RHR

Just got back from Costa Rica yesterday. Four nights at Hotel Parador in Manuel Antonio, and 3 nights at Casa Corcavado Lodge.

I will help with any questions about these hotels, cab drivers, restaurants and activities.

We will be returning for a second trip.

rdp

Very interested to hear about Parador. We are booked there in May for 4 nights and have heard mixed reviews (mostly due to ecological issues). Thanks in advance.

ardie514

How did you get from Manuel Antonio down to the Osa? Did you drive? fly? We are considering spending 3 nights outside Puerto Jimenez in early June after spending a couple of nights in MA. We will have a 4x4, but am considering either driving down to the Osa and then trying to return our rental car at Puerto Jimenez and flying back to San Jose, or returning the car in Quepos and then either taking a bus or a taxi to the Osa and flying back to San Jose. Any suggestions? Thanks so much.

RHR

We found the place to be one of the nicest and cleanest hotels in the area.

In terms of ecology you will have to be more specific.

The area in general is somewhat (relatively speaking) populated and I would imagine that the hotel is as conscious about the enviroment as the next place in that area.

They have their own hikeing trail that was full of monkeys and various other types of creatures, which led down to a very (albeit rocky) clean looking shore line.

There is a beach about 200 meters down the road from the hotel that was somewhat of a turnoff. It is frequented by local families who have picnics, and we found the beaches on Long Island to be more appealing as far as we were concered.

There were nice beaches inside of the park as well as just outside the park.

Enjoy the hotel, its really nice and just a short bumpy cab ride from the main road.

rdp

RHR - thanks for the info.

Did you find cabs to/from the hotel at night readily available (dinners out, etc.)?

Also, what are your top picks for activities? We are NYC'ers looking for some freedom from the city.

faithie

Wow ! We love Beisanz Beach , probably our favorite beach , with " beach 3 " inside the park a very close second .... True , locals do love the beach as well , which was a plus for us ! Glad u enjoyed the other beaches and Hotel Parador , u do not hear much about it here , so info. is always appreciated .... Faith

RHR

rdp-We too are from NYC. We hooked up with a great cabbie named Carlos. I will post his number for you as soon as I find his card. English speaking, funny, and very prompt. You tell him what time you want him to pick you up at the hotel and he's dependable. It's about $5.00 to get anywhere in the area. To get back to the hotel, you can flag a cab down (it's about $3.00) or just call Carlos from wherever you are.

We did a zip line thing (Canopy Safari)
for a full day. I would do a half day next time.

Restaurants- Karolas good fresh fish, good service, nice atmosphere, good drinks.

We also ate at Bambu Jam- Best meal we had, however, it seems as if the place caters to a gay crowd (not that there is any thing wrong with that) so if that offends you don't go.

Also had dinner at Mar Luna-just mediocre with verrrry slow service. Us NYC'ers are tough.

Lunch at El Gran Escape one day in Quepos was OK and across from the beach we had lunch at the Marlin.

Will get back to you with other activities later.

RHR

ardie- we drove, but since time is so precious, I would fly next time. We actually had tickets to fly, but do to the length of the layover after arriving in SJO we just blew off the tickets and decided to drive. I always like checking out new scenery, but if your pressed for time fly.

We flew from Quepos to Palma Sur on a Nature Air flight that was arranged by our hotel. It seems as if the flight we took was not on the schedule.

RHR

Faithie- I'm curious to know what you love about Beisanz Beach?
Maybe we missed something.
Beach 3 is definetly nice, but the thing we liked about the public beach outside the park was the availability of an umbrella. Oh yeah, at Beisanz we saw a baby porcupine in tree, that was neat. By the way, I can see how one can become addicted to CR.

faithie

Wow .... what I love about Beisanz ..... probably its small cove shape surrounded by dripping foilage and jungle , very exotic , the little stream that meanders through the middle , and with each visit changes its course . The fact that there are NO beach umbrellas there , which gives me the "feeling" I have discovered a secret beach in the heart of Central America . Where more locals visit than gringos ! ( they know a good thing !!lol) ) The view in the distance of the mountains which to me are breathtaking , I just lay there and stare as the clouds hover just at the top . Simply that it is a very natural little beach with chickens , dogs , and the odd begging duck ! Not to mention that it is usually very calm for swimming , with beautiful soft sand , along with some good shell hunting and finding ! It is a bit nostalgic for me as well , on my first trip nearly 14 yrs. ago with my girlfriends , we were shown this beach by locals , and no-one was EVER there , it felt very special .... STILL find it has great raw beauty , and great ambience to boot ! Like I said I love the beaches inside the park as well , especially Playa Blanca , or Beach #3 , beautiful !! Ahhhhhh...... Wish I was There !!! My 2 neices are there right now , and oddly enough Beisanz is their favorite as well , says she finds it so beautiful she cant even read her book , she just stares and stares ..... Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder , and also depends on what u r looking for (re:beach chairs ) !!! I have promised myself I was going to stop talking about this little beach ... I want it kept "less" discovered !!! What a meanie huh !!? Glad u did not like it !! lol , Faith . ( just teasing )

RHR

Fathie-I guess you told me. I missed alot of what you see and just to let you know, I do prefer the less traveled.
For us, Manuel Antonio was just a place to start the decompression.

No trip I have ever taken compared to what we discoverd on the OSA Peninsula and I truly hope this area remains the way it is for a long long time to come. However, I have a feeling that it won't.
I would imagine that Manuel Antonio was that way at one time.

Almost all of our next trip will be spent on the OSA, perhaps another area than where we were.

faithie

Lol !! Was not trying to tell you , just expressing , u r allwed not to like it ! And yes , Manuel Antonio has CHANGED a LOT in 14 yrs. , actuallly made me very sad .... My advice to people is to get there quickly , I do not like change , but it is inevitable . I would love to make it to the Osa area , a must when our kids are a bit older , also the Montezuma ,Malpais area looks interesting . But for SURE Osa is on the top of our list !! I recently read a thesis , a study done all about the development of tourism in M.A, I wish I could find it to post it here , very interesting , gives an indication just how much has occurred in M.A. in a short time span ..... I will be looking for your trip reports about the wonders of The Osa Pen. !!!! Cant wait to get there . Faith

jules2_1

This might sound silly but is Beisanz Beach in MA or Osa. what are some beach recommedation in MA? I'm heading to CR and spending three nights in MA. I'm a female traveling solo. Is it safe to take cabs at night? I'm planning on doing the Canopy Safari and a hike through MA National Park. Is the 10am tour the 1/2 day tour? Does anyone have any recommendation for a massage?

rdp

RHR - thanks again for the info and I will keep an eye out for your additional posts (Carlos, etc.).

Faithie - I always enjoy "reading" your enthusiam for CR.

I am looking forward to Beisanz beach so I can join the Great Debate. I wish that I could have worked OSA into our trip, but this is our first visit to CR and we figured the "highlights" would be a good starting point. Plus, I am more into the natural setting than my wife so we are keeping this trip relatively light on true nature adventure. I'm hoping to turn her on to the great outdoors, she is quite a city girl (but, I'm a very lucky man nevertheless). We are still young, so there is hope yet - keep your fingers crossed. She doesn't know it yet, but I've already started planning our 2nd trip.

ardie514

Thanks for the advice RHR. Did you fly directly from Quepos to Palma Sur or did you have to go back via San Jose? How long was the drive from MA to Osa? Hoping we can squeeze in a few nights on the Osa. Thanks.

faithie

RDP , Good idea to ease your wife into Costa Rica , M.A. is a good spot for that , great natural setting with all the creature comforts , its for the soft adventurer in all of us !! When you are there you will discover your own treasure beach !! Some people adore the huge long stretches of beach such as u find in Anguilla , while others prefer something different .... LOL , RHR has every right not to be crazy about Beisanz , I was longing to be there last nite , having recieved an e-mail from the gals who had just come back from snorkelling there , ahhhh .... NO FAIR !!! Reading The Lonely Planet guide for Panama ,hmmmm. , looks interesting ...

faithie

Oh ! Probably its the girls fave beach because its FREE ! Students u know ! Beach 3 is awesome , but watch your lunch ..

rdp

faithie - Anguilla was our favorite vacation thus far and not just b/c it was our honeymoon. That place is amazing - beaches, food, pampering and the most genuinely nice people.

Another beach treat that I loved was one on Culebra (short distance from Vieques and PR)...a very rustic trip, under-developed little island, but amazing and empty beaches...though I hear that it is picking up a little lately.

faithie

Just a little something thats good to know (although I am sure u allready know ) Before u see them , Costa Rica beaches in noo way compare to Anguilla , Grace bay T.C. , etc.etc. A world apart .... Very beautiful in their own sense (more wild and exotic ), but not at all in that vein .

patga

faithie, I too have a great love for Beisanz beach. You describe it so perfectly. Going again in May and can't wait to visit the beach again. The first time my husband and I went we were the only ones there. I too felt like I had discovered a secret beach where no one had ever been.