Corona del Mar

I love coming back to Corona del Mar and have visited three years running. It’s a small apartment property rather than a hotel, with two apartments facing a lovely little garden and seating area, plus three right on the beach. Two of those are downstairs, with one bedroom and a kitchenette, and the larger one upstairs works for a group. Grocery stores are nearby. The entrance is on the road along the south side of Hotel Capitan Suizo, beside the driveway marked "Doshack," the owner’s property. The small sign is easy to miss, especially at night, but it’s before the bend. Let them know when you’ll arrive and someone will meet you there. The covered patio and hammock are a favorite of mine. I can eat breakfast watching the waves or nap quietly there, and even rain doesn’t stop you from sitting outside. Playa Tamarindo is just downstairs. You can sunbathe or sit in the shade of the trees at the beach’s edge. The water stays warm all year, though watch out for rocks. Low tide helps you spot where they are. The waves are steady and gentle, good for kids playing in the water, and you can try surfing or watch others learn. The rooms have little beach chairs and bodyboards too. There’s plenty to do nearby. Horses pass along the beach every day, and boats are around for outings. In town, you can book rafting or tubing, zip lining, scuba diving, ATVs, and more. Tio Leo's coffee tour is on the way to the airport and worth stopping for. There’s also an animal sanctuary nearby, though I can’t remember its name. I’ve seen ads at the Tamarindo turnoffs. It’s still one of my favorite places in the world. I plan to keep coming back until I have a place of my own on the beach 😁

We had a great family visit. The property sits just above the beach on a small outcropping, so there’s plenty of privacy. We only heard the howler monkeys on our last night there, in Jan.

The villa has everything you need, and the setting is beautiful, right near the Pacific. The closest market is about a 10-minute walk away. Super.

The courtyard, pool, and grill are nice, and the location is cool with easy beach access. There were big ants inside, though, and the place could use better cleaning and furnishings.