Head back to Puerto Viejo or elsewhere?
Replies: 12 - Last Post: Dec 4, 2012 5:52 PM Last Post By: wiremu
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Head back to Puerto Viejo or elsewhere?
Hello all,I was in the Puerto Viejo area in September and really liked it. We'll be going back to CR for 6 days in January and are trying to decide where to go. I plan to just stay in one place for the six days and would like to do some surfing (I'm a beginner). Is there a place on the Pacific side with a vibe similar to PV? I was looking at Dominical but I'm not sure. Transport is an issue as well, as I'd rather not rent a car this time. My flight gets in at noon and I'd prefer to get on a bus or in a shuttle and get to my destination before dark. If I stick with PV, does anyone know the cheapest way to get there from SJO? Thanks!
1
To get from SJ to PV, if you arrive at 12, you can maybe make the 2pm bus, but for sure the 4pm. You can bus from airport to downtown, then taxi to Caribe sure terminal, just a few bucks, or taxi from SJO to caribe sur terminal $25. Figure 30-45 minutes taxi, a tad more bus.http://www.puertoviejosatellite.com/transport.php
The only other area on the Pacific with the similar chill out feel, would be Montezuma and Mal Pais. Both great for a surf novice. But its 6 hours from SJ. You could easily catch a bus to Jaco though, in Alajuela near SJO, its 3 hours away. The next morning, take the water taxi to Montezuma, then its a bus to Mal Pais. There are direct busses from Montezuma/Mal Pais to San Jose, leave at 6am, and 6 hours back. The Ferry in Puntarenas you need to time with...if you are a guy, Jaco is a huge bachelor party.
http://zumatours.rezgo.com/details/27520/taxi-boat-services
Playa Dominical is about 4-5 hours from SJ, via bus to Quepos/Manual Antonio, then a another bus to Dominical. Its not really for the novice IMO, a shallow break, strong currents and dark sand too...more broken boards at this beach than anywhere else, and bones.
3
Yes, just time your drive with the Punterenas ferry to Tambor, figure you will clear Immigration at 115 get car, its now 2pm, head to Puntarenas 3 hours a tad more or less, then get in line for ferry, takes about 1 hour to cross, then its a just one road almost all the way, you will have a fork, right/straight is Mal Pais, left is Montezuma, figure a hour from ferry to beach, gets dark at 530, but its a desolate road, just take your time...You might look into flying from SJO to Tambor on Sansa Air, may have a flight, or even a shuttle from airport hotels, some leave at 2pm, try Interbus...$40 or so
4
Ferry Schedule and l;inks to busses, shuttles, boats, flights.http://www.malpais.net/puntarenas-ferry.html
5
well, of course you can get to montezuma or mal pais the same day if you rent a car -- it will just be after dark - maybe 1.5 hours or so after dark. depends on whether you are a confident driver or not. since you have been to costa rica, you know what that's like.there's a shuttle through easyridecr.com that leaves at 3:30 pm so you could make that one. it's more expensive but lots easier than taking the bus.
other options for learning to surf include: playa guiones, playa samara, playa grande, nosara. while playa samara isn't famous for its surfing, it's a great place to learn and if you progress rapidly, you could move up the coast to more challenging areas. samara is about 4.5 hours from the airport so possible to get there before dark. guiones, grande and nosara are just a bit north of samara.
9
Hi, if you're up for something different around Nosara, try Nosara Yoga Institute:http://www.nosarayoga.com
While I won't be able to travel that way this year, I have always wanted to visit this yoga retreat, have heard good things about it.
Happy travels!
10
this is a great website that includes information about both: http://www.nicoyapeninsula.comADVERTISEMENT
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