I'm Planning a July trip to Costa Rica with the wife. We're looking to spend a week in some sort of house/shack with a kitchen, close to the beach, grocery and a bar or two, with restaurants within driving distance. We are going to be renting a car in order to make day trips to interesting stuff possible.

Any suggestions about Caribbean vs Pacific? North vs South?

Ask John George Peppers when he gets back, he's there right now. The itinerary he had set up sounded awesome.

Marsupialized wrote:Ask John George Peppers when he gets back, he's there right now. The itinerary he had set up sounded awesome.

Solid. Will do.

Hey there. My lady friend went to Costa Rica two summers in a row with her graduate school program, and both times they went to Monteverde. I hear nothing but fantastic stuff about it, and she and her friends had great photos.

http://www.monteverdeinfo.com/

I'll follow up with her later and see what other tips she might have for you.

Paging John G. Peppers!

I highly HIGHLY recommend Playa Negra about an hour outside of Tamarindo.

Hotel Playa Negra.
http://www.playanegra.com
Renan runs the place.

Huts with just enough amenities.

I am new here, but me speaks the truth.

I was there two years ago, hopefully development has not taken over.

pymm wrote:I highly HIGHLY recommend Playa Negra about an hour outside of Tamarindo.

Hotel Playa Negra.
http://www.playanegra.com
Renan runs the place.

Huts with just enough amenities.

I am new here, but me speaks the truth.

I was there two years ago, hopefully development has not taken over.

Solid. Looks perfect. I'll check it out.

Peppers! Where are you?

pymm wrote:I highly HIGHLY recommend Playa Negra about an hour outside of Tamarindo.

Hotel Playa Negra.
http://www.playanegra.com
Renan runs the place.

Huts with just enough amenities.

I am new here, but me speaks the truth.

I was there two years ago, hopefully development has not taken over.

What did you do for food? It doesn't look like they have kitchens in the huts.

Looks perfect otherwise. Thank you.

What did you do for food?

That large central hut is a bar/restaurant/general chill-out spot. They have everything from hamburgers to arroz con camarones. Great coffee and breakfast too. When I was there I ran a tab and paid at the end. Very casual.

There is also a restaurant called the Reef within walking distance that serves whatever fish was caught that day. It was amazing.

The 'management' of the hut can tell you where other restaurants are. Plenty around.

Oh, and if you are renting a vehicle... 4-wheel-drive for sure.

We stayed in Cahuita which is on the Carribean coast.

It was really fun.

We stayed at the Eco Lodge where you can get little cabins in the jungle with a kitchen and air conditioning, which is good.

Costa Rica is great.