romeindec

Trying to plan a trip with a group of friends for 2006 - we are thinking of going in Oct - need ideas about the weather then - also, we are probably going to rent a villa in Ocotal and would like to know if any one has rented villas and how the experience was. Also read about a zip-line that had it's own braking system? Where is that? Thanks for any and all responses and ideas. CH

4travelers

Ocotal is beautifull but visit villas before renting one, some are far from the ocean on cliffs that have difficult access. In some areas there are no sidewalk and can be accessed only with 4x4 and you need to be a very good driver the roads are very narrow and steep. Most of Ocotal is stone cliffs and very short beaches. Personnaly, I would find other beach options.

romeindec

Thanks for the reply - the villas will provide transportation from Liberia - any ideas about that zip-line? Thanks

tecolote

we love playa ocotal; it is a large private cove that caters to divers and deep sea fishing; the hills in the back have private homes. its not like 4travvlers states, but you need transpo to get to playa del coco. there is the ocotal beach resort, bahis vela or something and los almendros along the beach. I strongly reccomend playa ocotal if you want privacy and like to dive, etc but the major problem with your plan is going in october. october is very rainy and strom surf; not necessarily good.

romeindec

thanks tecolote for the response - we were told that the rains are usually only in the late afternoon - is that not correct? we also are not divers, we will probably do a couple of tours, maybe some fishing, but mostly just lay around the pool and relax!

romeindec

I probably should change the heading on this post, because my biggest question is about villa rentals. Are they safe? worth the money? we can get all inclusive for $109/pp/night which sounds like a good deal - any thoughts!

tecolote

the rain only in the late afternoon applies to through august, we have been there november ot august, never in october but the dive boat operator always tells us to avoid oct becasue it really rains and big storm surf. which villas are you referring to? the ocotal resort or the bahia vela place? is that $109 per night and per person? for how many people? if its per person thats way too much especially in october with the rain, food it really cheap in playa del coco, etc. we ate fresh gilled fish and the kid ate steak for very little. if you dont dive or require privacy/ secuirt like us may be playa hermosa and playa panama would be better. my kids love tamarindo and surf at playa grande.

romeindec

it's a private villa, not a hotel and the price includes all food and drinks (which our group can go through!) it has 7 br and 7 baths and (of course!) an infinity pool. We thought it was a pretty good price - comparing it to some others.

tecolote

yeah, I know exactly where that place is; its very nice. its up the hill. the area is all homes, it a hike to the beach. the villa rental works well thats how we started before we scored a place. I still think you payin too much; three things; its super hot all the time so you wont eat that much, you will be cruising out on adventures nearly every day so you will eat a max of one meal a day there and for dinner and drinking you will want to be downtown with everyone else unless you are the hermit type. eat at senor pizza, they have killer steak and fresh grilled fish and he will deliver pizza or anything you want to playa ocotal way late into the nite. if you are into tripping, check out the santa rosa peninsula, rincon de la vieja and the las carolinas lodge area. I hope you are flying into liberia, right? it saves two full days. rent a 4 wheel drive definitely no matter what your plans are. party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!