Hi Everyone! This website is amazing with all the information I've gotten so far!

I am planning a trip to Costa Rica for Feb 2010. It will be the first time visiting! We are planning to stay in Arenal for 3-4 days. We are thinking of staying at either Arenal Observatory Lodge or Lost Iguana Resort...all recommended from this site!

We are then thinking of traveling to the pacific coast.

I'm not sure where to stay, once we arrive at the coast! I'm looking for ideas!

We are looking to surf, deep sea fishing, beaches, and interacting with the locals! (Ticos?)
Those going are 28-34 years old.

I've looked at Paradisus Playa Conchal and the Ocotal Resort along with Flamingo Resort. What are peoples thoughts regarding these hotels?!

Any suggestions would be very helpful!
Thanks in advance!
Heather

Our first time in CR, we stayed at Arenal Paraiso and it was great. We also visited the Observatory Lodge and though it was a bit more rustic, I think it has one of the best views of the volcano anywhere not to mention the scientific exhibits and other stuff that's there! It's pretty cool. We then drove down the coast to Quepos and Manuel Antonio and stayed at Villas Nicolas, which were great! The Overlook at Turtle Beach in Uvita is nice further down the coast, south of Dominical. Then we went to the Osa. I love Iguana Lodge and Bosque del Cabo. You'll find lots of people here who love both with good reason. They're both great. Bosque del Cabo is amazing with the wildlife. It's a great experience whereever you stay. Have a great trip!!

www.paradisus-playa-conchal.com

best AI in CR less local contact

www.pointbreaksurf.com nice surfing area

or Mal Pais www.moanalodge.com or

www.hotelcasachameleon.com

Have fun,

I'd second the recommendation of the Arenal Observatory Lodge--a truly unique place not only for Costa Rica but probably for the entire world. It certainly has its drawbacks compared to other luxury places, but you can get luxury anywhere--the same can't be said for amazing views of a volcano and spectacular wildlife viewing.

We really liked Montezuma (actually, we loved our resort the Ylang Ylang moreso than the town). Manuel Antonio also has a great beach and the park of course.

We love the Lost Iguana - have stayed there several times. AOL is cool because it's right on top of the volcano, but it's a long bumpy road to get there, so you'd have to be prepared for that. I'd take a look at tripadvisor and see which one better suits you. LI is a little more posh.

Thanks everyone for great view points and suggestions! Keep them coming! The more input I get the better!

Thanks again!
Heather

You might also check out Silencio del Campo; it gets consistently good reviews.

We just got back from a great two weeks in Costa Rica. We stayed in La Fortuna the first two nights (flew into Liberia), and loved the little town. It would be a great place to stay if you want to interact with the people. We stayed at Hotel Carmela. It's smack dab in the middle of the town, and it was clean and pretty, and Brian, the young front desk man, couldn't have been nicer. They serve a good breakfast, and let you park your car in a gated courtyard. Also have a little pool, and little balconies. My 18 year old enjoyed walking around town on his own (and the internet cafe), and we enjoyed the shops and several of the open air restaurants. My 13 year old made friends with several of the town dogs, who we decided are the true owners of the town. He named them Porkhammer and Goofy. We drove down the Observatory Lodge road at night to see lava (we lucked out, and saw it for a minute or two), and it's quite a drive down a very bumpy road. I think that you'd be mostly interacting with other travelers if you stay at the Observatory, though it may be a lovely experience.

Mainly, though, I'm responding to tell you about a great place to stay on the Pacific Coast. Villa Vista Mar on Playa Ocotal (villavistamar.com). It's a BEAUTIFUL villa with three apartments, great pool, amazing view of the ocean, and great hosts, Ed and Lorrie. It's very inexpensive, and just amazing all the way around. You have to drive down to the beach (or do a ten or so minute walk), and you'll see monkeys down there at dusk. Also you'll hear them (howler monkeys) every day without fail, and you'll think that you're in a Jurassic Park movie. One howler monkey walked across the patio when we were sitting there, and then rested in a tree for awhile. It's close to the town of Playa del Coco, which will give you a chance to interact with the Ticos, and also close to several good dive shops. My husband had a great experience diving (sharks, turtles, dolphins), and we all had fun snorkeling at the beach. The beach is black sand and salt and pepper sand, and the water is clear, and it's just beautiful. They take fishing and diving boats out from there. Villa Vista Mar is on the same road as the Ocotal Resort that you mentioned. My husband went up there to talk to them about diving, but I didn't, so can't report, though he said that it was a hike down to the beach from there, and that the views are great.

Hope this helps.

I tend to disagree with one of the above posts, hopefully without offending anyone! We've been to Samara, Carillo, some of the less developed beaches. I find these beaches more isolated with fewer options should you enjoy more restaurants, activities, etc. There isn't opportunity to interact MORE with the locals at Playa Samara/Nosara than there is in the Potrero/Flamingo/Conchal/Brasilito areas.

I would hate to see you discount Playa Flamingo, Conchal, and that area just because there is more development (read: more Americans and Europeans). There are still plenty of locals as well.

Playa Flamingo is a great bargain on a beautiful beach. We love to go to nearby Playa Penca near Playa Potrero (10 min. away) and enjoy those beaches simply because there are a lot of local people enjoying them as well. For sunset, we head back to Playa Flamingo, where some 75 or so people gather religiously for the setting of the sun. Tourists and locals together. There are always several Costa Rican families staying at Playa Flamingo. Last month, our little granddaughter enjoyed playing with the Costa Rican kids in the pool--and there were lots of Costa Rican young people as well (your age and younger. . .well. . .ALL ages). We've gone there for years.

Also close to Playa Flamingo is Playa Brasilito, a great little town for meeting locals. It is a typical small Costa Rican beach village. It has gotten a lot BUSIER in recent years, but it still maintains its local flavor very well. A drive up the beach from Brasilito (yep, right on the beach) will take you to Playa Conchal. You don't have to stay at Paradisus in order to enjoy this beach. It's great to spend a few hours out of the day there on the beautiful crushed shell beach. It is a great gathering place for Costa Rican families enjoying one of their country's most beautiful beaches. There are some craft booths (no one bothers you) and a few food/drink vendors. It's great fun with beautiful blue water and good snorkeling over by the rocks on the right as well as water sports more to the left.

My opinion is that, if you were to base yourselves at Playa Flamingo (Flamingo Beach Resort--fabulous pool, FABULOUS!), you'd be in a great spot to explore to the north as well as to the south. Out of Portrero, you can take the funky little Monkey Road (easy to do), which is a great short cut on a rural road (decent) to the Hermosa/Coco Beach/Ocotal area. Up here check out Playa Panama--rarely anyone BUT locals there. Nice little beach.

In the Playa Flamingo/Potrero/Brasilito/ area there are SO many excellent restaurants (pick up a guide book) so I would never recommend the all-inclusive plan that Flamingo Beach Resort offers.

Good luck and enjoy!

By the way, Tamarindo to the south of Playa Flamingo, and Witch's Rock to the north, both offer excellent surfing. Deep sea fishing out of Playas del Cocos to the north. Probably out of Flamingo as well.

Bookmarking Shillmac's info

Great info from shillmac as her usual. Where did plumboy stay btw, was that Potrero? That was a lovely beach.

shillmac is now a movie star btw

Oh man, I didn't want Percy to find out! yourself!

Plumboy stayed at Conchal Hotel in Brasilito, right? He loved Playa Penca, though, and it is a great beach!

Yeah, I stayed at Conchal Hotel in Brasilito -- it was great. We rented a car and drove to Potrero and the lovely, lovely Playa Penca. I'd stay at Conchal Hotel again, but I also would seriously consider Hotel Brasilito, shillmac's fave. Looks like an amazing bargain.

And, yes, I'd say that staying in Brasilito totally allowed for interaction with mostly locals. Aside from a handful of restaurants and a couple hotels, it's relatively undeveloped in the traditional sense. Go there!