Hi - My fiance and I wanted to go to La Casa Que Canta and El Tamarindo for our honeymoon, but we are worried that they may be too far apart to fit into a 10 day trip. I have seen very little on Casa Las Brisas in Punta Mita...but what I have seen seems nice. We figure this is closer to El Tamarindo along Costa Careyes and hopefully not too long of a drive...right? Can anyone tell me more about Casa Las Brisas and how far it is from El Tamarindo? Thanks for the help!

hi again! have only read about it online at tripadvisor, but it gets all good reviews and AAA gives it 4 Stars.
It's about an hour north (maybe 45 minutes) of PV, so that would make it around a 4 hour drive from El Tamarindo -- I've heard it's a 3 hour drive from PV to El Tamarindo...
Good luck, can't wait to hear your final choices!

Thanks Frankie for all your help so far. I'm still trying to gather more info on Casa Las Brisas...but so far what I do know sounds great. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions for me. I'll keep you posted on our progress...Thanks!

Casa Las Brisas is nice but much more contained than some of the other places you mention.
La Casa Que Canta is very nice but I think really too far from El Tamarindo, which seems perfect for you. Flying into Manzanillo and out of Ixtapa seems very complicated, with a long drive in between.
If you want to break up the 10 days with two locations but not spend excessive times driving, I would really consider El Tamarindo and El Careyes.
They are only 45 minutes apart but are quite different in character but have the added benefit of the same owner and manager. While still at one you can be arranging what you are doing at the other.
I would start at El Tamarindo, the open palapa bungalows. Its very beautiful, eco, and quiet. Then for the second 1/2 switch to Careyes, which is small, exclusive, and livlier. More restaurants, more activity, more people, things like a wonderful beach front nightclub with great music, but also tons of Eco things to do. The Jr Oceanfront suites have great views and small pools.
Careyes also has other options like the Casitas with pools, or the really dreamy clifftop villas.

Thank you so much wayfinding! I am seriously considering your suggestion...one that I had not yet considered! What is the difference between the ocean-view suites and the ocean-front suites...other than the obvious...clearly stated in their labels? I am also having a difficult time deciding between the beachfront and palm tree villas at Tamarindo...any thoughts? I am also a starwood gold member...do you have any experience with this and do you know if these starwood resorts give free upgrades, etc? Thanks so much for all of your help...much appreciated...I like the idea of not having to drive far!

Not to burst your bubble, but have you read the recent reviews on tripadvisor about El Tamarindo? This place was on our travel list but has been really bashed recently and may be sliding downhill. Just don't want you to be disappointed on your honeymoon.

Thank you for the warning...I actually have read the reviews on tripadvisor...but felt that people were complaining about things that would be expected here...animals, bugs, etc. On the other hand...I am looking for this type of luxury natural environment...animals and all! I am worried a bit about the food...but hope that by Oct. 06 this will be resolved. I think I'm willing to take the risk...and it gets good reviews on fodors.

I was going to suggest the same thing. We have gone to both resorts twice. Love both. El Careyes was just in October again. Tamarindo last October. We have combined Tamarindo with Grand Bay one time & Las Hadas another time, flew into Manzanillo. We combined El Careyes with PV last Oct & before stayed there the entire week. There is also Las Alamandas driving south from PV. The Oceanview are in the center of the U shaped resort & on the 2 & 3rd floors for great views & a outdoor jacuzzi. Beachfront are of course on the small beach area. It is such a small resort I can't see how it would matter. We had a palapa on the beach every day & there are only about 8 of them! From all you have said I think you will love Tamarindo & Careyes. We lvoed seeing the animals, last time Coco the fox came to dinner, we've had cotomundi's come for breakfast to get our jelly & actually opened the outdoor service room frig to steal a candybar! I kept thinking my husband was taking them!It was so cool. Anyway...good luck...

Thanks PeggyE! I will check out the other places you mentioned. I love the coatimundies...they were all over Costa Rica and I loved it!
Out of the ocean view and beach front suites...which feels more open air and which is more private...I would like to have both if that's possible? The descriptions and pics are not clear to me. Do they both have large terraces with outdoor jacuzzi/pool? Thanks for all of your help!

I believe there are 6 jr suite oceanview with patio open air jacuzzis..that is where we have stayed. The beachfront comes in a few different floorplans, some with inside, some outside jacuzzis, you would have to pin it down with the resort. I think the oceanfront are a bit more private but the beachfront have more open air area. Of course!! More animals at Tamarindo (not like Costa Rica though!) but you could take a jungle tour out of PV & canopy tour there if that is what you like. Of course the more people complain, the fewer animals they let stay around. Have you look at differentworld.com for pictures of the resorts & room types?

Thanks once again! I have looked on differentworld, and I think every other website I can imagine. I just can't get a good sense of what the inside and outside of the rooms are like from the pics I have seen. I will have to call the hotel or one of these travel sites to try to get a better sense of the options/differences. Anything else you can think of let me know...

The long reply:
I defer to Peggy on El Tamarindo, I play golf there all the time but only stayed there once years ago. It is very beautiful, a 2000 acre eco reserve owned by a Mexican multi billionaire who has done this as a labor of love.
Careyes-my favorite place in the world.
The hotel does upgrade for Starwood Gold, but the Jr Suites= Oceanfront which the staff considers the best, are usually booked, because there are not many of them. The one on the north side second floor is a real dream. The best view, of both the ocean and pool and beach and also very private. The splash pool is on the outside deck and the room itself has windows on both sides. What I would do is book that and then try to get them to upgrade you to the 2 bedroom Casita on the beach. The Casita which is the most south, is the best, super private, super spacious both indoors and out, and direct beach access.
Before you go if you have any questions, call the hotel and ask for the manager Thomas Jecklin. When you check in Cesar will help you at the front desk. The people here are very nice, they want you to enjoy your stay.
Not mentioned is that the restaurant will set a table for you on the beach, surround it with candles, give you your own waiter and create a magical experience.
I also love the bar which has huge oversized sofas near the water where you lounge and watch the sunset, nothing quite like it.
And while Coati Mundi won't visit you in the room they are easy to spot away from the hotel along with igauana, crocodiles, all imaginable tropical birds, and in the ocean giant sea turtles, dolphin, whales.

I was wondering which room that was on the north side of the beachfront, thanks, I am going to request that one next time! Do you remember the room number? Yes, they create a wonderful dinner atmosphere. We had bags of candles on the ground lined out to our table overlooking the water with tiki torches & two waiters. And very good food. Go for it mishi, it's all good! And personally, I like the beachfront at El Tamarindo. Both resorts are owned & operated by Starwood now.

Just beyond and out of view of the swank Four Seasons at Punta Mita and a collection of expensive vacation homes, this posh six-room villa-style refuge overlooks secluded Playa Careyero. Arriving guests are greeted at the airport, ushered through customs, and chauffered to the villa. A heavy wooden door opens to the lush tropical gardens and courtyards that wrap around the inn, designed by architect Marc Lindskog, who retreated here after a career of designing hotels.

The villa displays Vallarta-style architecture and design with white stucco walls, tile floors and patios, thatch and tile roofs and guayaba wood balcony detailing. A gracious well-trained staff and two welcoming miniature Italian greyhounds greet arrivals. There is no registration desk, as guests are escorted to their rooms and offered refreshments.

The bar is open and included in the room rate as are the gourmet meals comprised of organic herbs, fruits, vegetables, and fresh seafood and prime meats. The meals alternate between Mexican and international dishes. The innovative chef attracts outsiders who may make reservations for a prix–fixe dinner.

All public areas and guest rooms overlook the pool terrace, as well as the sand beach. Guests have privileges on the private Jack Nicklaus golf course at the Four Seasons Resort as well as several other award-winning courses. Every summer a sea turtle release takes place on the beach. Onsite diversions include the pool, the beach and an indoor gym.

Guest quarters are simple and elegant, displaying a rustic elegance with regional arts and crafts set against whitewashed walls topped with crown molding. All have hand-carved armoires, headboards and doors, and colorful paintings and textiles. The huge showers in the baths are lined with hand-painted tiles. French doors open to private balconies and ocean views. Paired twin or king pillowtop beds dressed with cotton linens and canopies, remote-controlled air conditioning and ceiling fans, minibars, thick towels and robes, and purified water are standard. Due to the remote location of this hotel, there are neither TVs nor land-line phones.

A cell phone is available for emergency calls for guests. Some suites have outdoor living rooms surrounded by tropical landscaping and others have in room flowering gardens. There is a seven-night minimum during holidays. 6 rooms.

Let me know if you need more information on this resort. It basically is given a 4 star rating, but only due to its small size and lack of some conviences such as tv, telephone ect. I think anyone would be completely happy here.

-Amy Fusco