Originally Posted by
coORDinates
Thanks for posting the review! I’m planning on heading down there with my wife in a month. We were debating the JW vs Mangroove (now full) vs Punta Islita. I was leaning towards Punta Islita for a more remote, “true Costa Rica” vibe, and hoping to do some hikes and kayaking while the wife is poolside.
Was the nearby restaurant Don Ramiro? Did you make reservations or have the concierge arrange?
I’m tempted by the cocktail class and some of the other free activities - would you recommend tipping the staff after these? I never know!
lastly - you mentioned a road trip. We’ll probably rent a car. I’ve been doing a lot of research on this, and will rent a small 4x4 SUV through National in Liberia, and will see if I can get a letter from Chase to cover part of the insurance (not the SLI). Did you drive through any spots near Punta Islita that you’d recommend?
thanks again for the intel! I hope you’re having a wonderful trip.
Didn’t get to try Don Ramiro, as it was closed when we were there. Would have wanted to if I could. When you check in, they give you a WhatsApp number and can use that to arrange activities, inquire about / book offsite restaurants and request golf carts, etc. Pretty standard.
I tipped the cocktail class bartender, although I think I overtipped (currency conversion gets hard when you’re tipsy). I was going to tip the cooking class guy, but he just kind of disappeared very fast. It is what it is. I’m not particularly sure if it was expected.
It can be a fun drive to keep going towards Santa Teresa on the south end of the peninsula. There are plenty of secluded beaches to check out if you want something different. The road conditions vary and so does the water level in rivers. Not sure if there will be enough rain to fill the rivers in a month, because right now it’s very dry, but if in doubt, wait to see where a local driver crosses.