Beaches - West Coast - CR
Jul 16, 2017, 4:46 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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Beaches - West Coast - CR
We'll be going to CR for our 2nd trip in December. Last trip was Arenal and Tamarindo. This trip will be Monteverde and some other beach, maybe closer to Manuel Antonio.
Time is not a huge factor nor is transportation. I was a bit disappointed with Tamarindo for a number of reasons and do not care to go back. My friend has suggested beaches closer to Manuel Antonio - the type of beach town where we can walk from our lodging to the beach (we are in good shape - 10-15 minutes is OK), rent umbrellas, have decent dinners. She has suggested Quepos, but I am not finding any beaches meeting those requirements.
Any thoughts?
Thanks much!
Time is not a huge factor nor is transportation. I was a bit disappointed with Tamarindo for a number of reasons and do not care to go back. My friend has suggested beaches closer to Manuel Antonio - the type of beach town where we can walk from our lodging to the beach (we are in good shape - 10-15 minutes is OK), rent umbrellas, have decent dinners. She has suggested Quepos, but I am not finding any beaches meeting those requirements.
Any thoughts?
Thanks much!
Jul 17, 2017, 10:35 am
#2
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Local pubic bus goes all the way to Manuel Antonio, to this day one of my most favorite beaches. There are some higher end hotels along the way to MA, but we stayed at motel that was almost on the beach with only trees and palms in the way.
It's been ten years, so that budget option may well have given way to something more expensive given how beautiful the area is, but just Google Manuel Antonio for photos and you'll see. Food was quite good as well.
Jul 19, 2017, 2:54 pm
#4
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Going to be at Manuel Antonio next week. Staying at a "villa" which is yards from the beach (http://www.espadillaoceanclub.com/). I'll try and remember to report back here my experience.
Jul 19, 2017, 3:01 pm
#5
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Much nicer than my motel .... then again, much different rates 
Looks nice.
Looks nice.
Jul 27, 2017, 7:44 pm
#6
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I'm in Manuel Antonio right now. Espadilla Beach is a long strip of gray sand that is pretty nice. Water is nice and warm. Good waves. Beach is largely gone during high tide. Lots of guys offering to rent you beach chairs and umbrellas. Several restaurants and surf equip rental places. The road from Quepos to here is very windy and steep (not good for walking). If you want to walk to the beach, look for a hotel points south of about the Jungle Hotel (see Google Maps).
Jul 27, 2017, 8:18 pm
#7
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Could have told you about the no walking - but don't know too many people who are walkers like myself, so didn't mention it.
And thanks for the follow up.
Oct 8, 2017, 8:57 am
#10
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We stayed at the Arenal Manoa hotel. Good property and fairly close to most of the activities we did. We could see the volcano from the porch. We went to the Tabacon Springs for the hot springs...I can take it or leave it, not my thing, but in terms of service, it was good, and I think 15-20 minutes away. The drawback of Arenal Manoa is that we didn't have a car, so a cab ride was $20USD one way to LaFortuna, where there is a good restaurant selection. PM me if you have any other questions.
Have a great trip!