costaricalover

The countdown has begun!! We leave February 10th and will be in Costa Rica for 2 glorious weeks. Here is our itinerary:

Feb 10-Vista del Valle
Feb 11,12 and 13-Shelter From the Storm, Dominical
Feb 14,15 and 16-Villa des las Aves, Uvita
Feb 17 and 18-Moana Lodge (we're trying the newly constructed honeymoon suite!)
Feb 19, 20,21,22 and 23-Ylang Ylang

We will be flying to each destination on NatureAir/Sansa. We will have a car rental when in the Dominical/Uvita area.

Does anyone have any suggestions for must/do/see/eat in the Dominical Uvita area? I understand from previous posters that Hacienda Baru is wonderful. What about great beaches to walk on for miles? Any great bars/restarurants to meet interesting characters? Is the area fairly safe for walking deserted beaches?

Any other Fodorites going to be in any of the above areas when we are?

We have been to Ylang Ylang (got married on the beach there last February) and can't wait to return. If anyone has any questions about Ylang Ylang or Vista del Valle, I'd be happy to help.

This forum has been invaluable for every trip I have taken! Thanks in advance.

costaricalover

I forgot to clarify-Moana Lodge is in Malpais.

hipvirgochick

Envious you are going so soon...lucky! In Dominical do the Nuyaca Waterfall horseback ride - very adventurous! Soda la Mancha is a great soda just down the road from SFTS. Huge portions and delicious!

I'll be going to Ylang Ylang for my first time in June...so any tips you'd like to share are appreciated.

costaricalover

Hip, what sort of accomodation did you book at Ylang Ylang? I hope you love it as much as I did-it's probably my favourite place to visit in CR so far. But of course, my 2010 trip may uncover another gem (I hope) to add to the list.

hipvirgochick

I booked the beachfront room for daughter(13 years old) and me. Don't really want to stretch the budget more than that, but I'm very excited to explore the area! I've only read great things about the place so can't wait to be there!

And, likewise, I hope you love SFTS as much as I do! Please tell Daryl and Donna that Kristin sends big hugs! Villas des las Aves as well -- although we only ate dinner there we looked at the casitas and grounds and it's just lovely.

Happy anniversary (early).

tully

So jealous you get to stay at Villas des las Aves, just from walking around before dinner I was thinking this would be such a nice place to chill for a few days. Of course SFTS is great as wll and D & D such great hosts. As hip mentioned huge plates at la Mancha and close too, the place across the street, La Parcela, was nice too for the view & drinks (but over-priced imo). They have a nice big book at SFTS full of stuff to do and about all the beaches. I was reading on the main Dominical beach when realized someone was standing right behind me, it was 2 cops in full regalia. They seemed satisifed I wasn't dangeous and moved on Rancho La Merced has nice property about 10-15 minutes S of SFTS at marker 53 (I think!). Not as manicured as Baru but nice, saw monkeys and birds, the usual suspects.

FYI - watch where you are going if you leave Villas des las Aves at night. Took a (wrong) turn too late and almost ended up in a ditch!

hipvirgochick

LOL! Almost forgot about that ditch. Yikes! That would have been a big downer had we ended up there. It was deep!

Not sure how the police passed you up though...you sure do look dangerous to me. ;-)