Nicoya Peninsula
Hacienda Pinilla - Golondrinas
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Tamarindo
· Located about 15 minutes away
· The streets are not in great shape. In rainy season there are big puddles that cars splash through in the streets. It is dusty in the dry season.
· There are lots of shops for tourists in town. They sell lots of standard souvenir stuff, there are some shops with interesting stuff for the home, some clothing shops – made to order tropical items and bathing suits, lots of surf shops, restaurants etc.
· I recommend the shop ‘Jaime Peligro’ for CDs of local music from Costa Rica. He has a great selection.
· Good choices for restaurants : Pachanga, Laguna de Cocodrilo, Dragon Fly, Kahiki, Cala Luna (in Langosta), and the new restaurant at the shopping center with the AutoMercado. There are others that are also good (Nougi’s, Carolina’s, Bruno’s, Coconuts) and some we haven’t tried (Voo Doo Lounge, Fish and Meat) that we’d love to hear your opinion about.
· Check out Wildwood the shop next to Iguana surf (on the road to Langosta) for nicer items. Pricey, but you might find something really unique. A local designer who has had a successful career in New York owns this store.
· Drink bottled water here, ground water contamination is a possibility.
· As always, be aware of your surroundings & keep safe. Don’t hang your purse over your shoulder, keep a hand on it, don’t hang your purse over the back of a chair – keep it within eyesight, don’t leave your camera and walk away, don’t flash a lot of money in front of questionable characters, ETC. There are occasional problems reported in this town, mostly petty theft. We have never had a problem in Tamarindo, we expect that you won’t either.
· There is a great grocery store in town, The Auto Mercado. You can buy most products that you use in the US there. Imported items are high priced, but hey – you can get them.
· Don Fernando meats (right across the street from the Auto Mercado) has excellent meats. Look for their handout that compares the cuts sold here to common names for those same cuts in other countries to help you buy.
· There will be plenty of real estate magazines and pictures of houses/condos for sale in the windows.
Other Towns of interest
· There are many beach towns in the region (Playa del Coco, Flamingo beach, Playa Conchal etc) that you may be interested in seeing
· Guatil is a town of potters. Just about every house seems to have a kiln in the back yard. We have gone once and have gotten some nice pots that you will see in our home.
Lola’s
Tipping :
· Tip if you are happy with your service and remember a tip is included in the bill. The tip on the bill is shared by the honest owner with all the help that produces your meal. If you were happy with your service, give a tip – cash that you know will go to your wait person. We tip an additional 1,000 or 2,000 colones on a $50 (25,ooo colones) bill, maybe more for great service (up to 10%).
What to Bring :
1. Passports
2. Credit Cards – VISA is taken at many places. Master Card is less commonly taken.
3. Money - there are ATM’s where you can withdraw money in Tamarindo – look for affiliations with your bank on the window. As in the US, don’t flash your money around as you exit the instant teller.
4. US dollars are taken at most places. Know the exchange rate when you pay with dollars and ask the cashier (CAJA) to show you the exchange rate that they use in making change. It should be about 500 colones to 1 dollar. (the price of what you pay in colones divided by the exchange rate is the amount you pay in dollars). Large bills may not be able to be cashed, stick to twenty’s and under. Sometimes worn bills can be rejected – leave them at home if you see any obvious problems (major tears, stains, writing on them etc).
5. Tennis Rackets, Golf Clubs, or Surfboards if you want to enjoy those activities at Hacienda Pinilla.
6. Hat, Sunglasses
7. Sunscreen (you can buy it in Costa Rica at a higher price)
8. Mosquito Repellent
9.Clothes – Light weight shorts and long pants. Light weight shirts and blouses – sleeveless or short sleeve. Light weight sundresses, light weight nicer clothes for going out are optional. Long sleeve light weight shirts (Patagonia type) also work well in the evening. A bathing suit or 2. Sandals for around the pool & on the beach. Tennis shoes. The airplane can be cold, so be ready for your flight back and arrival back home with something warm.
10.Camera – as well as extra batteries and storage capability. Things are expensive in Costa Rica and some items can be hard to find
11.Possibly binoculars
12.Medications, prescriptions for any medications you may need in Costa Rica
13.Medical insurance information (how to get treatment when you are out of the US)
Medical :
· This is a remote location, DO NOT expect emergency services to rival the US
Safety and Security :
Altos de Eros
I enjoyed a fabulous spa day at this small inn and spa. From then scenic 20 minute drive up country (after a 9 am pick up at Hacienda Pinilla) to the delicious and healthy lunch, every detail of the day seemed designed to please my senses.
The package consisted of 3 treatments. I had an aromatherapy massage (90 minutes), a mud wrap, a soak in a tub filled with flowers and citrus slices, and a facial. And the best thing was that the treatment room is open air on one side so I could hear the birds, smell the flowers and see the wonderful and tranquil view down the hillside to the ocean.
Lunch was served – again in an open air lounge with views to the ocean – after couple of treatments. It was refreshing and tasty. I had ceviche, salad, and shrimp skewers. And wine. And even a chocolate desert. Howler monkeys and bird calls accompanied the meal.
It’s a great value and I highly recommend it. I’ll be back next time I visit. Just a note that the therapists speak little English, so any special needs (injuries, etc) should be communicated to the receptions when checking in. All in all, a relaxing and wonderful experience.
Hanging Bridges
My friends and I went on the Hanging Bridges walk on our trip to the Arenal region. A great walk through the jungle on a path which crosses numerous suspension and other bridges. It is a relatively easy walk, although I’d recommend sturdy shoes. It takes an hour or two (depending on how fast you go and how frequently you stop to take in the view), but the distance is not great. Some up hill and down hill portions, but nothing very steep and nothing that lasts longer than a city block or so.
I loved looking out at the view or at a waterfall or just through the jungle canopy. We saw (and heard) howler monkeys. If you haven’t heard them before, you just might think a pack of wild, rabid dogs were tearing through the forest. But, instead, it’s just the harmless monkeys.
We thoroughly enjoyed the walk, examining plants, flowers, spiders, ants, etc. Next time, I just might spend the extra money for a guide to point out more flora and fauna.
In my opinion, this is a not to be missed, unique experience when visiting the Arenal area. And it can be done by all ages and physical conditions. If you can walk, then you can do it. When we were done, we headed up to the nearby Arenal Observatory for lunch and I would recommend this as well. Especially if you have time for some hiking.
Congo Zip Lines
I had to get my courage up a bit to agree to do the Congo zip lines. But, when I heard that my friend’s 6 year old granddaughter had done it and when I saw some happy people completing their tour, I stepped right up!
It really is pretty easy – after a few minor instructions, and MUCH too quickly, it’s time to go…. Meaning, it’s time to walk up to a platform in the tree tops, have your harness clipped on to the zip lines and push off, sliding down the line over and through the trees to the next platform. The guides were great – friendly, funny and making me feel quite comfortable. After the first few times, I felt like an old pro…..even though the adrenaline still got going a bit with each slide. In fact, I felt so confident that I agreed to do the “Super Chica”! Let’s see if I can explain this. A guide stood behind me and I leaned forward wrapping my legs around his waist. Of course, our harnesses were both clamped on to the zip line. When he said go, we jumped, I spread my arms out wide and “flew” super chica (superman) style over the tree tops. I loved it!
It was over before I knew it. Great fun for all ages. All you need is a bit of courage and the desire to have fun. Not much physical dexterity and only a minimal amount of strength is needed. Of course, I probably wouldn’t recommend it if you’re afraid of heights. There is a serpentarium and a butterfly cage on the premises. Ask if you can see and hold the large (really, really large….like 10 feet long), but friendly python. And make sure you have your cameras handy! Oh….and don’t forget to browse the gift shop. My friend says it’s one of the better ones around.
Boat Trip
We drove about 1 ½ to 2 hours to take a river boat trip. For $30 or $40 each, the three of us boarded a flat bottom, covered boat for a 1 ½ hour trip up the river. The boat looks like it seated about 15 people, but there was no problem with them taking just the 3 of us. The guide (who spoke English pretty well) pointed out all the birds and reptiles along the way. And we saw an amazing amount!!!! Ibis, egrets, herons. Great blue herons spreading their wings and flying alongside the boat! We saw huge iguanas sunning themselves on the banks or in the tree branches overhanging the river. The males were brown and orange and some were 3 ft long. The females were smaller and green. We saw crocodiles -- young ones only, so they were about 3, maybe 4 feet long – which slid into the river from the banks as we came close. And we saw white faced monkeys and howler monkeys.
The trip was comfortable – sitting out of the direct sun with a breeze in your face from the movement of the boat. We took a ton of pictures, but we haven’t reviewed them yet, so don’t know how many came out well. It’s a bit difficult to take pictures of birds in flight or reptiles that blend in with their natural surroundings.
The boat driver (captain?) was great in taking us in close to the banks to see the reptiles.
And it’s not just the birds and reptiles that were interesting. It really was beautiful to travel up and down the wide brown river, smelling the flowers and seeing the tropical vegetation.
After the trip was over, we stopped at a nearby restaurant for lunch --which was included in the fee. Lunch was a Costa Rica local lunch – “tipico” lunch – of rice, beans, chicken and pork in sauce, salad and a pineapple juice drink. Good and filling. The restaurant is run by the wife of the boat owner and sister in law of the guide.
On the way home we stopped at the ceramic village (and of course I can’t remember the name of the village). It seems the whole little village makes ceramic pots of all sizes, most with indigenous designs. Almost every house looked like it had a kiln in the back yard.
The drive through the countryside to and from the tour was one of the better parts. Scenic, bucolic and tranquil, we passed through small, charming towns, frequently passing men on horseback or bicycles and even motor scooters.
This is an easy activity which can be enjoyed by all!