Tamarindo’s mainly known as a surf town, but we found plenty of other watersports, great restaurants, and a bustling night market, as well as zip lining, ATVs and horseback riding on the beach.

Sure, Tamarindo gets a bad rep occasionally. It can be busy and touristy, and when compared to some other Cost Rican areas, a bit on the expensive side. Even so, Tamarindo is a beautiful place, with a long, sweeping public beach, and clean clear waters.

Things to do in Tamarindo Costa Rica

Like most vacation destinations in Costa Rica, you’ll need to spend a little time on the road to get here. The trip from San Jose to Tamarindo takes four or five hours by car, but you can also take a commuter flight to Tamarindo airport. If you don’t want to drive you can go from San Jose to Tamarindo by bus or minivan.

Here are some of our favorite activities in Tamarindo.

Spend Time on The Beach

Tamarindo’s main beach, called Tamarindo Beach, is long, sandy, and perfect for everything from sunbathing to surfing, to sand castle building, to even enjoying a delicious meal outdoors under a palm tree. Hanging out on the beach is our favorite of the many cheap things to do in Tamarindo. We’ve spent many hours just walking up and down the beach, enjoying the scenery and the water.

Surfing

Tamarindo is one of the top surfing destinations in Costa Rica. It’s a wonderful place to learn to surf, with consistent waves almost every day. There are plenty of surf shops offering lessons, but Carlos’ Surf Shop is probably the best known in the area. Group lessons are pretty inexpensive at around $50 USD for a couple of hours and almost guarantees you’ll get up and going at least a few times.

Beginner surfers catch waves off Tamarindo Beach itself, just in front of the town. As you improve, you’ll surf off the Estero river mouth for faster breaks, and beyond.

Boogie Boarding on Playa Langosta

While Playa Tamarindo is the most famous beach in Guanacaste, Playa Langosta is just a short walk away. The waves at Playa Langosta are generally smaller, and better for families and newbie surfers.

Teaching our then five year old son to boogie board was one of our favorite family things to do in Costa Rica on that trip.

That said, we caught the waves at Langosta at high tide on a big swell day, and managed to smash a boogie board in two.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Kayaking

Stand up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is hugely popular with tourists now, but it wasn’t as huge when we last visited. It’s a lot of fun, but I find the waves are a little large to make stand up paddle boarding in the ocean waves easy.

If you’re up for something a little less .. bumpy, you can rent a kayak to explore the estuary, where you’ll see wildlife like birds, monkeys and even crocodiles.

Sailing

One of the most popular things to do in Tamarindo, is taking a sunset (or sunrise) sailing tour.

There are several operators that offer catamaran tours, and most include something to eat and drink. It’s a lovely time, with a chance to see dolphins, sea turtles or even whales.

Fishing

Fishing offers a chance to get out on the water and even catch your dinner. Some of the more popular fish around Tamarindo include Marlin, Sailfish, Mahi-Mahi, and Yellowfin tuna.

Horseback Riding

The beaches in Tamarindo’s Guanacaste province are picture perfect for horseback riding. Horseback riding tours start in Tamarindo and goes down to Conchal Beach. There’s a chance to look at local wildlife, and maybe do a little snorkelling off Conchal Beach as well.

Monkey Park

Monkey Park is a refuge for injured or sick animals. It’s a non-profit and run by volunteers, with a low entrance fee.

They have a spider monkeys, as well as birds and other animals like marmosets. This is not a traditional zoo, and is run on a limited budget from the proceeds of admissions. Many of the animals are being rehabilitated for release to the wild, but some permanent residents are unable to survive on their own.

Tamarindo Night Market

The Tamarindo Night Market is open every Thursday night between 6 pm to 9 pm. There are food vendors, local entertainment, and plenty of vendors.

Dining Out

Tamarindo has a well deserved reputation for great restaurants. In terms of cuisine, this beach town is definitely punching far above its weight class. The best restaurants in Tamarindo range from breweries to beach bars to elegant dining.

Volcano Brewing Company is a great place for beers, while Shrimp Hole is popular for seafood, and Antichi Sapori Tamarindo is the place for Italian. Green Papaya Taco Bar is hugely popular, with swings for seating and a chill vibe.

Visit Marino Las Baulas National Park

The Marino Las Baulas National Park was established in 1990 to protect the endangered leatherback turtle eggs from poachers. Las baulas means the leatherbacks.

During turtle mating season, you can take an educational nighttime tour to see the turtles nesting. Read about our experience taking a tour at Las Baulos National Park.

Tennis and Pickleball

This is the place to go if you fancy a game of tennis, or pickleball. There are tennis and pickleball clinics, open play, and competitions if you’re feeling up for it. There’s also a 15 Love Tennis & Pickleball Vacation villa Airbnb rental on site.

Nanny Garden for the Kids

Next to the Tamarindo gymnasium, Nanny garden is for kids aged one to six. It’s open 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, and focuses on fun and art. Lunch is provided, and nanny services are available.

Go Zip Lining or ATV Riding

We spent a day at Monkey Jungle with the kids, and it was one of our favorite things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

While we had fun at Monkey Jungle, there are plenty of other options, including Black Stallion Eco Park & Estates, and Canopy Vista Tamarindo.

Scuba Diving or Snorkeling

Scuba divers take off from Flamingo marina (about half an hour from Tamarindo) to dive the nearby Catalina Islands.

Be Water Diving Tamarindo or Tamadive are popular choices. PADI courses are available as well.

Learn Spanish

If you’re up for a more cerebral challenge, WAYRA Spanish Institute offers Spanish lessons in Tamarindo.

They offer a wide range, from online classes, to intensive courses, to courses with lodging included.

Go to the Gym

If you’re looking to stay fit, Tamarindo has a few gym fitness options. The most popular is arguably Nick Holt Fitness, but plenty of people visit the Revive Wellness Center at Langosta Beach Club, Tamarindo Fitness, and Pura Vida Barre.

Unusual and Quirky Things To Do in Tamarindo

Up for something a little different? Check out these unusual things to do in Tamarindo.

Enjoy Trits

If you haven’t tried this iconic Costa Rican ice cream concoction, you’re in for a treat with Trits.

Trits is sold in most convenience and grocery stores in Costa Rica. It’s not generally available outside Costa Rica or Nicaragua, so enjoy it while you’re here.

Try Your Luck at the Casino

Reviews on Tamarindo’s Casino Diria are decidedly mixed, but it may be worth a visit if casinos are your thing. We’ve never visited, but it’s a smaller casino with table games and slot machines. It’s the only casino in the area that we know of.

Get an Inspirational Psychic Reading

If you’re looking for something unusual to do in Tamarindo, a psychic ready might be the ticket.

Sally Rice psychic bills herself as “a Certified Psychic Medium and Reiki Healer, Remote Viewer, and Medical Intuitive”.

While your future may not be certain, it’s almost certain you’ll find plenty to do while visiting Tamarindo.

Looking for more travel inspiration for South and Central America?

• Should I Visit Tamarindo Costa Rica?
• What To Expect On An Ecuador Amazon Tour With La Selva Lodge
• 15 Awe-inspiring Things to See and Do in South America
• An Honest Review of GlocalMe WiFi Hotspot

Did we miss anything? Let us know what you love to do in Tamarindo!

We’ve spent months in Guanacaste, based in the touristy town of Tamarindo, and road tripping most of the way through. We loved our time in Guanancaste, and found there was an incredible amount to do and see.

How to get from San Jose to Tamarindo by bus or minivan.

Check out tours now.

Things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica

Guanacaste is known for for its stunning coastline, with plenty of long beaches, snorkeling, swimming, and opportunities to watch sea turtles nesting (or hatching).

When you’re done with the beach, there are volcanos, wildlife and rainforests to see, and plenty of adventures, like zip lining to take in.

Visit Guanacaste Costa Rica’s Beaches

If you’re wondering, “what is there to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica?“, the first place to look is the beach. The beaches in Guanacaste are generally uncrowded and beautiful.

You (mostly) won’t find pure white powder beaches and warm, Caribbean aquamarine water here. Instead, there’s a mix of darker, coarser sand, and cooler Pacific water.

The best known beaches are likely Playas del Coco, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Samara, and Playa Hermosa, all of which are a must see on any visit to Costa Rica.

We spent over a month in Tamarindo, which is one of the most popular beach towns on the Guanacaste coast, and home to Playa Tamarindo.

Tamarindo takes a lot of deserved heat for being a somewhat charmless touristy town, but that doesn’t make the beach any less beautiful. Playa Tamarindo is justifiably famous for having some great surf breaks.

To add to the appeal, Tamarindo has a great food scene, with plenty of excellent restaurants. Check out our article on things to do in Tamarindo.

Playas del Coco has a youthful vibe, with plenty of water sports, fishing, and fun in the sun.

Playa Grande (Salinas) is just north of Tamarindo, is uncrowded, and well known for surfing.

Playa Samara is in the far South of Guanancaste, with a small town base, and relaxed vibe.

Playa Hermosa is a popular grey sand beach that’s known for snorkeling, SCUBA diving, fishing, seaside horseback riding and sailing.

There are plenty more gorgeous beaches in Guanacaste, each with their own charm. We rented a little Diahatsu Begu 4×4 and tooled along down the coast to check out a few others like Playa Brasilito, Playa Conchal, Playa Avellanas, and Playa Flamingo.

Go Surfing or Boogie Boarding!

The 800 miles of coastline in Costa Rica, and 300 or so beaches, lend to some fantastic surfing in the Pacific.

Playa Tamarindo, which we mentioned above, is probably the most famous of Costa Rica’s surfing beaches. You can also catch some amazing breaks in Jaco, Santa Teresa Beach, and Nosara (Playa Guiones).

For beginners, Playa Tamarindo, Nosara (Playa Guiones), and Playa Samara are great choices. There are plenty of surf camps in each place, so you’ll be able to take your pick.

For boogie boarding, we loved Langosta Beach, which is just south of Playa Tamarindo. It’s where we taught our then five year old to boogie board. You can get an idea of what the waves were like in our video below (sorry about the video quality!).

Most of the time, we found Playa Langosta’s waves to be small like this, but we did have one day where the wind and weather picked up, and the waves were way too big for our kids. The waves were so aggressive a few days after this video was shot that we broke a boogie board in half! Even so, boogie boarding was one of our favorite family things to do in Guanacaste.

Go Ziplining in Guanacaste

Costa Rica’s known as an adventure lover’s dream, and Guanacaste is no exception. There are plenty of places to enjoy zip lining here.

We had a lot of fun at the Monkey Jungle Zip Line near Tamarindo with our kiddos. There’s also the Congo Trail, with long zip lines, and Diamante Eco Adventure park (near Malapalo Beach), among dozens of others.

Enjoy a Sunset Sail in Guanacaste

With 800 miles of Pacific coastline, there are plenty of opportunities for sunset sails. You’ll find sailing companies based in larger coastal towns like Tamarindo and in Liberia proper however a few sailing companies have smaller offices in some of the smaller locations.

In Tamarindo, sunset sails are on catamarans that offer sailing, and trips come with a bar and snacks. The Marlin Del Rey is the bigger boat, but the smaller Blue Dolphin gets great reviews as well.

See a Leatherback Sea Turtle Nesting

One of our family’s favorite memories is visiting Playa Grande to watch a leatherback sea turtle lay her eggs in the moonlight at Playa Grande’s Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas.

December and January are good times to visit to catch nesting leatherbacks.

Learn About Coffee and Chocolate

Costa Rica is famous for its amazing coffee, and Guanacaste is a great location to learn more. You can stop by Tio Leo Coffee in Barrio el Fosforio (most people take a tour) just outside of Liberia. It’s a working coffee plantation, where you can also learn about cocao. There’s also a tour at Diriá cooperative tour in Hojancha.

For chocolate, try the The Beach Chocolate Factory in Brasilito, Costa Rica.

See wildlife and birdwatch at Palo Verde National Park

Palo Verde National Park is in the South of Guanacaste. It’s a great place to sample Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems, as you can see wetlands, lagoons, grasslands, and tropical dry forests in one area.

Palo Verde is one of Central America’s most densely populated areas for aquatic species and migratory birds. You may see giant crocodiles, iguanas, whip tail lizards, rattlesnakes and coral snakes. If you prefer your animals not overly lizard like, there’s also sloths, peccaries, deer, coyotes, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, pacas, and pumas.

See the Cloud Forest at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

The Monteverde Cloud Forest, located in the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range, is one of Costa Rica’s biggest ecotourism draws.

It’s a relatively easy place to see the rich, diverse plant and animal species which make up the cloud forest in Costa Rica. If you’re lucky, you’ll see toucans, trogons, bellbirds and hummingbirds here.

While the northern tip of Monteverde is in Guanacaste, the majority of Monteverde is outside of the Guanacaste Province borders, in Puntaarenas province. There’s an entrance fee of about $20 per person (for foreigners) and $7 for Costa Rica nationals.

See a volcano (or two… or three)

Costa Rica is chock full of interesting volcanoes to visit. Some are active, some dormant, but all of them make for an interesting visit.

Rincon de la Vieja Volcano

Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is an active volcano, and only about 15 miles northeast of Liberia, making for easy access. It’s within Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The park is an amazing place to visit, as it offers breathtaking waterfalls, wonderful hiking, hot springs, natural pools for swimming, boiling mud pots, and (of course) the volcano itself.

Check before visiting, because the trail to the summit is often closed due to volcanic activity. Even if the trail is open, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is more of a crater than a typical cone volcano, so you won’t get the volcano views like you’d see at something like Volcan Poas (closer to San Jose, and in Alajuela Province.

Rincon de la Vieja (or Old Woman’s Nook in Spanish) is 2,217 feet tall. The ecosystem here is tropical dry forest, but there are beautiful rivers, waterfalls, and plenty of woodland.

Because Rincon de la Vieja is a National Park, there are set opening hours and it’s even closed some days, with a modest entry fee. This is the latest information we could find, but check when you visit because this can change at any time. You can visit 8 am to 4 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. It costs about $15 for adult foreigners and $5 for foreign children.

Volcan Tenorio

Volcan Tenorio is not an active volcano. It’s based in Guanacaste Province, but borders on Alajuela Province. The volcano itself is in Guanacaste, but the Tenorio Volcano National Park with the lovely blue green Rio Celeste waterfall is in Alajuela.

Tenorio is a large volcano with two craters. However, the park is best known for the stunning blue green waters of the Celeste Waterfall rather than visits to the Tenorio crater. There are hiking paths throughout the park, leading to rivers, rain forest, and the waterfall.

The trails leading to crater views of Tenorio Volcano are closed to the public. It is possible to request special permission from MINAE (Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía) and the landowners, but the peak is often covered in clouds. The craters are covered in vegetation and small lakes.

Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most iconic sights. It’s still active, and occasionally puts off smoke and fire. There was a huge eruption in 1968, which destroyed three villages, killed 87 people, and buried over 15 kilometers of land.

Technically, Arenal Volcano National Park and Tabacon, the nearby town, are both just outside the limits of Guanacaste Province, and officially in Alajuela Province. However, Lake Arenal is in Guanacaste Province, and Tabacon and Arenal Volcano are both within kilometers of the border, and since Arenal is a must-visit in Costa Rica, I’ve included them in this article.

When we visited Arenal, we splurged for a few days at Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa Hotel. It’s a higher end tropical spa resort, known for its five hot pools, it’s cold water pool, thermal water slide, and natural river. Tabacon is only 2.5 miles from the lava trails and the Arenal 1968 Volcano Eruption View. You can get a day pass for the hot pools if you don’t want to stay at the hotel, but it’s pricey at $85 for an adult, including lunch.

Where should you stay in Guanacaste?

When we visited last, there weren’t a lot of all inclusive hotels in Guanacaste, but that’s changed with more hotels like Riu Guanacaste. Riu Guanacaste is all-inclusive, and close to Playa del Coco, with a whopping 701 rooms. Things to do at Riu Guanacaste include snorkeling, swimming in the pool, tennis, time at the gym, and really anything you’d find at typical all inclusive.

There are plenty of hotels, hostels, eco lodges and bed and breakfasts in Guanacaste.

Looking for a great deal on your next Airbnb? Click here to get a $35 USD credit on a new account!

We ususally prefer to stay in an Airbnb or Vrbo, which gives us a kitchen and plenty of room. Renting an Airbnb with a pool is a great perk, since it can get incredibly hot in Guanacaste.

Fly into Liberia

Liberia is the second largest city in Costa Rica, and the largest in Guanacaste. There’s a cool old quarter, which houses the Museo de Guanacaste, and a cowboy themed Museo del Salbanero, and the pretty colonial-style Ermita de la Agonia.

Liberia is close to the seemingly endless beaches of Guanacaste, Rincón de la Vieja Volcano is just to the North, and Paelo Verde National Park is just to the South.

If your aim is to visit Guanacaste, flying into Liberia is quicker than flying into the much larger San Jose. We flew in through San Jose, with Tamarindo as our destination. Because Costa Rica is so mountainous, and the roads are smaller and slower than in most of Canada and the USA, it took us over six hours by non-stop bus to travel the 160 miles from San Jose to Tamarindo. In contrast, the Liberia Airport is 42 miles away from Tamarindo, and about an hour and a half of driving.

Do you have more ideas for things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica? Let us know below!

Luckily for us, The Phoenix Resort in the heart of San Pedro, Belize is worth every penny and earns its reputation as one of the best resorts on Ambergis Caye.

We were fortunate enough to stay at The Phoenix Resort for five days and had the opportunity to find out for ourselves what makes the place a Tripadvisor favorite.

Just want to hear the highlights? Look for our quick review on The Phoenix Belize at the end of this post.

A word of caution though, our Phoenix Belize review might make you book a one way flight to the island of Ambergris Caye off the coast of mainland Belize, so continue on at your own risk.

First Impressions of The Phoenix Resort

Tucked out the way at the north end of Barrier Reef Drive, known as front street to the locals, the unassuming side entrance of The Phoenix Resort leads into a shaded lot full of golf carts, which are the most common mode of transportation on the island of Ambergris Caye. On the left is a playground for kids, and up above is the hotel patio bar with free drinks during happy hour every day from 5 to 6 (local beer and rum only).

There’s also the well reviewed Sol Spa and gym located on the second floor with the resort owned Red Ginger restaurant tucked below next to the main lobby.

The main entrance to The Phoenix Resort is actually located on Pescador Drive, known as middle street to the locals, however the most common entrance is via front street with quicker access to the many restaurants, shops and bars along the beach.

Once you cross through the lobby from the main entrance and exit the rear door you see the saline lap pool and then the beautiful and heated multi-level main pool, with a well stocked pool side bar. There are loungers positioned all around the pool, as well as tables and chairs where you can sit back and enjoy a bite delivered fresh from the Red Ginger restaurant, or sip on a tasty concoction the friendly bar servers whip up.

The ultra-stylish, three-story high buildings that comprise The Phoenix surround the entire pool area. Nearly every one also has an ocean view of the clear blue water. There is no beach at The Phoenix Resort, which is the case for almost all of the hotels on Ambergris Caye. However, there is a short seawall and pathway that runs in front, as well as several long piers nearby you can swim off if you fancy a dip in the ocean.

Note: This area of Belize isn’t known for its beaches, and even if you happen to find one in town the shallow waters, the sea grass don’t make wading in all that appealing. There are a few hotels with beaches on the island, however they’re all just outside the town proper. Most people that want to spend time in the ocean take snorkel tours and there’s some amazing snorkeling fairly close to shore.

That said, the Phoenix Resort is right on the water and the water views are gorgeous. The entire grounds on the resort are well maintained and patrolled 24/7, and there always seems to be someone around if you have any problems, however they’re never obtrusive.

The Rooms at The Phoenix Resort Belize

Each room at The Phoenix Resort Belize is condominium size. You can stay in one, tow or three bedroom suites, and the two and three bedroom suites all include two bathrooms.

Our 1,700 foot, two bedroom suite had a huge en suite with a large jetted tub, a big walk in shower and his and her sinks. There was a nice collection of shampoos and conditioners as well as other toiletries in both bathrooms and super plush towels and robes.

There were also flower petals strewn all around our suite when we checked in that made the suite smell wonderful. Turn down service that night took all the flower petals away so that was a nice bonus as well.

The main bathroom had two doors, one from the main hallway and one directly from the second room, with his and her sinks as well as a large shower. As such, the two bedroom suites at The Phoenix would be equally fine for two couples or a family of four. There was also a washer and dryer hidden away in the main bathroom, complete with detergent so that was a bonus.

The master bedroom had a very comfortable king sized bed and a plush white duvet complete with a variety of soft to firm pillows. There was also a new LCD TV as well as a safe hidden in the oversized closet. The spare bedroom included a pair of comfortable twin beds and another LCD TV as well.

The rooms were all meticulously maintained and we all enjoyed staying at the resort.

The Kitchens at The Phoenix Belize

All the suites at The Phoenix include well appointed kitchens complete with stainless steel appliances, including a fridge, dual sinks, a blender, a stove, an oven as well as a dishwasher. There’s also filtered water from a tap in the kitchen so you can cut down on purchased water bottles while you stay there. The kitchen was well stocked with a Keurig coffeemaker, plates, glasses and cutlery as well as a decent selection of pots and pans.

There were a few spices in the cupboard, as well as salt and pepper but that’s about it. Luckily, there are two grocery stores almost right in front of the hotel, so stocking up on supplies is a quick walk away.

Side note: I was short some butter one morning while making a late brunch and one of the women cleaning noticed my distress (there’s daily cleaning as well as a turn down service at night) and she offered to grab me some butter from the restaurant so I could finish cooking. It was incredibly nice of her and she reminded me that the restaurant could also provide additional pots and pans if I needed them. Many thanks!

As well as the large kitchen area, there was a living room complete with a large screen TV. The living room also had a outdoor patio right off it with another table, chairs and a few loungers for relaxing. We had a few of our meals out on the terrace and it was a great place to eat breakfast before the pool area got busy.

In Room Extras at The Phoenix Belize

When you stay at The Phoenix Belize, they include a lot of extras, including free WiFi which is always important for us. I have to say the Wifi at The Phoenix was pretty good for Ambergris Caye. There were a few spotty areas around the resort but it was reliable in the suite, around the pool and in the bar, which are pretty much the areas we stayed around the most.

A cool bonus when staying at the resort is that it includes an Apple iPad during your stay and a Bose speaker system to pair with. As well, there was a cell phone with $20 worth of service. The cell phone was helpful when meeting up with some friends in town and also calling about a flight off the island. It also came in handy when I called around to get some snorkel tour prices, however the hotel tour prices ended up being comparable so we ended up booking through them instead.

The iPad was great for the kids and it included links to the onsite Red Ginger restaurant for ordering room service. It also had information about the other restaurants the resort owns in San Pedro, namely Wine de Vine and the Blue Water Grill restaurant. As a guest at The Phoenix, you also get 10% off all food at the Red Ginger, as well as their other two restaurants, however there is a small surcharge for room service.

You also get a delicious welcome drink when you check in and there was a small bottle of rum, a bottle of Coke, a bottle of tonic water and a lime waiting in the suite for us when we checked in as well. Needless to say, they didn’t go to waste.

Resort-Wide Extras at The Phoenix Resort

Complimentary Yoga classes

Throughout the week there are complimentary Yoga classes upstairs on the rooftop patio for guests staying at The Phoenix Resort. We didn’t make it to any, however two separate friends we know who’ve stayed in San Pedro raved about how good the instructors at The Phoenix were when they heard we were staying at the hotel.

Complimentary Drinks

Every day from 5 to 6 PM there are complimentary cocktails served upstairs on the roof top patio bar. The free drinks include local rum, local beer and, often wine from their Wine de Vine store. Our favorite beer (and it seems the favorite of everyone on the islands) was the locally made Belikin beer. You can get it in Regular, Light and Stout. We enjoyed Regular the most, however plenty of people love the Stout.

Free Kayaks and Paddle Boards (SUPs)

Free kayaks and paddle boards are included at the resort, however you can’t get them on site. Instead, you need to grab a voucher from the main lobby and walk a few blocks south past Central Park to one of the dive centers near the ferry terminal. It’s a quick walk, however it’s a bit of a pain to have to go first to the lobby, wait for them to call and then walk down there. The good part is that the resort is just about the perfect distance to paddle to before heading back into the wind and coasting back to the dive center to return your paddle board or kayak.

Complimentary Wine Tastings, Chocolate Tastings, and Painting Classes

As well as the free daily cocktail hour, The Phoenix often offers free wine tastings, chocolate tastings and painting classes to its guests as well. These events change every week and you’ll find a copy of the resort activities on the iPad as well as printed in your room. They even offer special painting classes just for kids. You can contact the front desk to find out more info as well as watch the sign by the foot of the stairs to the patio and spa.

Complimentary Bicycles

Though we never got around to using them ourselves, The Phoenix Resort offers free bicycles for their guests. We rented a golf cart for our entire stay on the island, so er either walked or took the golf cart, but we spotted several guests using the bikes on a regular basis. The bikes looked in good shape and San Pedro is the perfect size to get around by bike.

Bouncy Castle

Everyday, at around 3 PM, there is a bouncy castle for the young ones to play on. Ours decided they were too big for it, however if you have young children with you this would be a great way to tire them out everyday. There’s also the

Amenities at The Phoenix Belize

Pools

There are two gorgeous pools at The Phoenix Resort. Both are saline pools and both are heated. The heater in the lap pool was being repaired while we were there so we strategically opted not to use it, however it looked liked a great way to get an early morning workout. The main pool had multi levels and included a shallow end that would be great for smaller kids to wade around in while the parents sample some of the tasty beverages the guys in the pool bar whip up.

Unlike some of the huge resorts in Mexico, there are no “Activity Coordinators” or music being pumped out around the pool, making it a chill and pleasant place to hang out. The only time it ever seemed to get busier was around 3 or 4 when most people got back from taking tours or checking out the town. We had the pool to ourselves quite a few times, especially before lunch.

As well as the pool bar, open most days from 10-5, there are plush pool towels and off resort (for snorkeling or other tours) towels available on the corner of the pool bar, and special lounge chair towels for the loungers. You can order food off the menu from the Red Ginger and it will be served to you pool side as well.

Sol Spa

Guests at The Phoenix Belize can enjoy the amenities of the onsite Sol Spa. The Sol Spa offers sport, therapeutic and deep tissue massages as well as a variety of scrubs and body treatments. They also do mani/pedis, facials and more. The massages can be had poolside, in your room or in one of their lovely spa treatment rooms. We didn’t have a massage, but one of the other guests raved about it while we were down by the pool one day so it sounded nice.

Fitness Center

Next to Sol Spa is the fitness center at The Phoenix. It contains all the usual assortment of treadmills, elliptical machines, a universal weight machine as well as some free weights. They also offer complimentary passes to a nearby, more fully stocked gym if you want more variety in your workout.

Red Ginger Restaurant

The onsite, resort owned, Red Ginger restaurant is a well reviewed restaurant and a great addition to the hotel. You can eat in, order from the menu poolside, or have them deliver your food right to your room. We only ate in the restaurant once, but we did get nachos and sandwiches every day we were there. The nachos were heavenly and were a great poolside treat between lunch a dinner.

The Red Ginger has daily specials and a brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests get 10% off all their food at the Red Ginger, however there is a $5 BZD fee ($2.50 USD) for room service. You can check out the Red Ginger menu here. Just remember that the prices on the menu are in Belizean Dollars which is usually at half the US dollar (so divide by 2 to get USD price).

Blue Water Grill and Wine de Vine

Though neither of these places are located at the hotel, they’re all part of the same family and guests staying at The Phoenix Resort get 10% off their food and drink at both restaurants. The Blue Water Grill, a few blocks south down front street right on the beach, is known for its great seafood and ambiance and the Wine de Vine store is one of the best places on the island to buy local and imported wines. They also sell some really tasty looking platters in their meat and cheese deli section.

You can check out the Blue Water Grill’s menu here and Wine de Vine’s page is here. Note that prices are also in BZD so divide by 2 to get USD pricing.

Business Center

The Phoenix offers a small business center, complete with a few computers and printing facilities. They also include a small library of books, DVDs and board games you can borrow while you’re staying at the hotel.

Activity Planner for Offsite Activities

Though not really an amenity, the activity planner who works at the front desk is great at setting up any offsite activities you might want to do on Ambergris Caye or even on mainland Belize. They can help you set up everything from snorkeling the amazing Hol Chan Reserve and Shark Ray Alley to diving in the world famous Blue Hole. They can also get you a good deal on golf cart rentals, fishing trips, catamaran tours and jet ski rentals.

There are also a ton of things to see and do off the island like day trip excursions to the mainland to check out ancient Mayan ruins, go cave tubing, ziplining, jungle trekking and so forth. You can usually set up these activities once you get to Belize, however, depending on the season, it might be better to arrange them in advance.

A Quick Review of The Phoenix Resort Belize

What we loved

The Phoenix Resort is right in heart of San Pedro and that makes it easy to check out the nearby bars and restaurants. The rooms are bright, spacious, cheerful and clean and their nachos were so good we ordered some every day we spent there. We also loved lounging by the pools and the free daily happy hour up in the little patio bar.

Micki’s note: The kids and I loved the warm, ocean side pools so much that we spent every morning playing in the pool, and eating nachos for lunch. Pure heaven.

What could have been better

The free kayaks and stand up paddle boards they offer require a voucher from the front desk and are stored a few blocks away from the hotel with another company. On the positive side, they are included free. There’s also no beach at The Phoenix, however all the beaches are public in Belize and there is a small beach a few doors down you can use. You can also swim from the end of the nearby pier if you love swimming in the ocean as much as I do.

Final Impressions of The Phoenix Resort Belize

To say we enjoyed our stay at The Phoenix Resort on Ambergris Caye would be an understatement. From the moment we walked into our bright, spacious suite we knew we were going to be comfortable there. They included pretty much everything we needed as well as a few that surprised us. The included iPad and cell phone were especially nice while we were there.

From a tasty welcome drink while checking in to a free ride to the airport on the way out, we felt we were in good hands while we were there. We especially loved that the people at The Phoenix Resort were happy to help us in any way but stayed out of the way once we were settled in. That’s exactly what we love about a place. Well, that and tasty nachos…

About The Phoenix Belize

You can find more Phoenix Belize reviews on Tripadvisor or visit the Phoenix Belize website. You can also find the Phoenix on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Check lastest prices.

Want to check out their restaurants? You’ll find them here (prices in BZD): Red Ginger, Blue Water Grill, Wine de Vine

Just out of my hearing, the kids are tearing up and down the white sand like two happy puppies. Later, we’re all heading out for an afternoon boat trip to Shark Ray Alley to snorkel with nurse sharks and stingrays.

Yes, this is what luxury is like on Ambergris Caye.

Victoria House awards and more

I should have expected something special here at Victoria House in Ambergris Caye, Belize. After all, this San Pedro resort has a swath of awards longer than my arm, including multiple TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, 2012 Travel + Leisure Magazine Top 500 Hotels and Resorts in the World, and a 2013 Fodor’s Choice Award of Distinction. Not too shabby at all. You can check out the Victoria House reviews for yourself on Booking.com and TripAdvisor. Check prices here.

If you ever have a chance to check out a luxury hotel on Ambergris Caye in Belize, don’t hesitate for a second. Grab your passport, your wallet, a swimsuit and your sense of adventure. If you do, there will come a moment when you’ll totally understand what I’m writing about today.

Here are some of the amazing moments you’ll experience.

Frolicking barefoot by the ocean

Hands down, the relaxed, Caribbean vibe on Ambergris Caye is my favorite part of the island. It’s all about sunny beach days, playing in the water, reading great books, and letting all of your at-home responsibilities and worries slip away.

Finding the most gorgeous places to catch up on work or relax with a book

Hands down, the thatched roof palapa by the infinity pool at Victoria House was one of my all time favorite places to catch up on writing blog posts, surfing the net or catching up on reading.

You’ll feel like you’re among old friends

It’s hard not to feel welcome here. We were greeted with ice cold fruit drinks when we stepped into the lobby, and every single person I met greeted me with a warm smile.

Eating snacks by the ocean

There’s something wonderful about sitting by the ocean for lunch. Admiral Nelson’s Bar at the Victoria House serves up some of the tastiest homemade snacks and lunches I’d had in a long time. Try the Greek salad. To. Die. For.

Sinking into your luxury bed

We were lucky enough to stay in one of Victoria House’s villas, with a gorgeous king size bed. There’s not much more inviting than crisp white sheets on a luxurious bed at the end of a long day of swimming, exploring the town of San Pedro, and then enjoying delicious food.

Dangling your feet in the ocean-side pool

There are two pools at Victoria House; one lovely infinity pool toward the back of the property, and an ocean side pool. It’s perfect for splashing around in and watching the ocean. The kids loved to sit on the loungers here and dangle their feet in the water. When we were there, the pool wasn’t being heated so we only went swimming in it once.

Lounging on the private dock

We found the private dock at Victoria House to be one of the prettiest spots on the island and that’s saying a lot on an island that’s surrounded by clear aquamarine water, white sand, and dotted with charming, colorful houses.

At the entrance of the dock, there’s a dive shop with free stand up paddle boards (SUP) and kayaks for use by guests. At the end of the pier there’s a small palapa for shade and lots of room to sit down if you want to relax and stare out at the ocean or dive into the clear water.

Blissing out at the Spa

The Spa at Victoria House.

I can’t even begin to tell you.

There’s a pages long menu of spa treatments and services, all designed to pamper and relax you. The Spa at Victoria House itself is a brand new 3,500 square foot colonial building set among coconut palms, bougainvillea, and gentle ocean breezes.

Charles and I both opted for a couples traditional relaxation massage. It was flawless, relaxing, and one of the best spa experiences we’ve ever had.

Dining by candlelight

The beautiful Palmilla Restaurant comes with a considerable price tag, but it’s well worth it. If I were a professional food writer, I’d be throwing around words like “scrumptious” and “mouth watering” to describe my nightly vegetarian pasta courses and Charles’ chicken selections. The Palmilla Restaurant at Victoria House has a nice air conditioned dining room with plenty of seating, plus an outdoor patio. It’s open to the public as well if you happen to be staying somewhere else in San Pedro and want an upscale meal.

Eating freshly made pastries every morning

The Palmilla restaurant is also where you’ll eat your complimentary breakfast in the mornings, complete with fresh juices and home made baking. Be sure to try the delicious, fresh-baked muffins or the home made granola. They were delish!

Walking along the ocean boardwalk

Victoria House, like most of the hotels on the island, has an ocean side boardwalk instead of a traditional beach area. The waterfront at Victoria House is also enormous, making a walk along the ocean boardwalk here extra special.

Diving off the pier into the clear blue ocean

Since there’s no sloping beach to get in the water, the best way to get wet is to jump off the pier that juts out into the ocean or when taking out one of the free paddle boards or kayaks.

Lounging by your villa

We were lucky enough to stay in one of Victoria House’s huge two bedroom private villas. As such we could just sit and watch the world pass us by from 2 great vantage points.

Enjoying the ample luxury in your suite

Our huge, 2 bedroom villa came with fresh flowers, a fully appointed kitchen, two bathrooms, and even an extra, private, outdoor shower for both bedrooms! Don’t worry, there are also traditional indoor showers, if you prefer to soap up in privacy.

There were also new flatscreen TVs with good English cable service in every room however you won’t find a phone anywhere in your suite. Somewhat charmingly, when we requested a wakeup call, we got a wake up knock at our door instead!

Waking to the sound of ocean waves

Though the ocean is fairly calm around San Pedro, you can still here the water lapping against the shore some mornings and there’s usually a nice breeze blowing in off the water.

Playing games by the ocean

The kids loved hanging out on the wide swath of sand beside the ocean. We lounged in the hammocks, and played beanbag toss or ladder golf for hours.

Admiring the expansive, groomed grounds

I’m not sure how large the grounds are at Victoria House, but they must run into several acres, at least, and they’re perfectly, meticulously, manicured. There’s not a lovely tropic flower, or verdant green tree out of place.

Sinking your toes in the white sand

The sand at the Victoria House resort in Belize is bright white and easy on the feet. There are also loungers and chairs strewn about in the sand and under the many palm trees that line the water giving everyone staying at the resort plenty of space from the other guests.

Enjoying the exclusive toiletries

One of my very favorite things in a luxury hotel are the toiletries. You’ll find Victoria House’s very own spa line of shampoo, conditioner and body lotion here, made with Mayan bee honey. They’re as perfect as they look.

Savoring delectable desserts

Molten chocolate lava cake cooked to order.

Creme brule.

Homemade ice cream.

Need we go on? Absolutely heaven.

Gazing over the infinity pool

With pool side loungers, and plenty of chairs and tables, the infinity pool is the perfect place to relax and unwind. It’s also gets great Wifi.

Working out in the air conditioned exercise room

Tucked away in the spa building, the exercise room is the perfect place to get in a workout in air-conditioned comfort.

Soaking up the sunset

Ambergris Caye has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. The ocean side pool at Victoria house is the perfect place to unwind, cocktail in hand, at the end of a busy day.

What you need to know

Victoria House Beach Resort is a luxury resort on the Island of Ambergris Caye, Belize. There are 42 rooms, including private pool villas, luxurious suites, staterooms, and casitas.

The resort is a few minutes just outside of the main town of San Pedro to the south, so you’ll either need to take taxis (which can become expensive) or rent a golf cart for your stay, which is the main mode of transportation on the island. They also provide free bike rentals which can be an option depending where you’re biking to.

We rented a golf cart during our stay, and had a blast scooting around the island. You can rent independently, or Victoria House can arrange a rental for you. You can also arrange tours to nearby attractions like Mayan ruins, Shark Ray Alley, cave tubing and more through Victoria House.

The Spa at Victoria House

There are over 30 treatments, massages and facials available at the Spa at Victoria House.

Dining

There are two restaurants on site: the more casual Admiral Nelson’s Bar, and the elegant Restaurant Palmilla.

Want to know more?

You can find out more on the Victoria house website. You can also find Victoria House on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Want to book a room?

Check prices here. You can book a room through the Victoria House Resort directly, or through Booking.com or compare prices on TripAdvisor.

Location: San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Our stay at Victoria House was complimentary, but that doesn’t mean they forced us to lounge by the pool, enjoy some amazing meals or have one of the best spa experiences we’ve ever had. As such, all thoughts and opinions shared in this post are entirely our own.

Dreaming of an ocean getaway, but hate the crowds? Athens Gate Resort in Belize might be what you’re after.

Located just a few miles south of San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye, this TripAdvisor favorite boutique beach resort is a quiet place with a ton of hidden gems. We recently had the chance to stay and review Athens Gate Resort Belize for ourselves and, to be honest, we had a great time.

For one, this unassuming boutique hotel features huge suites with some of the most well stocked kitchens I’ve ever seen in a hotel. Featuring a dishwasher and all stainless steel appliances, when you factor in it also included a full washer and dryer, roughing it in Belize takes on a whole new meaning.

Secondly, Athen’s Gate is outside the hustle and bustle of busy San Pedro, however when you rent a golf cart to get around and tour the island (like everyone who stays in San Pedro does) you’re only a few minutes from great restaurants and the best bakery we found on the island (The Baker – try their cinnamon buns!).

Since Athen’s Gate is located on the south side of town, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of crossing the island’s only toll bridge ($5 BZD each way) which can get annoying after a few trips or hearing the constant beat of San Pedro’s late night beach bars if you stay at a place in town.

The staff of Athens Gate Belize

As great as the hotel is, the best part of Athens Gate Resort could very well be the staff. Glen, William, Dennis and E. make you feel like you’re at home, and go out of their way to make sure you have everything you need during your stay.

Glen even drove Micki to the airport when a family emergency called her away, and we didn’t have time to get a taxi. Thanks again Glen!

Outside of that, if you need a ride, they’ll call you a taxi. Want to rent a golf cart? They’ll have one delivered right to you for cheaper than renting in town. Thinking of taking a snorkeling or dive tour? They’ll get you picked up off their own pier and you’ll have one of the best snorkeling trips of your life.

Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world and both Shark Ray Alley (which is a quick boat ride from Athens Gate Resort) and Mexico Rocks have amazing marine life. At Shark Ray Alley, you can swim in shallow water with harmless nurse sharks as well as huge sting rays. Mexico Rocks has more colorful fish and friendly sea turtles, but it’s a little farther north of the island.

Amenities at Athens Gate Belize

One of the nicest things about Athens Gate Belize is that they actually have a real beach, which is rare in Ambergris Caye. If you enjoy sitting on the sand with your toes in the water, or watching your young ones frolic on the beach, at Athens Gate you can.

Kids will also enjoy the nice pool, complete with free pool toys like noodles and loungers.

Like the rest of the island, they also have a long pier to get you out of the seagrass and there’s decent snorkeling right off the dock. Since all beaches in Belize are public, you can also walk a few docks down to the right to enjoy some great snorkeling there as well. If you don’t have a snorkel or fins, just talk to one of the guys and they’ll set you up with some free of charge.

Grabbing a beer while sitting on the dock over the clear water and watching as the sun sets over the island might very well be the highlight of your year. For those that crave margaritas by the pool, William is your man and he can whip you up some delicious cocktails that will leave you wondering why you don’t live on Ambergris Caye permanently.

Water activities at Athens Gate Belize

While staying at Athens Gate Belize we also enjoyed grabbing one of their free kayaks or stand up paddleboards and cruising around the quiet bay. Unlike a lot of the resorts, where you need to sign a few things or walk to a specific pier far from the resort, at Athens Gate you just need to grab a board or a kayak and go.

Out past the piers, the water is so clear and blue that you can see everything from fish to lobster to turtles just below the water. There are even huge conch shells within grabbing distance of the dock. Glen also told me that if you wait long enough, you’ll see giant eagle rays leaping out of the ocean.

For me, one of my all time, on the water highlights happened while I was staying at Athen’s Gate. As I paddled my stand up paddle board back to shore one extremely calm evening, a giant ray crisscrossed under my SUP. I followed it for a good 30 or 40 feet as it zoomed around. The water was so clear it was like it was hovering in air.

A true boutique hotel

Whether you’re staying on the first floor or the fourth, each lavishly appointed suite has amazing views over the clear aquamarine waters for which Belize is famous for.

With only a dozen suites, Athens Gate Belize is definitely a boutique hotel, and the only thing missing for some would be an on site restaurant. Of course, the kitchen was so well stocked with everything from a Ninja blender to a cupboard full of spices, the kids and I decided to get some baking done. It’s not that often that you get a full oven at a hotel and we made blueberry muffins for breakfast one morning and crepes the next. It was awesome!

For those that don’t want to cook, there are well reviewed restaurants within a block and a half (the well reviewed Black Orchid Restaurant is one of them) and San Pedro proper has dozens of great restaurants from seafood to pasta. For us, it was a nice break from a traditional sleep only hotel, and in addition to getting some baking done, it gave us a chance to make some of our favorite meals like pasta and Mexican.

If you want to cook for yourself there are a few decent supermarkets in town and a little store just down the lane. Since Belize is officially an English country, shopping for food is really easy.

The suites themselves are large and clean and well furnished. The king sized bed in our room was heavenly to sleep on. Our two bedroom suite also had twin beds for the kids, as well as their own TV and bathroom which was a nice bonus. However we had trouble keeping Jordan out of the large jetted tub in our private bathroom.

Cole enjoyed the new 60 inch TV in the large living room, while I loved having a dedicated work desk to get some work done. We all enjoyed the fact we could watch YouTube and Netflix at the same time via the free in-room WiFi.

Final thoughts on Athens Gate Belize

So, to recap, if you’re looking for a spacious home away from home along a quiet beach just outside of a touristy town with some amazing snorkeling, diving and paddleboarding directly on your doorstep, then Athens Gate Resort on Ambergris Caye island in Belize might be just what you’re looking for.

Tell them we sent you! If you see a ray while paddling, take a picture and send it to me because the only thing I regretted about my stay there was not having a camera with me the day I saw one.

Thanks again to Glen and his team for such an awesome stay.

Things to note about Athens Gate Belize

• There is no elevator, so if you’re on the 4th floor there is a bit of a climb. The view is worth it!
• There is no restaurant on site, however there are several nearby.
• The resort is a bit out of town, so if you don’t have a golf cart rental you’re looking at long walks or taxis. Golf cart rentals are much cheaper by the week than daily.
• There is a larger sister resort a few doors down called Pelican Reef that also has a restaurant on site.
• Tiny sand flies (no-see-ums) can be bad on the beach around dusk and dawn everywhere on Ambergris Caye, especially when there’s no wind. This is true everywhere on the island, so bring bug spray or stay off the sand around dusk.
• The rooms are some of cleanest we’ve ever experienced. There’s daily cleaning and they’ll even do your dishes if you forget a few in the sink. Thank you Gloria, Gladys and Janna!
• This place is perfect for families that like to cook for themselves or those looking to get away from the crowds of San Pedro, but it’s still close enough that amazing restaurants and fun nightlife are just around the next bend in the road.

Want to know more?

You can find out more on Athens Gate’s official website, or check out their reviews on TripAdvisor.

How to get here

Most visitors get to Ambergris Caye by flying into Belize City, and then either taking a commuter flight (a bit pricier and incredibly scenic) or an hour long ferry (cheaper) to Ambergris Caye.

We wouldn’t advise spending any time in Belize City itself. We’ve heard plenty of first hand reports of Belize City crime, so if you need to overnight in the city be careful to stay in a good hotel, in a good area, and heed cautions not to go out at night or down side street. It may also be a wise precaution to avoid walking around, especially overnight, and take a taxi wherever you need to go.

Athens Gate kindly hosted us, but our opinions are all our own.

Preferably somewhere with unlimited fruity drinks, a great buffet and fun dancing. But where could we go?

Despite skipping through several continents on our last trip, and taking almost every mode of transportation you can think of in the past, we’ve never been on a cruise.

Given our love of riding camels and floating around the sky in Turkey, I’d say a little off the beaten path probably describes our travel style pretty accurately. So a great cruise for us would be something just a little different.

What if we decided to book a cruise through the Panama Canal?

The Panama Canal might just be the destination for people like us, who are looking for something just a little bit unusual. Though far from natural, where else can you sit on a luxury cruise ship and look out over mountains and fields while traversing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean?

8 Cool Facts About The Panama Canal

• The Panama Canal is known as the eighth engineering wonder of the world and is sto;; considered one of the largest and most ambitious engineering feats in the world.
• At 48 miles (77 km) long, the canal has locks at each ocean entrance to lift ships up into man made Gatun Lake, which sits about 85 ft above sea level.
• The average toll to get through the Panama Canal is around $54,000 USD. The most expensive toll ever was paid was by the cruise ship Norwegian Pearl. It once paid $375,600 USD for a one way passage.
• During the initial attempts by the French to construct the canal in the late 1800s, over 20,000 people died of malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases before the project went bankrupt.
• In return for guaranteeing the independence of Panama (by arms from Columbia) and providing a one time $10 million payment as well as an annual $250,000 annuity, the United States was given a 10-mile wide strip of land for the canal and the right to build it in 1904.
• Though the Panama Canal was started in the late 1800s by the French, it wasn’t officially opened until 1914. As such, next year (2014) marks it’s 100th anniversary.

• A treaty signed in 1977 under US President Jimmy Carter gave control back to Panama. Panama took full ownership of the canal in 1999.
• A project to nearly double the canal’s capacity and allow larger ships is expected to be completed in 2015.

One of the great things about all this daydreaming (and Googling) is coming across some cool images. For instance, I love this timelapse crossing the Panama Canal.

What You Need To Know

A cruise on the Panama Canal has the advantage of letting passengers, depending on their itinerary, visit a port on either the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean (or both!). Apparently, the scenery isn’t too bad either. While I’d expect lush jungle around the canal, some parts of the canal look onto Panama’s mountain ranges and sandy beaches.

Depending on the type of cruise booked, some companies offer an 11-day round trip excursion from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, and it’s also possible to book longer 14-20 day trips, and embark or disembark at well known ports like such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

The itineraries of the cruise will vary depending on how many days you’ve booked, but most cruises will visit Aruba, Cabo San Lucas, Cartagena, Puntarenas and San Juan del Sur, among others.

We haven’t quite made up our mind yet, but I’d say it’s still in the running. Not only would we be seeing a great country rolling by from the comfort of our loungers but we’d also get to check out a few nice beaches and port towns while we’re at it.

Have you cruised through the Panama Canal? What did you think?

Of all the places on the southern tip of the Nicoyan Peninsula, we had heard the most about Montezuma. Of all the people we had talked to, there was never a negative word said about it. We hadn’t done a lot of homework, but we knew it had a few hotels and restaurants and had decided that if we spent the night, it would probably be in Montezuma. Neither one of us knew what to expect as we drove down the steep road leading into town and to be honest, we still have mixed feelings about the place. It is at once greater and lesser than we expected.

It is greater in that it is quite a cute little offbeat town tucked on the sides of a mountain with gorgeous beaches running along both sides of it. There are a dozen little restaurants and shops hidden along its curving streets and lanes. There is a nice park and play center right smack in the middle of it all. The people in town seem friendly enough and the prices, though not amazing, seem on par for that area of the world. There is a definite “earthy” feel to the town with yoga classes, all natural foods and organic fare available at a bunch of places. It’s a far cry from the adventure travel that Costa Rica’s known for. We even had decent healthy food at The Bakery Cafe while watching a pair of monkeys descend from the treetops to entertain us while we ate a late lunch.

That all being said, there seems to be an hidden undercurrent to the town. Both ends of the beach have a very large tent population with many tenters there for the long term. The majority of the locals seem be remnants of a 60’s hippie rejuvenation project that fell on hard times. I haven’t checked the stats but I would hazard to guess that the place has a higher amount of assault and petty theft incidences than neighboring towns. I will say that besides for walking on the beach after sunset we never really had a strong feeling of danger in the place though. Of course, with the kids we weren’t out too late and the town looked like it had a few parties that might go all night so who knows how the place changes as the night progresses.

In the daytime, Montezuma is colorful and loaded with craftsman and artisans. Even at night the streets come alive with tables and booths set up along the two main roads with people selling their crafts while cooking their supper on their little portable bbqs. Maybe it’s the hunger of the sellers eyes that gave us mixed feelings about the place. A lot of the artisans are gringos from the tent cities and need the few dollars your willing to spend on their clamshell necklaces, beaded bracelets and coconut pendants to prolong their extended stays in this little corner of paradise.

Even now Micki and I can’t really define what it was about Montezuma that left a bad taste in our mouths. In truth the kids had a great time and we enjoyed our stay.

I ask any of you who read this who have been or are planning to go what your thoughts on Montezuma are. I would love to know if you picked up that subtle thread of uneasiness that we felt or if the town is exactly what it pretends to be, a hippie inspired craftsman’s paradise of colorful people and nice beaches.

To complete this tale, after a day on the beach and after playing in the pool that night the kids were quite tuckered out.  We had supper in a gorgeous little Italian restaurant surrounded by the more affluent in the area. In the morning we got up and had a nice breakfast and let the kids run off whatever steam they had at the playground before deciding to continue our trek south.

In my next post in this series, I’ll tell you all about our crazy 4×4 off road drive over a mountain track to Malpais and our take on the much larger than expected surf town of Santa Teresa.

Safe travels Barefoot Nomads!

Have you been to Montezuma, Costa Rica? Do you agree with our take?  Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.

We were hopeful that Santa Lucia, Tambor and Montezuma would ease our frazzled nerves and give credence to their well deserved reviews. Well, that isn’t totally true. After that rough road we were anxious to just sit back and rest. We weren’t sure Santa Lucia and Tambor would offer much respite, but we looked forward to seeing them regardless.

We met a nice couple while on a day tour out of San Jose when we checked out some active volcanoes, a coffee plantation and a whole bunch of waterfalls, who passed on some great advice. They had just spent a week renting a large house in Santa Lucia with a dozen extended family members. They had all converged on Santa Lucia for a week from all over North America and in their last few days in the country (when me met them) they all went their own ways to do their own things. We thought it was a nice way to have a joint vacation and are hoping to do something similar with our extended family in the coming years.

Anyway, they loved the area, but said there really wasn’t a whole lot to do in Santa Lucia proper. Oh sure, they went ziplining, did a little snorkeling, walked the beaches and went kayaking but there wasn’t a lot to do in the town itself. Following their advice, we simply cruised through town and did a quick stop at the local beach to check out the views.

The area around Santa Lucia was gorgeous (as expected) however they were right on the money in terms of things to do. If you’re hoping for a string of restaurants and a wild nightlife just keep on trucking. Santa Lucia is perfect for those looking to get away from it all and have a nice quiet stay. Some of the houses right off the water would be a great place to relax for a few days with the kids, however the lack of close amenities could be a massive turnoff for some.

In a similar vein, if it wasn’t for its tiny airfield, the large all-inclusive Barcelo Tambor Beach Hotel and the Los Delfines Golf and Country Club, we’re not sure Tambor would exist on a map. Since we weren’t flying out from there (they offer 20 minutes flights to and from San Jose and several other Costa Rica destinations for a surprisingly reasonable amount) and weren’t planning on staying at the very large and seemingly very nice Barcelo Tambor Beach Hotel (though we were awfully tempted to check in for a few days of all-inclusive decadence) there wasn’t a lot to do in town.

There’s a supermarket, a few car rental places (due of the airport) and the usual collection of souvenir shops and tour operators. We did a drive by to check out the beach and though the surf seemed calm (Ballena Bay is supposedly one of the safest bays to anchor in on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica) and the volcanic grayish sand looked fairly fine we decided to keep on driving to Montezuma.

Of all the places on the southern tip of the Nicoyan Peninsula, we had heard the most about Montezuma. It was both greater and less than we expected.

On that note I’ll leave you wondering. You can expect the Montezuma post up in a day or two.

Safe travels Barefoot Nomads!

Tamarindo’s a bustling beach town on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

Tamarindo is just one of those towns:  You love it or hate it. Noone seems to be ambivalent about Tamarindo. Me? I loved and hated Tamarindo.

The Good

• Tamarindo’s amazing beach to seems to go on forever
• Great waves, perfect for surfing, boogie boarding, or just chilling by the sand. At high tide, the waves are way too big and powerful for little kids and weak swimmers. At low tide, waves are smaller, and a bit more manageable for the little ones, if you keep an eye on them.
• A foodie’s dream beach town. Tamarindo has a great selection of fantastic restaurants (though a bit expensive), but there are a few budget restaurant options.
• Friendly folks and a laid back vibe.
• You won’t be bored. There are a ton of activities in town, and some of them are surprisingly affordable.

The Bad

• Holy, f***ing hotness. And we were there in the January, in the cool season. I’m not talking a bit hot, I’m talking an hour in the direct sun will fry you into a nice replica of those instant bacon strips. We hid inside from 1-3 in the afternoon because we were afraid our kids would spontaneously combust on the three minute walk to the beach.
• It’s called Tamagringo for a reason. A fun beach town, but definitely not for anyone looking for an authentic Costa Rican cultural experience.
• Infrastructure. Or the lack of it. While the main road into town is (mostly) paved, most of the road in town is a rutted, dusty dirt track with constant traffic spewing dust, noise and exhaust. Definitely not pedestrian friendly.
• Growing rumors of a drug and crime problem. Locals warned us repeatedly to stay away from the beach area near the traffic circle after dark. Waitresses ran to rescue the belongings we left on the table when we went to pay at the cash register, telling us that our stuff would be swiped immediately if we didn’t keep an eye on it. In the month we were there, we never had a problem, but the constant reminders told us that there’s a problem brewing.

The Take Home

You should visit Tamarindo if you’re in the mood for an alternative to a standard, packaged beach vacation.  Tamarindo is small enough to make you feel like part of the local vibe right away.

Check out these posts:

• Amazing Cheap Things to Do in Tamarindo
• Delicious and Cheap Restaurants in Tamarindo
• Supermarkets in Tamarindo
• The Elusive Tamarindo Car Rental
• Pura Vida at Mango Condos Tamarindo
• Ziplining in the Guanacaste Province
• Boogie Boarding Mishaps, Langosta Beach Club and Sweet Waves
• The Endangered Leatherback Turtle Playa Grande Costa Rica

Tamarindo

It’s just that all the cars are all rented to someone else. All the time.

We were in Tamarindo for over a month. After checking out some of the awesome things to do in Tamarindo, we called to pick up a 4×4 for an off-road roadtrip. Unfortunately, when we called to make a reservation for our Tamarindo car rental, not one of the car rental agencies had a little 4×4 for rent. Or even a car of any kind for rent. They told us to check back the next day. This went on for four days, until voila, Hertz had a little Diahatsu 4×4 for us.

The moral of the story? When in Tamarindo, reserve your car well in advance. This wasn’t a big deal for us, as we had plenty of time and a flexible schedule, but it may be a problem if you’re only in town for a week.

Where to Rent a Car in Tamarindo

Though Hertz wasn’t the cheapest, they were close to us and always seemed to have a car available when others didn’t. We rented a great little Diahatsu Bego 4×4 from them. Hertz was quick and professional, and the cars all seemed to be in good condition. One downside is that Hertz’ office is a hot, dusty, 10 minute walk from the center of town.

Based on chats with some other travellers, they seemed to have good luck with Hertz, Budget and Alamo. Economy seems to be the cheapest place in town, but we heard mixed reviews about the quality of cars. If you’re in the center of Tamarindo, Economy is probably the best location. Economy is just off the roundabout by the beach.

You can book a Tamarindo car rental directly from any travel site, or directly from the car rental sites. I like to use Car Rentals.com to compare the costs of different car companies. They seem to have the biggest selection of vendors for Tamarindo (including Thrifty, Avis, Budget and Hertz) and they let you compare their prices against Expedia and Hotwire at the same time.

Because cars in Tamarindo seem to be in such high demand, we heard a few stories of reserved cars not being available when people went to pick them up, so you might want to bookmark this list just in case your car isn’t there.

Car Rental Agencies in Tamarindo

Adobe. Phone (Liberia): 2667-0608
Alamo. Phone: 2653-0727
Budget. Phone: 2653-0756
Dollar. Phone (San Jose): 2443-9250
Hertz. Phone: 2653-1358
Hola. Phone (Liberia): 2667-4040
Mapache. Phone: 2653-1717
National. Phone (San Jose): 2242-7878
Payless Car Rental. Phone: (Liberia): 2667-0511
Thrifty. Phone: 2653-0829
Toyota Car Rental. Phone: 2668-1212

Tips!

• Some of the out of town car rental agencies, like Dollar, will even drive a car down from Liberia if you’re desperate. We tried to have Dollar drive a car to Tamarindo from Liberia, but the drop off fee ended up being too expensive.
• If you want to rent a car in nearby beaches like Playa Langosta, Playa Grande or Playa Flamingo, you may find that you need to rent in Tamarindo. Playa Flamingo does have an Economy rent a car office, but there’s a fairly high demand, so book in advance.
• If you’re flying in to Tamarindo, you may need to take a cab to the car rental agency. The airport is about 3 minutes away from most of the car rental agencies, but probably too far to walk in the heat with luggage. Check with the car rental agency, as they may be able to arrange a shuttle to pick you up at the airport.
• We heard a few stories about people being charged for damages that were on the car when they picked it up. Always fill out the company’s damage form, and mark down scratches, dents and cracks in the windshield.  You may want to look under the car, and also check the tires to see if there’s any damage, given that some of the roads around Tamarindo are very rough. If the car rental agency doesn’t have a damage form, take pictures and videos of the car before you drive it off the lot.

Do I need a 4×4?

If you’re just driving to Liberia or San Jose, the roads are generally pretty good and you shouldn’t need a 4×4. However, if you’re going to visit the smaller beaches or towns a 4×4 is a good option.  We drove from Tamarindo to Montezuma, and ended up on a track no car could ever negotiate.

The roads in Guranacaste are mostly rocky and rutted, and can change from decent condition to barely driveable in a few short miles. If you’re adventurous and want to go a bit further afield, you’ll definitely want to rent a 4×4. Cars in Costa Rica tend to be smaller, so you’ll pay a premium if you want a larger 4×4 like a Jeep Cherokee, but you can pick up a completely serviceable little 4×4 like a Diahatsu Bego for just a little more than a regular car.

Tamarindo Car Rental Insurance

In Costa Rica, your car rental includes mandatory liability insurance. Always ask if the rental price you’re quoted includes the liability insurance. Some companies like to tack it on as a little surprise when you pick up the car.  If you have collision damage waiver insurance on your credit card, you may be able to waive the rental agencies CDW insurance, but check with your credit card company first.

This post is part of our Barefoot Guide to Tamarindo, which dishes on where to eat on a budget, gives you the self-catering supermarket options in town, and outlines some of the great things we found to occupy ourselves in Tamarindo.