities.com/travel_scuba