Has anyone stayed at hacienda guachipelin or Rincon de la Vieja lodge? We are a family traveling for 9 days in March to Tamarindo and Arenal and we are wondering whether to try hacienda guachipelin as well. We will be flying in and out of Liberia. Any advise is appreciated.

Very nice place. Beautiful, near the mud pots! We visited here for lunch one day and, although we've not seen the rooms, I wouldn't hesitate to spend some time here!

I just visited here a few weeks ago.
Very nice place and there is lots to do in this area.

You would also enjoy the Buena Vista Lodge in Rincon de la Vieja.

Both are near canopy tours hanging bridges, horse back riding, mud baths and a large water slide.

Also you are not far from Liberia ,if you want to zip over there for a day of shopping and browsing.

And remember it is not "Liberia", it is
"Lee- Veddy- Aah".. !!! just in case a Costa Rican says Lee- Veddy -Aah , you will know what he means !!!

I also have not seen the rooms but the place is nice

Percy

Rincon Lodge is several miles closer to the National Park than Guachiplan; [a 20 minute walk from Rincon Lodge to the Park entrance.]

The cabins at Rincon are very comfortable, the staff friendly and the food good.

Locals recommended Rincon Lodge over Guachipelin due to location and ambience. Rincon Lodge is Tico owned.
Our stay there was a highlight of our recent trip in Nov. 2004.
Please let me know if you would like any more specific information.

cheers

Jerry

Thankyou. I was very undecided over whether to go to this area and which lodge to choose from. I have had trouble getting any reviews about them. This is helpful.

The Rincon de la Vieja is one of the best parts of Costa Rica, but very "undermentioned" on this board. It just isn't one of the major tourist destinations such as Arenal or Manuel Antonio. It is, however, spectacular. Would be well worth your time.

Percy, did you do the water slide? Isn't it a rush, no pun intended?!

Wow, it's great to hear comments about this seldom-mentioned area of the country.

Susadams, if you are leaving in March, now is not too early to begin contacting one of the lodges. Last spring I had a dreadful time trying to book for the summer. Hacienda Guachipelin, when they finally responded a couple of weeks after my e-mail, had no occupancy, even months in advance {tour group?}, and Rincon de la Vieja Lodge didn't respond for weeks, and then only after several attempts to contact them. At that point, I had given up and booked in Arenal instead {and was not disappointed}.

Please, oh please - post a report if you go! It sounds like a great area to visit.

hi shillmac

Yes, we did the water slide.

1800 feet and you reach bottom in 45 seconds.
I want someone to solve how fast that is in miles per hour.!!

After all of out activities we had a nice lunch at the Bueno Vista Lodge ..then on to Liberia on the way back,it was getting a little dark now as we had a full day at Rincon de la Vieja.

There are lots of billboard signs advertising Hacienda's. !

2 more sleeps left this year !

Percy

Just a note regarding Buena Vista Lodge.
It is many miles from the National Park entrance and trails. If you plan on visiting the park yourself, not on a day tour, I would not recommend Buena Vista.

Jerry

Percy, I'm thinking the guides told us it (the speed of the waterslide) was about 50mph--they may have been referring to kilometers per hour--that makes sense. I assumed 50mph, which seems unreasonable! Don't know if it is correct or not, but the number sticks in my mind. I just remember the huge gush of icy water, screaming, and flying! Tons of fun. Pricey, but everyone needs to do it once!

Yes, only 2 more sleeps! Looking forward to 2005.

Right now, I am preoccupied (as many no doubtedly are) with news from Asia. Our daughter's roommate left LA Christmas morning for a vacation and there's been no news. She's hoping the tsunami struck before her friend had time to get out of Bangkok. It's mind-boggling, isn't it?

Gannetmusic, thank you so much for the personal review. It is always nice to hear of Tico owned hotels. Rincon de la Vieja has been one of my favorite places since first going there about 4 years ago for the first time. It isn't close to many places so it wouldn't bother me to have to travel a bit to get to it from the hotel. Last time I went I traveled by taxi all the way down from Los Innocentes.

Percy and Shillmac, if you are ever in the Bahamas check out the slide at the Atlantis!!

Thanks Jessie I will keep that Atlantis waterslide in mind.

shillmac.... yes , it is that gush of water that you are anticipating just before he raises the gate...then it is whooosh and you are gone!!!!

And yes shillmac he must have been talking about Kilometers because 50 Km per hour is about right.

50 km/ hour is 30 miles per hour.

The actual answer to the water slide is
27.27272727 etc. miles per hour.

I just wanted to be an SA and have someone calculate the answer.!!

Man we think we have problems...just look at Asia..Every country in the world better get on board and help all those poor people.

Percy

ttt

Well, it seemed like 50 miles per hour! Or more. . .

you bet shillmac ,it did seem like more than 50 miles per hour.

The slide is 1800 feet long and the guide sais it takes about 45 seconds to go down.

Maybe the guide is wrong, it seemed a lot less than 45 seconds.!!

In any case it was quite a ride and one that everyone should do if they are in Rinconde la Vieja.

You know the fellow who was in charge of opening that "flood" gate,asked this lady that was going ahead of me, if she wanted to go "fast, medium or slow."

She said medium , so he opened the gate and away she went.

Then he turned to me and said,"there are only two speeds,fast and faster ".!!

If it takes less than 45 seconds to go down then of course the speed would be faster...

In any case it was a "ride" !!

Percy

Thankyou for all the help. I reserved a room at Hacienda guachipelin aproximately 3 weeks ago. I was initially put on a waiting list because they were full but then they got a cancellation within 3 days of my initial contact with them. They have been very quick to return my emails (within 24 hours) as has the Rincon Lodge de la Vieja. I was very torn between the two. They both sound interesting yet it was hard to get reviews from visitors.

Hmmm, didn't even ask about a waiting list! I'm happily surprised that you got such quick responses from both lodges. I wonder if things are different in the "green season".

Percy and Shillmac, that's one thing I love about Costa Rica - the unusual - a water slide - who woulda thunk it?! Sounds like a blast!

I am so looking forward to your trip report,susadams!

Jerry:

I'll be spending 2 nights at Rincon de la Vieja this May in route to Nicaragua and would love to read more details regarding your stay at Rincon de la Vieja Lodge. (I haven't been able to access their website for some reason.)

Thanks

Terri ([email protected])

Hi Terri,

In the next couple of days I will do a trip report of Rincon and Playa Grande, since there seems to be some interest in Rincon Lodge especially. For Rincon Lodge try the website www.rincondelaviejalodge.net - although it is not the best website it does have some photos etc.

Note that I'm a birder / naturalist so my Rincon review might focus a bit more on those areas rather than just 'tourist stuff'......

cheers

Jerry