Although we've visited both, we haven't stayed overnight at either. We are thinking to revisit one or the other for a few days last week of July. I need a little help in choosing a hotel.

I recall good reviews about a hotel in Montezuma with the word Amor in it! Sorry, I didn't take the time to look it up! Also, can anyone compare that to El Sano?

In the Rincon area, we are thinking of Hotel Guachipelin? Is that how it is spelled? Has anyone stayed there?

Thanks! We plan to combine one or the other of these options with a few days in Flamingo. I know it would be easier to just go to the Rincon, but our daughter will be with us and she's not been to Montezuma or any part of the southern Nicoya Peninsula.

Amor de Mar!

Looking at the Montezuma map it is down the beach toward Cabo Blanco.

Hi! The hotels you are referring to in Montezuma are the Amor de Mar, which is just outside town, near the base of the waterfall and a river and with a huge tide pool for swimming, and the El Sano Banano, which has in-town rooms as well as a beautiful hotel (called Ylang Ylang now) that is a ten minute walk on the other side of town with a gorgeous pool and beautiful beach area. Although we haven't stayed there yet, for our family we booked the fantastic-looking 3-bedroom casita at Amor de Mar for a couple nights, then the Ylang Ylang (also with two bedrooms). We booked these based upon recommendations from this and other sites, as well as guidebooks. They both sound great. Anybody else have personal experience? Websites are Elbanano.com, and amordemar.com. Good luck! We can't wait.

Hey, Shillmac. Does this mean you'll be telling us more great stories and sending images from these new destinations? When are you going? Your entries are great!

Thanks, snorkelluvn, for the kind comments and the advice regarding hotels. We are leaving July 2 for 4 weeks. We have everything planned out except for the last week. Seems like no matter how much time we have, I can never work in all that I would like to do. Doesn't matter if it's 7 days or 28! And I will certainly report back when we return. We are trying out some new places and returning to some old haunts as well.

Thanks also, Donna, for the info!

Our dilemma is in choosing between Montezuma and the Rincon area. And I was mistaken--it was Hotel Borinquen in the Rincon area that I am actually interested in. I have a fantasy of just hanging out there in the country for 3 days doing nothing but a little hiking, reading, mudpots, thermal springs, and just enjoying the beauty of the area. I thought it was a little piece of heaven when we were there on a day trip years ago.

But Amor de Mar sounds so nice. I am a little put off by the distance there and back (traveling with a 6 month old). My husband and I have been there (although we stayed in MalPais), but our daughter has not.

Donna, what did you think about Amor not having AC? Would we just need to request upper floor? The casa also looks and sounds so nice. . . . .

Anyone know anything firsthand about Borinquen as far as the rooms go, etc?

We stayed at Amor de Mar last November. We absolutely loved it. The lawn gorgeous, there are hammocks everywhere and they serve a delicious breakfast. We had a room on the ground floor and didn't have any problems with the heat. Our room was very shaded so we didn't get much sun during the day to heat it up.

Thanks! Amor de Mar is looking better all the time! Decision, decisions. . . .

I'd vote for Borinquen for simply selfish reasons....I want to know what it's like!

Tully, I'm fairly confident that Borinquen is a nice property. We were there for the mud baths and a lunch. The surroundings are gorgeous (of course). And there is a lot to do in the area--canopy, waterslide, horseback, hiking, etc. It seems like it would be a very quiet and relaxing place for a few days of R&R with the baths, the thermal springs, etc.

I think we are leaning toward Amor de Mar in Montezuma, however, simply because Jamie and Isabelle will be with us and Jamie (our daughter) would like to see the southern Nicoya. I'm thinking that Jim and I might save Borinquen for a time when it is just the two of us old folks for some REAL relaxation w/o kids and grandkids!

If you stay there first, let me know. By the way, the pkg is in the mail!

Sorry Jill, we did not stay at Amor, we stayed at ESB Bungalows. And actually that made me think. We stayed in a bungalow and then moved to a suite. You may want to look at the suites at ESB. The upstairs ones, have a large bedroom with 2 double or queen beds, and then a loft with a king bed. Plus a nice balcony, a very large bathroom, plus a little kitchenette thingy with a frig, can't remember what else. We were pleased with everything, and we had lots of good breezes, with all the windows and fans.

Anyway just another choice.

Donna, I'm confused a little. ESB sounds very nice as well, and I know what great reviews it has gotten on this board. But if someone has a car, they can't drive to the resort and back and forth into town? We would have to park and walk on the beach?

I never thought I would use the words "have to" when speaking of walking on a beach, but with a 6 month old in tow, we are planning a little more carefully than usual!

I received an e-mail from Albert at ESB, and the "domes" just have one queen bed. The Jungle King has 2 double beds and is on the first floor (probably a good thing). He didn't mention the suites, so I returned the e-mail and asked for more information, particularly about the suites. We'll see what happens. Amor de Mar still sounds very good to us as well.

Jill I can't seem to get into their website, I was thinking that the suites are on it.

But - yes, you would "have to" (which I know you do not typically mind) walk, they carry you and your belongings down the beach when you arrive and back at the end of your stay in the back of a pickup. Other times you walk. But they do have the new restaurant which would have been nice to have had when we were there, since this would cut out some of need to walk. The walk is about 10 mins low tide, a little more high tide. We always walked on the beach, someone else mentioned a path to town which we never used.

Anyway just threw the suite idea out there in case Amor did not work, since it has a lot of space, and I seem to remember for a little less dollars than the domes.

Donna, what do people do with their cars? That is a concern for us. . . .

Oh sorry forgot that! You park your car in front of the ESB Restaurant/Hotel in town. We flew so did not have this to think about. But several others that were there when we were did have vehicles parked.

Hi, Akeale. We are going to Montezuma next November. Was the weather good? I know that it's very rainy in some parts of Costa Rica that month.
Also, Shillmac, I understand that Ylang Ylang (ESB) bungalows also don't have screens. We're staying part of our time there in the suites and the other in the casita at AmordeMar, so are hoping that the ESB suites have screens. The large spiders in my room don't sound appealing!

LOL! That actually doesn't bother us so much as we've only had it happen once, and that was on the Osa. This one wasn't just in my room--it was inside my mosquito netting! Oh well, my husband enjoys feeling needed. . . .and he was!