Tamarindo

"We stayed a week March '16. It is hotter than the hubs of he-double-hockey-sticks, so be prepared! The property has security, very well manicured grounds, is small and quaint, off the beaten path, literally a few steps from the pool, and 1 minute walk through the locked gate to the ocean! The accommodations are great - private laundry rm - soap included, 2 single beds in one bedroom, a queen bed in the master with a master bath. Living room, dining and kitchen are spacious and have all that you need. 2nd bath off the living space that the teenagers used. Lots of towels! Kitchen is well stocked - dish soap included. There is a charcoal grill on the patio, but charcoal is more expensive than at home (Minnesota) and the fluid is a gel that is barely sufficient. The only thing I would improve on the property is the outside chairs as they have probably seen their better days, but were still functional for coffee in the a.m. and wine in the p.m. while listening to the ocean. You will see iguanas and geckos on property, as well as some birds. This property is off the beaten path, but still very close to town - 3 min drive. Be sure to hit the farmers market right down the road from the property on Saturday a.m. - pineapple is to die for! Beach walks are a must - go during low tide to check out the tide pools. If you have a car, go to the town of Guatil to check out the hand made pottery (the office can direct you) - 1st house on the left in town is Edwin - he is fantastic! He will give you a full tour and explanation of their pottery making process that has been handed down over generations. He took us to the backyard and there were iguanas in his mango tree as well as a Howler monkey! Awesome! Ask questions! Be sure to check out Tamarindo Beach, the boat tour in the Nat'l Park is worth it - monkeys eating from our hands and on our heads! This is a very popular area for surfing. The roads suck, period. Rent an SUV for sure. Don't eat at the Bocas restaurant - overpriced for what you get. Cooking in the villa saved us a ton of money, but groceries are not as cheap there as they are here. We went to 3 different grocery stores - all were comparable, but be prepared, they aren't like at home! We did have a couple maintenance issues in our villa - staff was prompt in repairing those items. CR is experiencing a major drought, we ran out of water, they bought 10,000 gallons, pump went out, hand repaired, up and running again. Would stay again!"