We are a 60-something grandma, a 40-something mom, and a 7-year-old girl. We're planning to do Arenal and Monteverde, and then spend 2-3 days on the coast. We're interested in scenery, wildlife, hiking, and swimming. We're not into nightlife, surfing, or fishing. We'd prefer a quiet, safe area. Which coastal area would be best? We're going in late May. Any hotel recommendations?
Roberto
Favorite Answer
Both cost sides are beautiful you'll be finding different things, however.
Pacific is more lively, more touristic and charming. In my opinion ocean views are wonderful at this site because you can get accomodation anywhere in the mountains to stare the ocean every morning. My recommendation at this side is either to go to Manuel Antonio, Montezuma or Santa Teresa these, are quite amazing just perfect for people with adventourous spirit.
Indeed, you can go to the pacif area to Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo or Cahuita, these beaches are also nice, but diferrent.
Both sides are the same long from San José, I invite you to make a look of pics at flickr.com it can give u a better a idea of what it is and if you like it.
Good luck
PURA VIDA
Warner Stevenson
I agree, either sides are good. Since you are not into the nighlife and have a 7year old with you, I would not go to Jaco beach. Even though it is only an hour and a half from San Jose, this place is more for partying and can be a bit dangerous.
Try Manuel Antonio. Its nice and quiet and has a great beach. Try going ro hotel del mar. Its very close to the beach and monkeys go thru the hotel property in the morning to go to the beach. Its quite a site to see and hear.
chancer
3 places: Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast Monteverde cloud wooded area Puerto Viejo de LImon on the Caribbean coast and once you've time Volcan Arenal in San Carlos - Tabacon warm springs provides an outstanding view once you're in swimming pools of clearly heated water. I lived in Costa Rica for a twelve months and those are my sought after places.
Phil R
A beach that is nice and not too far from Monteverde is Samara. The roads to Samara are all paved, which isn't the case with the roads towards Malpais or Montezuma.
A beautiful beach further in the south is Manuel Antonio. It is very easy to spot moneys, sloths and mapaches there.
mary e
We stayed south of Jaco in cabinas there. The waves were big but there are pools. A very safe beach further south, Pacific, is Zancudo, in the Gulfo Dulce near the Rio Coto. You take a boat taxi from Golfito to get there. Cabinas Los Cocos is a nice place run by Canadians, they have a website, they rent kayaks cheap for use in the mangrove estuaries, and boat tours to botanical gardens. Another nice place to stay further in is Hacienda Baru, it has butterfly gardens and a mild zipline. The Osa Penninsula is a must for wildlife walking tours. I have not been to the Carribean side but hear it is more run down.