Just got back from Costa Rica with our 4 and 6 year old and had an amazing vacation. Since I have 2 weeks of catching up on everything, this is going to be a brief trip report but I will try to respond to any questions. Since this website was so helpful to me, I just wanted to get this out as soon as I could.

Flew into Liberia, went to Hermosa for 4 days and stayed at the Oasis Condos. Condos were really nice, immaculate--felt almost too nice for Costa Rica. Really nice, clean pool. A few minute walk to beach. $115/night for 3 nights and 4th was free. I looked at The Oasis and liked their villas. They were smaller but in what I think was a better location--closer to other restaurants.

Then onto Bourinquen resort near Rincon de La Vieja volcano for a night. Very pretty resort with bungalows all over. Beautiful pool with howler monkeys above it. Rooms were musty. Food was o.k. but there was nowhere else to go. Had a steam room over fumaroles (steam from volcano) and mud baths. Kids loved it. Expensive--$150/night

Next we went to Palo Verde and had a great tour with a park ranger. He was very infomative and we saw some kind of viper (one of only snakes that kills in one bite), javelin, deer and many monkeys.

Stayed in Canas at Hotel Nuevo Canas. $45/night--small but very clean rooms and a pool. We were the only Americans we saw. Small time and very friendly. It was my 6 year olds favorite spot. Wish we stayed longer.

Next day went with CATA tours and took a private boat ride into Palo Verde. Saw many birds, monkeys and crocodiles. It was $90 for the 4 of us including lunch.

Decided to check out Tamarindo.. Got in on Friday afternoon and town was packed. I wanted to turn around and go somewhere else. Once we got out of "town" it was much nicer. Capitan Suizo was booked so they sent us to Casa Banyan/cook. Had a little villa with our own private pool right on the ocean for $150 total. Only stayed for 1 night. Stopped at monkey reserve (recommended by someone on this discussion board) and kids loved it. Got a tour of all the animals and they got to feed a baby monkey and deer. They talk about it every day.

Next we went to Nosara and stayed at Villa Taype. Payed $90/night for a villa and I think it was too much. Rooms needed updating as did the entire property. Management seemed to be letting a lot of things slide. Our room didn't get cleaned the first day. As I was leaving I saw a remodeled room and it looked so much nicer. If you stay there, I would ask for a remodeled room but I wouldn't stay there again.

I also looked at rooms at Casa Romantica, Casita Romantica and Cafe Paris. I loved Casita Romantica--brand new villas, clean, spacious with a nice pool. Not sure if it had a/c or not. Very nice owner.

Really liked Nosara. Spent 3 nights there. Beach was rough for kids but great for surfing. The beach is beautiful with great undeveloped land up to the beach. A very peaceful place. Downside is there is no central town and things are really spread out so you need to drive to get to a lot of places. We really liked it and would go back.

Next we went to Samara where we had been before. We really love Samara. It is a very Tico town on the beach. There are many restaurants, several shops and 4 places to buy food. Las Brisas was closed so we stayed at Villas Playa Samara. The accomodations are basic but clean and very friendly staff. Two language schools have their students stay there so it was a fun and friendly place to stay. We met some wonderful people there. Rooms were %57/night including breakfast and taxes.

There is a great, new place that will be open any day-Villas Makinda. They are really nice, 2 bedroom villas with a kitchen across the street from the beach. They have a beautiful, small free form pool. There are about 8 villas in a gated area. The owner is from Italy and is very friendly. The price is about $70-$80/night and less for longer stays.

Stayed at El Sitio in Liberia for last night. Liberia was really crowded. Hotel was kind of run down, pool looked dirty and playground was very old. Her other Best Western wasn't any better.

Samara (and of course Canas)was the cheapest for food. Nosara and Hermosa seemed pricey for Costa Rica.

Advice...always ask if their is a cash discount. Most hotels didn't charge tax if we paid in cash.

Also, it is really hard to cash money in Samara. The bank in Coco (near Hermosa) took 1 hr. 15 minutes.

Bring beach totals if you aren't staying in a high end hotel.

Overall, we had an incredible vacation. We didn't plan on doing so much in 16 days but it worked out great. My kids were the best they have ever been and loved every minute of it. That is all I have time to write for now but please feel free to ask any questions. Thanks again for everyone's help in planning my trip, I hope I can help some of you!

Thanks for such a quick report! When we go in Aug we were planning on coming from Arenal to Playa Hermosa for 4 nights and then on to MA area. Are considering Oasis(more room for parents/15yr old) vs. El Velero. Did you notice El Velero? Leaning toward Hermosa vs Samara to visit Rincon & Palo Verde...or do you think Samara would be just as nice..how would we find out about new place you mentioned? Maybe it would be open...We saw Palo Verde tour through Michael Mills Alegra tour on boat...seemed good for family...would monkey reserve be worth it for us? Thanks, Joyce

Thanks rjd24 although your report about Tamarindo makes me nervous. We will be there July 3-7 - 4 adults. That is a Sat - Wed so maybe my Sunday afternoon it will start to clear out without so many crowds? We're staying at El Jardin del Eden. Glad you had a great time!

TrevorJoyce,
Hello. Yes, I did look at El Veloro and I wasn't really impressed. The rooms were small and basic and definetly smelled like they had been closed up for a while. Can you tell by now that I always notice the smell! The pool was very small and right next to the restaurant so there wasn't any privacy.

As for Oasis, they were really nice. Everyone really liked it there. Your 15 year old will get more space and there is a great patio to sit outside. I would recommend bringing or buying a hammock because there are hooks to put it up. Several of the units had them but I think they may have lived there.

I love Samara but I think you will be happier in either place. Hermosa is nice because you can go to Ocotal and Coca and Panama. Samara is close to Carillo and about an hour from Nosara. You will be happy with either place, Samara is a lot cheaper for food .

One thing I forgot to mention in my report is that we went on a "dolphin tour" in Samara. We were in a boat about the size of a row boat and saw hundreds of dolphins. It was great! It cost us $100 for 4 of us for 3 1/2 hours. Basic, maybe not as safe as we should have been with 2 little ones, but I would do it again!

The e-mail for Villas Kalimba in Samara is:
[email protected]
[email protected]

One unit was open when we were there but was occupied and another was supposed to be ready over the weekend. If you go to Samara I would stay there.

Your son is probably too old for the monkey reserve. I think it is great for young ones but it is a lot like a hands on zoo.

Sclubb,
As for Tamarindo, I think you will be fine. It all depends on what you are looking for but I heard that el Jardin is amazing. I am not sure where it is but where we stayed, if we wanted, we could have totally avoided the town and the crowds. The beach is beautiful (for Costa Rica, not for the carribean).

Let me know if you have more questions.

Can you tell me a little bit more about the Hotel Nuevo Canas? Does it have a website?

Thanks,

Vivian

Hi Vivian,
Hotel Nuevo Canas is a small motel in a little city/big town. The hotel is on the main road into town and there is a gate to get into the motel. The parking is not gated. There are I think 2 stories and a little pool. Our room opened right up to the pool area and had a lounge chair in front of it. The room had a double bed and a single bed and was small but very clean. It is a simple hotel but clean and very comfortable. One of my guide books (moon I think) said that a lot of people from SJ go for the weekend because of the pool. I felt very comfortable walking in town at night and the family who runs the hotel is very nice and helpful They also own Hotel Canas which has the "best restaurant in town." They use old family recipes and it is very good, typical food. It was packed for breakfast and dinner had a lot of people, too. The menu says that when you come to our restaurant you are part of our family. The hotel manager told me the same thing and they treat you that way. We loved it!

If you want to experience a non-touristy Costa Rica in a safe environment this is a great place to do it. You can tour Palo Verde from there. I think it is also on the way to Arenal but it is still a 3 hour drive. They also told me about a Lake that was near but we didn't go. Guayatil with the native pottery is also not too far. We went there and it was wonderful. My daughter got to make her own pot.

Their e-mail is: [email protected] but I don't think they have a website.

Please let me know if you need more info.