Things to do in Península De Nicoya
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Proyecto Montezuma
Kerri Bowers and César Benavides of Proyecto Montezuma run an innovative volunteer program that not only gives to the community, but fosters cultural exchange, pays fair wages to its employees and gifts you something for giving of your time and energy. You choose the project in which you’d like to participate, such as teaching local classes or removing trash from the beach and jungle, and you also sign up for a sustainable adventure tour around Montezuma. Long-term opportunities are also available; hit the website for details.
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Jaime Peligro
A local spot for new and used foreign-language books and the best Central American CDs and DVDs.
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Umi Sushi
In the courtyard of the Centro Comercial Playa El Carmen, this sushi bar has a pleasant dining room and tables outside. If you’re lucky, it will have a surf movie projected on the outside wall while you savor your Mal País roll. Beer drinkers, beware: it only serves Japanese beers, at exorbitant prices.
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Orgánico
When they say ‘pure food made with love,’ they mean it – this healthy cafe turns out all vegetarian or vegan dishes including spicy Thai burgers, sushi and noodles, nachos, burritos, falafel, smoothies and other meat-free treats you can feel good about.
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Artemis Café
Come for the free wi-fi, stay for the coffee. Located in Centro Comercial Playa El Carmen, Artemis has fantastic coffee (best iced mocha ever), smoothies and juices, plus salads, sandwiches and panini. After dark, Artemis transforms into a groovy lounge with DJs spinning cool tracks and occasional live music.
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Devaya Yoga
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Andre’s Beach Bar
The best pizza place in town also has one of the best breakfast spots, serving omelettes and eggs Benedict. English and French are spoken.
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Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas
Playa Grande is considered to be one of most important nesting sites in the entire world for the baula or leatherback turtle. In 1991, the entirety of the beach and adjacent lands (379 ha) along with 22,000 ha of ocean was designated as Marino Las Baulas National Park.
The ecology of the park is primarily composed of mangrove swamp, and it's possible to find all of the six mangrove species native to Costa Rica here. This habitat is ideal for caimans and crocodiles, as well as numerous bird species, including the beautiful roseate spoonbill. Other creatures to look for when visiting are howler monkeys, raccoons, coatis, otters and a variety of crabs. But, as is to be expec…
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Playa Grande
Playa Grande is an undeveloped wilderness beach that's equally famous amongst conservationists and surfers alike. By day, the offshore winds create steep and powerful waves, especially at high tide and in front of the Hotel Las Tortugas. By night, an ancient cycle continues to unfurl as leatherback sea turtles bearing clutches of eggs follow the ocean currents back to their birthplace.
Since 1991, Playa Grande has been part of the Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, which prevents beachfront development and ensures that one of the most important leatherback nesting areas in the world is preserved for future generations.
Although there are a few accommodation options near t…
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Playa Conchal
Playa Conchal is widely regarded as the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica. The name comes from the billions of conchas (shells) that wash up on the beach, which are gradually crushed by tourists' flip-flops into a fine powder. The ocean water is also an intense, turquoise blue, which is indeed a rarity on the Pacific coast.
The beach is bounded on the north by an expansive resort that can make beach access frustratingly difficult. However, it's easy enough to stay in nearby Brasilito and then simply walk south along the road for 2km (1.2mi).
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Iglesia de San Blas
In Parque Central, a major town landmark, is the attractive white colonial Iglesia de San Blas, which dates back to the mid-17th century. The appealingly peaceful, wood-beamed church is under continuous restoration, and its mosaic tiles are crumbling, but it can be visited when mass is not in session. It has a small collection of colonial religious artifacts, or have a look at the wooden Jesus with articulated joints and bleeding stigmata. The park outside is an inviting spot to people-watch from one of the shady stone benches.
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Lazy Wave
Dine at a table if you must, but the best place to enjoy your meal and glass of wine is on the covered pavilion, where you can curl up amid pillows in cushy lounge chairs. If you're out to woo that hot thing you met last night, this hip nightspot, built around a huge tree, is a good place to start the evening. There's a solid wine list, good mix of cocktails and Asian- and Euro-influenced bocas as well as a full menu.
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Witch's Rock & Ollie's Point
There's no surf in Playa del Coco, but the town is a jumping-off point for Costa Rica's most legendary surf destinations: Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point, which are inside Parque Nacional Santa Rosa. The best way to reach them is by boat, and boat operators must be licensed by Minae (Ministry of Environment and Energy) to enter the park.
Several surf shops in Tamarindo run trips to Santa Rosa.
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Dragonfly Bar & Grill
Dragonfly is a local favorite, probably not just for its refined menu, but also for its lovely atmosphere in the festive tent-like structure of the dining room. The menu has a Californian bent, featuring fresh items such as pork chop with chipotle-apple chutney and the Thai-style crispy fish cake with curried corn. Linger a while over your wine and perhaps you can also find room for a divine dessert.
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Zouk Cafe
Most definitely the hippest place to eat in Coco, you won't be surprised to know it's Italian-owned. Breakfast offerings include brioche and espresso, and as the day moves on, so goes the menu, with green salads to cool you in the heat of afternoon, and a kitchen serving fusion cuisine late into the night to fuel your second wind at the downstairs bar.
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Pachanga
Don't leave town without eating here - it may be the best meal you have in Costa Rica. The Israeli chef, Shlomy, serves innovative dishes with Mediterranean accents that change daily depending on the availability of local ingredients. The restaurant is understated yet elegant, which focuses your attention on the perfection of Shlomy's cuisine.
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Louisiana Bar & Grill
Put some heat back into your diet with spicy Cajun classics including jambalaya, seafood gumbo and po'boys. But if you're not feeling it, you can opt instead for fish cooked a dozen ways - from seared with Asian ginger-sesame sauce to grilled with macadamia pesto. Either way, try to get one of the balcony tables to check out the street scene.
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Monkey Bar
In Tamarindo, all you really have to do is follow the scene wherever it happens to be on that night. On weekends especially, cruising the main drag has the festive feel of a mini Mardi Gras or spring break. But, for a start, the Monkey Bar inside the Tamarindo Vista Villas is usually a good bet, and it has a ladies' night on Fridays.
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Carolina's Fine Dining
This is one place worth the splurge. Sophisticated continental cuisine highlights skillfully prepared sauces, tender cuts of meat, delectable fish and an impressive selection of imported wines. To truly appreciate the culinary experience, opt for the five-course tasting menu with a full wine tasting (₡ 38,000).
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Roca Bruja Surf Operation
Roca Bruja Surf Operation is a local licensed operator, offering an eight-hour tour to both Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point for US$270 (for up to five people). It also rents boards and runs sportfishing and snorkeling trips.
Several surf shops in Tamarindo also run trips to Parque Nacional Santa Rosa.
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Wok & Roll
Korean-American owner Kandice routinely inspires fear in local fishermen throughout the Nicoya. She is famous for scrutinizing daily tuna and mahi-mahi catches, and will only buy the freshest of fish. The result: some of the best sushi we've ever eaten. Her woks and Vietnamese spring rolls are also popular.
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Nibbana
One of the nicest beachfront dining areas in town, Nibbana has tables scattered underneath the palms. It serves great pizza at lunch, and Tico-flavored continental cuisine, such as shrimp, lemon and basil risotto, or grilled tuna with a fresh mint-and-tomato compote. It also has free wi-fi access.
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Grinds/Kahiki
In the mornings, you can get breakfast grinds like giant pancakes and bottomless cups of coffee. Dinner is another story, with good Hawaiian-influenced fusion dishes emphasizing the local catch. The bar is a cool place to hang if you don't feel like eating, with a long and intriguing cocktail menu.
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Brisa del Mar
A true man of the sea, Pit (pronounced Pete) runs personalized tours emphasizing fishing, surfing, snorkeling and coastline cruising. He also speak English, Spanish and Italian, and is a true entertainer in any language - drop him an email a few days before arriving in town for a good time!
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La Casa de la Cultura
On the opposite side of the park is La Casa de la Cultura. This small area has cultural exhibits a few times a year and features work by local artists. The exhibit schedule and hours of operation are erratic, but it’s worth a peek if the doors are open.
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