Spent 5 nights here in November, 2015. End of Rainy Season means lush green foliage, but terrible road conditions… 4WD with substantial ground clearance is a necessity! Be prepared for moon-crate pot holes and foot-deep puddles. Also learned that few flowering trees and plants are in bloom at this time of year; so little color, other than some of the birds. Also, bugs are particularly active… Had to apply bug spray every time we went outdoors, or would have bites within minutes!
This unit is on the lower level below the owner’s home, but is very private and affords nice ocean & river views and the constant sound of the surf. It is very secure, as long as you remember to lock the doors. There is a large covered sitting area complete with hammock, table & chairs, and ceiling fan… A nice option on rainy days! The shared pool is just a few steps up from the end of the patio and is a pleasant place to set in the jets and watch the birds in the trees above.
The interior is somewhat dated, but has all the essentials and is nicely decorated in a Caribbean flavor… Carved mural over the bed is awesome! Queen bed was very comfortable and two bathrooms was nice. Be prepared for many crawling bugs on the floor, especially ants… Didn’t bother us, but might be an issue for some? A/C is available, but ceiling fans in all rooms stir up enough breeze to keep things comfortable. Owner also provided an oscillating fan, upon request. WiFi is available, but signal is very weak and intermittent.
We were a little disappointed that there were no beach chairs available and no gas BBQ grille. There is an old charcoal grille, but you’ll need to furnish your own charcoal & starter; and there are no utensils or light for use after dark? The awful roads make going out for meals a bit of a challenge and we hesitated to contribute to the heat by using the oven, so grilling would have been a nice option.
Palada Beach is a nice long uncrowdeded beach to spend time at, but you will need to drive (or long walk) to the access points. Olga’s at the south end of the beach serves the coldest cerveza we had in Costa Rica! There are several restaurants & grocery stores in the area, but these too require driving on the nerve-wracking roads.
In short, a quiet, comfortable & secure place to spend a few days, but would be a better selection during dry months (Dec.- May). The owners, despite being “under the weather” during our stay, were pleasant and accommodating.