Hi, we are a small family (one 10 year old child) flying into Liberia and exploring Guanacaste for two weeks. We are all seasoned travelers and enjoy the journey just as much as the destination. We have matured out of hostels and into mid-level accommodations (basic locally owned places are more our style). One of us prefers to have an idea of places to stay, things to see, and the other is stressed out by the thought of being obligated to a hotel or town (the third just wants to know if the iPod is getting packed - it's not!). Since we are traveling with a child we don't want to be completely shut out of decent affordable accommodations and be stuck with expensive options, communal sleeping of a hostel, or hours long drive to the next town in search of lodging for the night. What are the chances of showing up in popular beach towns like Tamarindo without reservations and booking on the spot? Do the mid-priced comfortable places near good swimming beaches fill in late June and early July?
You can do the entire trip by seat of pants. Arm yourself with a guidebook, do some research of places you prefer in key areas and book on the go, I usually use Expedia. Almost al lodging has Wifi. The only reservations you may wish to have is first night or last night, near the airport, depending on flight times. I assume you are renting a car? If not, where else are you headed? Is this just a beach vacation?
Hi Mrmoto,
Thanks for the reply. This will be our third (my fourth) trip to Costa Rica. The first few visits were mostly on the Osa peninsula and another short trip to Montezuma where we arrived on Christmas eve with no reservations and found a super cheap hotel. We are renting a car for two weeks and want to explore the Nicoya peninsula and perhaps bus it up to Monteverde if time permits. This is a beach vacation and a fact finding trip to explore the possibility of spending next school year there (as perpetual tourists). We've identified a few elementary schools in the Guanacaste region to visit, but are open to other places too. My husband is recently retired, and we are hoping the costs in the expat areas don't exceed our budget (private schools are pricy!). We also have a young dog to consider. I understand that late June is considered low season, but when looking at Travago it appears that many mid-level places are already booked up then. I'm hoping some smaller, locally owned places are not listed on internet booking sites and that we can 'seat of the pants' it. I see that you have taken 35 trips to CR, if you were to spend a year there with a child where would you settle down?
That is a tough question, since I am not familiar with access to schools for children. That aside, and just talking about livability, climate, access to good shopping/supplies and transport, here is my take.
Oddly, people don't consider the weather/climate/humidity/heat/rainfall, when they think beaches in CR, and it it probably is the #1 reason people end up going bonkers, or get unhappy, due to too much of either heat/humidity, or rain/wet conditions.
The further south you go in Nicoya, the worst the rains in rainy season, at least in a normal years, the last few years the rainy season has been light rainfall totals compared to normal, as most of Central America has been draught stricken. For instance, down in Mal Pais-Santa Teresa, its can be so wet from end Sept to early Dec, many places shutter, and use the time for repairs and visit family etc, not mention the road is horrid to say least, and a Quad is best to get about, a SUV can't always get thru the mud holes or up the main hill going to Cobano.
The further north you go, say north of Tamarindo, to Papagayo, the opposite is true for rainfall, but, the dry season, it hotter than hell, and bone dry, like everything is brown, as this is ranch country for the most part, all around Guanacaste, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Liberia, all the way to Nicaragua border. So, from Dec to April, its dusty, hot, windy and not very green.
As for access to to main towns for supplies and transport options, since I doubt you will have a car there, the best area is around Tamarindo, with Liberia a hub for builders and ranchers, and Santa Cruz the provincial county seat of you will, main hospital, police, govt offices. Tamarindo has it all, rental cars, shuttles, buses, and a plethora of rentals for 1 year, via VRBO, Air BnB, and real estate agents, homes, villas, condos, apartments. 1 Hour from a International Airport, easy, peasy. Its also has the most diverse commercial/shopping and nightlife, and the arts. Yes touristy, but there is good reason it is growing, for all age groups to visit, not just expats retiring, but surfers, backpackers, and solo and couples looking for a beach getaway...they also have a Country Day School.
Playa Nosora, Guoines, Garza and Ostional I think is too sleepy and spread out. Nosora the town is nice IMO, inland 2KM for the beach, has everything pretty much, and a little over 1 hour to Nicoya the town, and about 2.5 hours to LIR, same with Samara too, nice town, good beaches. Samara has a lot of europeans living around it, and also many well heeled upper class Josephinos have summer homes around Nosora/Samara, as to what degree that effects the schools I don't know.
With all that said, have you considered more enjoyable climate and areas around San Jose? Grecia, San Ramon, Sarchi, are all very nice Tico towns with great year round climates up in the mountains, and Santa Ana, Escazu are very popular with Expats and well to do Ticos too....
Otherwise, consider exploring areas like San Isidro de General, San Vito in the south, and other nice mountain areas like Turrialba, a lovely mountain area, as is surround towns, Pacayas etc....even towns like Santiago de Puriscal, is very locals only, and a nice hub.
I like to surf, but the heat/humidity on the beaches after week gets to me...I ned to be up in a valley or where there is a breeze...
Good Luck. Get the MOON Guidebook, it covers every nook, cranny and has a great take on every area you would want to consider.
mrmoto, thank you SO much for your detailed and thoughtful reply. I had drilled down to Tamarindo for the reasons you listed and the three schools in the area: County Day (now called CRIA), La Paz, and TIDE. And had read about the weather - although there is a difference between reading about it and living it. Too hot, dusty and dry don't appeal. So I wanted to keep our itinerary open in June to check out the areas outside of San Jose and other mountain areas. We have a house available to us in Nosora but I too feel it's a better temporary location for us than a place to live for a while. Our fact finding trip just got better thanks to your input, thanks! Now I'm sending you a private message regarding your upcoming trip.
There are a lot of micro climates in these parts, and some stretches of coast get nice breezes and things stay somewhat cool and less humid, and then there some areas, that are oppressively hot and humid and it is just too miserable for me. I found the most pretty beach, one family home for mile, they had cottages for rent, and we rented it for a night, good god it was so sticky we had to take showers to cool down at 10PM, finally we just sat up and hung on the porch watched the crabs run about all night on the beach...this was north of Playa Uvita south of Dominical.
Tamarindo gets really nice in Dec-Feb, though strong off shore winds blow hard (great surf), but at night it can get into the mid 70's, which is nice sleeping weather...
I have camped on the beach back in the day in Nosora...just a camp fire and sleeping bag...the stars are unreal, the waves so loud you can't sleep....primo!
Not to throw you off track, but have you considered Antigua Guatemala? The climate is excellent, the town is a UNESCO WHS, all stone streets, nice colorful casas, great foodie scene, and its gorgeous. My wife I have rented an apartment there twice, this last Dec/Jan for 6 weeks. You can get a nice 2 Bed room for $800MO, probably less for a long term...
CR real estate prices are nuts, especially food prices. Guatemala is 50% less, and has more culture (sorry CR)...
But I don't know about schools there...private or otherwise.
If beach is not a priority, consider Colombia too, pretty sophisticated country compared to Central America, and the scenery is just drop dead nice...specially coffee country...outside Medellin is also really pleasant. Definitely a more modern country than above suggestions...
Yes, we've all traveled to Antigua (I've been three times), and we've all been to Cartegena too (and Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and beyond). Both are so much more culturally interesting and yes, more affordable, but they also are more intense. If it were just my husband and I we would seek out those countries, but having a child in tow the relaxed vibe and political stability of Costa Rica is more appealing for a one year stay.
and political stability of Costa Rica
Well, given the strikes going on today, I'm incorrect on my idea that Costa Rica is politically stable.
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