We, 9 or us, will be renting in Playa Grande for 10 days beginning Dec. 6. Shillmac, Guanacaste and so many others give such great advice I thought I would try my luck at getting some. We are arriving in Liberia around 1:30 pm and being picked up and driven to PG. The very next morning at 8 we are leaving for a day trip to Rincon de la Vieja with our driver, Leo. He says he knows a good zip line in that area and lots of things of interest. So, for the next 8 days we will be on our own. Have rented 2 4x4's so that we can do some exploring. Would like to know about Monkey Park and Palo Verde and any other places that we might feel good about going on our own. Are the roads good enough for this old lady to check out some of the other beaches North of there? Do you think some white water rafting would be available (in Dec.) and also ATV tours? How is the weather in early December and the bugs? We were not bothered at all last Dec. in Arenal or MA/Quepos. We will be in a house on the beach and hopefully not too far to walk to Tamarindo. Any information would be so much appreciated. Just three weeks from today we will be back in Costa Rica!!!!!!!

well yes the roads r awful,
but checking out beaches is doable, protero is nice, but not a big difference from Grande! Conchal is the prettiest 'white' beach in that area.
aqlso, get directions for Matapalo, beautiful and almost always deserted!
palo verde is worthwile!
you <b> might</b> get a bit bored in Grande- lovely beach tough!
spend a day/evening in tamarindo.
in tamarindo, my reccs are breakfast at noguis on the beach,lunch at La Laguna del Cocodrilo Bistro , dinner pachanga or dragonfly!




http://costa.rica.typepad.com/tamarindo/home/index.html

Patams,

I'd love to get the details on your beach house as 8 of us will be in PG in May and want to stay together.

stotz.......I will be happy to let you know all about it. It is Casa Muy Grande and you can go to www.casamuygrande and check it out.

Guanacaste.......thanks. I am hoping that we can drive to some places so we won't get bored. I read that the Estuary is a good place to do a trip.

And opps! I think I posted this message twice. I just am not so good at this stuff but love reading it all.

Sounds like a good plan to me as well. We thought Monkey Park was very worthwhile. The students in my class are just fascinated by the photo of me holding a tiny little monkey. The little guys just cling to you like you are their long lost mother. Now who wouldn't enjoy that?!

You might also enjoy driving from Playa Potrero up the Congo Trail (road through the country) to the Playa Ocotal/Hermosa/Coco area. Not a bad drive, and interesting.

Road in and out of Grande definitely bad in July! We got such a kick out of the fact that everyone was driving in the ditches on either side because they were less rough than the road. When in Rome. . .or Costa Rica! So down the ditch we went--you will too, I'll wager!

You all have a great time--sounds like a lot of fun waiting to happen!

Just for clarification purposes, it isn't my students who are the &quot;little guys who cling&quot;--was referring to the monkeys!

I love Playa Grande! the walk to Tamarindo is easy, but hot in the afternoon. You have to cross a river, which is doable on foot, although somewhat difficult, only at low tide. There are boats that will cross you for 500 colones (last year). They only run during the day, so if you pland to have dinner in Tamarindo, you will likely need to drive, which is about 20 minutes.

Noguis has the most fantastic shrimp soft tacos for lunch or dinner.

This is all making me feel a little more secure. We used a driver and taxi's last year but I am excited about doing some exploring on my own. Do any of you know how long it would take to drive to Palo Verde? Don't want to tire my group too much. The Monkey Park sounds like a &quot;must do&quot;. There was a family of maybe 25 monkeys who visited us every afternoon about the same time while we were in MA. They were so adorable and we were so captivated by them. They would reach out to us like humans and peer through the window at us as if they were as interested in us as we were in them. I know we will check out some other beaches and anything doable from our base in PG. Any suggestions, let us know. Any recommendation on a particular tour up the Estuary?

Another question.............are there many monkeys and birds along the coast in Playa Grande?

There are Howler Monkeys in that area - more often heard than seen, perhaps but we spotted them a couple of times near the estuary.

The mangrove estuary is good for wading birds of various sorts. Many of these are familiar to north americans but still interesting. The estuary is also good for a variety of other birds. We noticed quite a few [mangrove] black hawks during our last visit, two or three species of kingfishers etc.

Along the ocean shore there are good numbers of brown pelicans, brown boobies, magnificent frigatebirds etc.

We stayed immediately adjacent to the estuary and every morning had some interesting birds. Get up early and explore the little trail from the end of the road over to where the pangas ferry people across to Tamarindo. One morning we had a group of five trogons at ten feet distance -quite a treat.

For an estuary tour, check with the little kiosk on the Tamarindo side of the estuary. On our tour we got out at one point and our guide took us to quite a large group of howler monkeys. We watched their interactions for 20 minutes or so. Quite fascinating.

I do recommend the Palo Verde area as well for many more waterbirds, iguanas, monkeys etc.

If possible take a second day at Rincon and explore the park trails by yourselves or with a guide. Wonderful forest and ecosystem.

cheers

Jerry

&quot;You might also enjoy driving from Playa Potrero up the Congo Trail (road through the country) to the Playa Ocotal/Hermosa/Coco area.&quot;

that's a nice drive, i'd stop in Ocotal, have lunch on the beachfront restaurant, Picquante! good cocktails as well!

<b>don't</b> swim in the estuary,- crocs like swimming there occasionally- strong rips!

Thank you all. This information is so much appreciated. Happy to hear that Palo Verde is doable for a day trip from PG. Also will drive to those other beaches and try a cocktail or two. Hopefully, a white faced monkey (can't spell the name) will come around during our stay on PG. At least there are lots of trees near the beach.

There are quite a few white -faced monkeys near Rincon de la Vieja, as well as anteaters, coatis etc and quite a different array of birds. Also wonderful forest, waterfalls etc.

Jerry

I have just studied the map and see that no place is easy and I guess I already knew that from last year. However, would it be best to go from Playa Grande to Belen, down to Sta. Cruz, down to Pueble Viejo and over to Pto. Moreno or try smaller roads with more turns and twists to get to Palo Verde? Looks like a long, long way but I guess the map miles are in kms.

We go to Hermosa in February again, we like to go to different beaches, the Congo Trail still the best choice. You can't find nicer beach than Playa Grande. Playa Hermosa is crowded, very noisy/especially on Sunday, very laud music!/. Playa Conchal is nice but the sand-trap! Even with 4WD you can stuck in!


WHERE IS THE MONKEY PARK? we would like to visit!

Swim..........I have been looking for more information about Monkey Park. I think it has something to do with animal rescue and is in a small town named Catagena. It is said to be a very well run small zoo with a gorgeous butterfly garden. I am still searching. Is the Congo Trail the same road as the Monkey Trail?

patams, thanks!
Yes, it is the same, you need 4WD, still better than the paved road with HUGE potholes.
Let us know how was your trip!

I think Monkey Park is between Huacas and Belen, so that would be near Cartagena. You are right--it is a rescue facility and there are lots more animals there besides monkeys. Can't remember the cost of admission, but it was reasonable. It is on the north (right) side of the road as you are traveling toward the coast. On your left traveling toward the center of the country. There is a sign. Have fun!

shillmac, thank you!

Thank you shillmac.........love reading your posts from all over.