We are booked for Tulemar for 3 nights at end of January for a family of 4. Our kids are ages 12 and 17. Do you think this is the best choice. My husband and I stayed at the Plinio years ago but I really want something with a view...he on the other hand does not want anything too fancy. Thanks

My family with two teens stayed at Tulemar last June. We enjoyed it very much. The view from the bungalows was fabulous. We also loved the private beach with wonderful waves for boogie boards. It was quiet and did not have the feel of a resort. We looked at Si Como No and I was so glad that we were at Tulemar. It did not feel as much like a resort.You made a great decision.

I am with Nancy. Tulemar is awsome! There is so much land and the views are great! The people there are very friendly. If you couldn't stay there my second favorite was Mariposa. I was at Si Como No for lunch and water slide. We were very happy that was not our choice.

Thanks, Can't wait to go. Leaving in 3 weeks. I think I have spent more time on this board then I will on my entire stay in Costa Rica. Addicting!

Is Buena Vista Villas the same as Tulemar Bungalows?

Yes, same property, different accomodations.

We are going to stay in the Tulemar Bungalows in March. Yesterday I read some recent trip advisor reviews. The one thing I had not realized (although I should have by looking at the on-line pictures) is that the bungalows don't have a deck, terrage or balcony...you must enjoy the view from behind glass. I'm not going to change the reservations, but if a balcony is important to you, you may want to reconsider. (The new panorama bungalows have a balcony, but at least according to the web site, there is a 7 night minimum stay.)

I thought that not having a balcony would be a disadvantage as well. Wrong. The windows are all around the entire bungalow and the windows open all the way. Like sliding glass doors. So you feel like you are in the trees although not on a deck.

The Villas are nice and we had dinner in them with the owner of them. He was working out the kinks and advertising for them. The decks are very nice. A little dangerous for small kids. Need to watch them carefully. Wire rails instead of wood, glass or iron.

The big advantage to the bungalows is that the trees and folage are up at eye level in most of them. So the birds, monkeys and slothes are at eye level and look at you as much as you watch them. People in the Villas are below much of the vegetation and see wildlife but not the shear numbers the bugalows do.

Villa pool is better and they will let you use it from the bungalows. Bungalows are better situated to the restaurant and breakfast.

Thank you...you are making me fell better. I'm already worrying enough about the recent bad reviews of the Lost Iguana. I don't need to start worrying about Tulemar, too!

You will not be disappointed with Tulemar! Bungalow 119 was ours and although not fancy, we loved our location and would not of traded with any other unit including the villas. We are trying to repeat the experience in Belize this summer at Chaa Creek in the treehouses. Tulemar has wonderful memories for us.

We stayed in a 2bdrm Villa at Tulemar last April and have reserved the same for April 06. We spent lots of time on our deck and saw the monkeys playing on the neighboring deck. It was awesome! Didn't see inside the Bungalow's but the Villa was great!

Missie, you won't regret Tulemar at all...bungalow or not. The beach is great, the staff is friendly, & wildlife abounds.

FYI, Buena Vista Villas at Tulemar do offer a deck, for about $50-$75 more per night if I remember right. We stayed in one of those in 2004, but took a peek inside one of the bungalows and they are just fine. You'll spend your days away from the room anyway, and the monkeys on your rooftop will wake you you up bright & early so ya don't misss anything!

How far is Tulemar bungalows from Manuel Antonio National Park? Do they provide a shuttle to the Park?

It is a few miles. I think you could take a taxi, we took the local bus. It was great. No way to get lost because it only has one road to the Park and dead ends there. Gave us local flavor. The taxi drive won't be expensive. I didn't ask if there was a shuttle at Tulemar.

Just returned yesterday from our fabulous Costa Rica vacation. I do a trip report later. We did stay at Tulemar with our two kids, 12 and 17. We enjoyed the resort very much. The bunglow did not have a balcony that was disappointing at first but the views and the fact that the windows all opened around the entire bungalow made it feel like a balcony. We were right next to the pool and though it is not the most private, it's great if you have kids. My husband and I used the bar and pool area as our deck. They let us bring our own wine, even chilled it for us, poured it for us and we could sit anywhere we want overlooking the magnificient views. Some evenings the kids were so tired they did not care to go out to dinner with us and they ordered whatever they wanted for room service. The staff was great and even got us last minute reservations for a deep sea fishing chareter and called that evening to see how we enjoyed it. Their private beach is beautiful and they do shuttle you around the property but not to the public beach. Taxis and bus are quite acceptable. We hardly were ever in the bungalows during the day. We even left money and fanny pack there and they called our next destination to let us know. Though we did not see monkies on the property, we did a big igauna that hangs out by the pool.

Hi twbuss:

It sounds like you had a great time. Are there different types of resorts at Tulemar? We are going in June and staying at the Buena Vista Villas at Tulemar in a two bedroom villa. Is that where you stayed and what type of accomodations did you have?. We are going to be there for 3 nights. Any suggestions on must see tours from there?

I have emailed Tulemar twice about reservations and haven't heard from them. Has anyone have similar problems?

I did get emails back slowly. I ended up calling them as well. Everything worked out fine though.

The Buena Vista Villas were down the road. I think these are newer and fancier. I do think that guests staying in the villa eat at Tulemmar for breakfast and have access to all the hotel ammenities. The tours that we did were the Canopy Safari Tour (zip lining) This was a lot of fun, not the fastest and highest zip line in Costa Rica but just right for me. We did do a whole day deep sea fishing (not my favorite)and a guided tour through MA park. We did rafting at Rafiki Safari which is on the Savegre River. Rafiki Safari was a two night stay in platform tents (in the middel of nowhere) which was our best memory.

I would love to hear about your time at Rafiki. We are going to be there for two nights in June. We've already signed up for the white rafting trip.

We have two kids-17 and 15.

Thanks.