crosscheck

We've been to CR several times, usually for a 10 days or more. This time we've planning a last-minute 5-night vacation in mid-June with our 18-year old son. We prefer to stay in one place and not move around - a low-key, stylish bungalow-type hotel or resort on a great boogie boarding beach with opportunities for waterfall hikes would be perfect. Also considering Panama or Nicaragua (possibly flying into Liberia and doing a Morgan's Rock/La Carolina combo). But if we could find one place that had it all, that would be terrific.

sylvia3

In Dominical, Coconut Grove Oceanfront cottages: http://www.coconutgrovecr.com/
They're close to Dominical Proper, and you can horseback ride to waterfalls: http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/

It's rainier down in Dominical than in the northeast, though.

crosscheck

Thanks, sylvia3. Have you stayed at those cottages? They get good reviews, but don't seem like the exotic experience we're looking for.

We're now considering either:
3 nights at Iguana Lodge/2 nights at Bosque del Cabo (fly to SJ, then PJ)
OR 4 nights at Morgan's Rock/1 night Borequin Mountain Resort (fly to Liberia)
OR 2 nights Peace Lodge/3 nights Tulemar Bungalows (fly to SJ, drive)

Would appreciate opinions from people who have been to these places.

volcanogirl

I was going to suggest Bosque del Cabo - that's an absolutely amazing spot with the best wildlife we've ever seen. I love the Peace Lodge too - but I wouldn't call it low-key. It's a very indulgent over the top spot with waterfall showers, jacuzzis, fireplaces that come on with the push of a button, etc. The waterfall hike is beautiful there. Tulemar always gets great reviews as well.

crosscheck

Haha. We don't mind a little luxury as long as it's not glitzy and resorty. I've wanted to go to BDC for a while, but I'm concerned that my son will be frustrated by the difficult beach access.

ShellD

Tulemar is nice for it's beach access. I like your Peace Lodge, Tulemar combo. As volcanogirl mentions, it is indulgent - seems to be a love it or hate it type of place. Personally, we really enjoy it there. We like the trails to the waterfalls, love feeding the hummingbirds. And the whole overall atmosphere is just peaceful to us. Then head to Tulemar for the beach and the monkeys! When we were there, we had spider monkeys right on our balcony daily! We also saw sloths almost every day as we walked the driveway up from the beach.

While BDC is great, I do agree that the beach access is the only downfall.

volcanogirl

Agree - if you want easy beach access Tulemar would be a better fit than BdC.

crosscheck

Thanks for your prompt replies. Update: Our son is now bringing a friend. This is his h.s. graduation trip and our older son cannot join us. It seems as if the Tulemar bungalows are not truly beachfront....and the photos of the ocean seem relatively calm - not great for boogie boarding or body surfing. Our son is saying he wants to return to Capitan Suizo in Tamarindo, where we went on several surf trips when he was little, but I hear that Tamarindo is now overbuilt and gringoized. And I'm still intrigued with the Osa or Nicaragua because I have been to neither...Also, there seems to be availability everywhere for just a month from now - Is this because the weather is not ideal?

ShellD

I wouldn't say that the ocean at Tulemar is calm, and it's definitely boogie boarding type waves. Not sure it's great for two 18 yr olds though! It's not a surfing beach. You do have to walk down to the beach, or get a ride down. You have an ocean view from your bungalow.

I may be wrong, or it may have been the days - but being in the ocean at Tulemar vs the ocean at the beach at BDC - the waves were very similar. Boogie boarding was about the same. I think at BDC there was a kid surfing. BDC's beach wasn't anything I would want to sit on and relax. The tide came in pretty quickly and it was very rocky, where Tulemar had chairs and snacks.

We've been to both Osa and Tulemar in the summer, and while it rains a bit, we've had pretty good weather. Usually rain at night or late in the afternoon.

sylvia3

Think it depends on the season; when we were there (Tulemar), it was as calm as glass.
I am not a fan of Tamarindo; crowded, windy. There are other places along that coast that might be better for boogie boarding (Playa Avellanas?).
It will be rainier to the south (Dominical), but could be only an hour or so in the afternoon. I've been in day-long deluges, and enjoyed only brief afternoon showers. You just don't know!