Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge - Puerto Viejo

I am not aware of strong undertow on the majority of the Caribe side of the country, and it certainly a lot safer and calmer than the Pacific side. September can be a calm or rough depending on what is brewing or happening with tropical depression and hurricanes further north, I was here in Sept once and conditions were ideal to snorkel. But, you never know, I would bet money its always more calm than the Pacific 95% of the time.

The beaches all along the coast, Playa Pt Viejo, Chequita-Cocles and Punta Uva, are spectacular in natural scenery, raw jungle tumbling into the surf, log strewn and lots of wildlife.

The food on this coast, between Playa Cahuita to Manaznallo, is the finest, and also some of the most spicy, in all of the country, a favorite of mine.

Yes you can rent bikes, hitch, or walk, taxi or even bus.

Aquamor in Playa Manzanillo can line up tours of the Gonduca,freshwater lagoons and rare freshwater dolphins, with marine biologist, park guides, kayaks, canoes and diving/snorkeling. You can hire horses and guides at trailhead on the beach just south of the Maxi cafe on the beach (Fresh Lobster), mornings are best, as its get very hot and humid in the canopy.

Consider Villas Del Caribe, great hotel on the water, 2 story attached villas, sticked fridges, full kitchens, french doors, terraces with hammocks, wood floors, beamed ceilings, outdoor showers, patios and bbq's for each....on the ocean, and peaceful-$75

No a week is not too long...:)

Raft the Rio Paquare enroute from San Jose, get dropped in Moin for the Tortuguero canals and beach and refuge, or get dropped in Cahuita a night for some funky jive music and spicy afro caribe cuisine, or PV itself.

I just got back from Punta Uva after a long weekend. The Caribbean coast is good for snorkeling, and some beaches have okay surfing. Current can be a problem in some places, but I don't think that will be a problem at A&C.

I hiked through the park at Manzanillo on Sunday, and saw very little wild life. There was a large troop of Howlers in the tree next to where we were staying. The 5 AM wake-up call was something I could have passed on, but their roaring is amusing.

I think that you will find that having a car is a good thing in this part of the country, because everything is so spread out. A word to the wise: Ride bikes in the mornings and late afternoon hours. Mid-day riding without a lot of water in your possession or money to buy some can cause problems.

Buses from the cruise ships docked in Limon use to stop at A&C, but I don't know if they still do. I made it as far as the lobby two years ago, because of the crowd. I guess they have a mini-rainforest tour on their grounds. I didn't see the beach area, but if it is like Punta Uva next door, it will be nice gold sand.

The Cariblue is not on the beach side of the road from PV to M if their signage is any indication. I've never stopped to check the place out, so I can't offer an opinion.

Some area restaurants are very good. Maxi's in Manzanillo is OK during the week, but should be avoided on the weekend. Their specialty is the langostinos (lobster) by weight (a good deal too). The Tiki hut restaurant at Shawandha Lodge has nice steaks and fish dishes. The Pecora Nera (Italian) has great food, but pricey. They also have a new restaurant for those in a hurry on the PV-M road at the driveway up to the main restaurant. Enjoy

We spent a few days at Almonds & Corals – we loved it. The deluxe tents in the forest were great. How often do you get to stay in a tent with a full bathroom, living room and bedroom. Lots of birds to watch right outside the tent door. The beach area was small but very private. We just played in the edge of the ocean, so I am not sure about the undertow. Good food at the restaurant on site. We zip lined on site, it was ok, much better canopy tours elsewhere.

the answer to your question about one week being too long is that it won't be long enough....it is a very beautiful part of the country, the beach at Punta Uva is a dream for swimming...very safe...and the owner of the place i stay at there has told me that September is his favourite month of the year...the ocean is very calm which is good for snorkelling down in Manzanillo...I don't agree that you need a car...there is a local bus which is cheap and comes four or five times a day I believe...you can rent bikes for during daylight hours as it is quite flat, and taxis from PV to Almonds and Corals won't run more than 7-8 bucks. All in all, much less expensive and i love the local bus although make sure you know how to recognize your place at night as there are no prescribed stops between PV and Manzanillo and you can go whizzing by and easily miss it.

Almonds and Coral is lovely and there are plenty of nice nearby beaches like Punta Uva

We stayed about two miles from Almond and Corals and I never found the ocean to be too rough. If you are a strong swimmer you'll be fine.

Riding bikes is probably the easiest way to get around. The buses are great and all you have to do is just stand on the side and of the road and wait 10 to 20 minutes for the next one to come along. Very reliable and a great way to get from Manzanillo to Puerto Viejo or Cahuita. We only took taxis if we stayed out late for dinner. We usually just asked the restaurant to call us a taxi, in a couple minutes there was a car waiting to take us home. Transportation was never something that we needed to stress about.

That said I would actually advise against getting a car. It will be a waste of money since you are within walking or biking distance to many nearby towns.

Also, I loved Gandoca but I heard Cahuita National Park is bigger and more wildlife to see. That is worth checking out for a day-long hike. I bet the hotel could arrange transportation for you to Cahuita.

Finally, one week will just be the tip of the iceberg for you. You'll find yourself in paradise and wish you would have given yourself two weeks to see everything!

Have fun!

The national park and beaches near Cahuita were pretty phenominal... would definitely suggest it for at least a day trip if you're in the area!