Don’s guidebook for el Coco
Sightseeing
Great fun for the family and only 20 minutes away. They have a buffet for $16 per person but you can also pack a lunch. The zip lines are crazy!
Prices start at $42 for the animal sanctuary (sloths!).
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Diamante Eco avonturenpark
350 east RIU HotelGreat fun for the family and only 20 minutes away. They have a buffet for $16 per person but you can also pack a lunch. The zip lines are crazy!
Prices start at $42 for the animal sanctuary (sloths!).
We haven't actually done the canopy tour here, but we have done the ATV jungle tour and it was awesome. They'll give you the option of the town tour or the beach tour...do the beach!
You'll see monkeys along the way, cross a small river, and have a blast.
The guides are friendly and knowledgable and you don't need any experience riding an ATV to have fun. Be prepared for the tour to last about two hours.
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The Congo Trail
We haven't actually done the canopy tour here, but we have done the ATV jungle tour and it was awesome. They'll give you the option of the town tour or the beach tour...do the beach!
You'll see monkeys along the way, cross a small river, and have a blast.
The guides are friendly and knowledgable and you don't need any experience riding an ATV to have fun. Be prepared for the tour to last about two hours.
This shop is upstairs in the two-story building by the beach in Coco. There's a huge variety of paintings, prints, decor, and more available for great prices. All of the artists are local! We love this place so much we bought art for both of our condos there.
The Art Boutique
Ruta Nacional Secundaria 151This shop is upstairs in the two-story building by the beach in Coco. There's a huge variety of paintings, prints, decor, and more available for great prices. All of the artists are local! We love this place so much we bought art for both of our condos there.
These are some of the hottest and nicest hot springs in the area. The whole place is very well maintained and clean. We spent about six hours there, we brought a picnic lunch and set up under one of the trees and made a day of it. They have a bar and restaurant but during the slow season, they may be closed. You can bring your own food and drinks.
Miravalles is about 1.5 hours away and in Costa Rica terms is an easy drive, no scary cliffs and mostly paved roads. If you didn't rent a car you can book a private or group excurtions with a local tour guide, which is what we did. With 10 people in the van we paid $35 for the whole day. If you need tour guide recommendations let us know!
Colinas del Miravalles
These are some of the hottest and nicest hot springs in the area. The whole place is very well maintained and clean. We spent about six hours there, we brought a picnic lunch and set up under one of the trees and made a day of it. They have a bar and restaurant but during the slow season, they may be closed. You can bring your own food and drinks.
Miravalles is about 1.5 hours away and in Costa Rica terms is an easy drive, no scary cliffs and mostly paved roads. If you didn't rent a car you can book a private or group excurtions with a local tour guide, which is what we did. With 10 people in the van we paid $35 for the whole day. If you need tour guide recommendations let us know!
We've rented boards and taken lessons from this shop and we highly recommend it! They have great instructors and rental equipment. If you go early you can park across the street right on the beach. The guy in the vest who "parks" you doesn't own the lot or work for someone who does. All beach parking in Costa Rica is free. It is customary to give them a few colones for "watching your car" but not the $10 he asks for, unless you'd like to.
This place is in Tamarindo, please see the description below about Tamarindo for our advice on how to get there if you go by car.
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Iguana Surf Shop
We've rented boards and taken lessons from this shop and we highly recommend it! They have great instructors and rental equipment. If you go early you can park across the street right on the beach. The guy in the vest who "parks" you doesn't own the lot or work for someone who does. All beach parking in Costa Rica is free. It is customary to give them a few colones for "watching your car" but not the $10 he asks for, unless you'd like to.
This place is in Tamarindo, please see the description below about Tamarindo for our advice on how to get there if you go by car.
Food scene
This restaurant is about a three minute walk from the condo and we love it! Friendly waiters and affordable prices.
Our favorites are the fish tacos and the big burrito.
My wife Kiki loves the margaritas here.
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Restaurant Sabor A Mexico
local 7This restaurant is about a three minute walk from the condo and we love it! Friendly waiters and affordable prices.
Our favorites are the fish tacos and the big burrito.
My wife Kiki loves the margaritas here.
This brand new sushi restaurant is delicious. It's a two minute walk from the condo. Just head down the street and walk into the South Pueblito (El Pueblito Sur). It's right across from the La Dolce Vita Italian restaurant.
Boho Sushi Bar
This brand new sushi restaurant is delicious. It's a two minute walk from the condo. Just head down the street and walk into the South Pueblito (El Pueblito Sur). It's right across from the La Dolce Vita Italian restaurant.
Java Coffee is right at the entrance to Las Palmas in Pueblito Norte. They have excellent coffee, smoothies, waffles, acai bowls, and more. They have a very nice inside area with great Wifi. Great choice for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon pick-me-up.
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Java Coffee
Java Coffee is right at the entrance to Las Palmas in Pueblito Norte. They have excellent coffee, smoothies, waffles, acai bowls, and more. They have a very nice inside area with great Wifi. Great choice for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon pick-me-up.
This restaurant is a short drive away at the lovely Ocotal Beach. It has a chill fun vibe with relaxing views of the ocean.
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Father Rooster's
This restaurant is a short drive away at the lovely Ocotal Beach. It has a chill fun vibe with relaxing views of the ocean.
As Seen on Restaurants on the Edge, The Lookout has amazing views and really good food. During the high season be sure to get a reservation because the drive is quite a climb and it can be hard to park and you don't want to go through all of that and not get a table.
Prices are on the high side for the area but we enjoyed our meal and thought it was worth it to enjoy the fantastic view.
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The Lookout Restaurant
As Seen on Restaurants on the Edge, The Lookout has amazing views and really good food. During the high season be sure to get a reservation because the drive is quite a climb and it can be hard to park and you don't want to go through all of that and not get a table.
Prices are on the high side for the area but we enjoyed our meal and thought it was worth it to enjoy the fantastic view.
Lovely upscale feeling restaurant with lots of breakfast options, they also do lunch and dinner but we've only had breakfast. Really good prices considering the location and quality of the service and food.
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Pico Bistro
Lovely upscale feeling restaurant with lots of breakfast options, they also do lunch and dinner but we've only had breakfast. Really good prices considering the location and quality of the service and food.
This is a cool 4-star hotel that has an amazing restaurant and bar at the beach. Cocktails are good, prices are on the higher side but the ambiance is worth it.
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Tamarindo Diria
Calle CentralThis is a cool 4-star hotel that has an amazing restaurant and bar at the beach. Cocktails are good, prices are on the higher side but the ambiance is worth it.
City/town information
If you've seen the movie Endless Summer you've seen Tamarindo. For beginning and intermediate surfing, this is the closest and easiest beach to reach from Playa Del Coco. There are two ways to get there, the Monkey Trail aka 911 (seriously that's the number for the road and I don't think it's a mistake) this is a dirt road most of the way with a very serious water crossing. During the dry season its pretty dry but during the rest of the year it's a real river you need a high profile 4-wheel drive for this road, and steady nerves. Once you ford the river the winding trail has lots of ginormous potholes and narrow areas that are sometimes not wide enough for cars to squeeze past each other. Also, Trucks tip over a lot on this road sooooo....we highly recommend you take the longer, paved route 151 to 21 south to 155. It looks longer but it's much safer and in reality, it's only 6 minutes longer.
The town and beach are a lot more crowded in Tamarindo but it's fun! The beaches are sandy white and the surf is great. It's definitely worth a day trip!
336 locals raden deze aan
Tamarindo
If you've seen the movie Endless Summer you've seen Tamarindo. For beginning and intermediate surfing, this is the closest and easiest beach to reach from Playa Del Coco. There are two ways to get there, the Monkey Trail aka 911 (seriously that's the number for the road and I don't think it's a mistake) this is a dirt road most of the way with a very serious water crossing. During the dry season its pretty dry but during the rest of the year it's a real river you need a high profile 4-wheel drive for this road, and steady nerves. Once you ford the river the winding trail has lots of ginormous potholes and narrow areas that are sometimes not wide enough for cars to squeeze past each other. Also, Trucks tip over a lot on this road sooooo....we highly recommend you take the longer, paved route 151 to 21 south to 155. It looks longer but it's much safer and in reality, it's only 6 minutes longer.
The town and beach are a lot more crowded in Tamarindo but it's fun! The beaches are sandy white and the surf is great. It's definitely worth a day trip!
Grocery Stores
Places to get food and more!
This little shop is right at the entrance to Las Palmas, an easy 3-minute walk from the condo. They have a good supply of food and drinks including gluten-free options and fresh fruit.
Super Luperon, La Chorrera, El Coco Guanacaste province
La ChorreraThis little shop is right at the entrance to Las Palmas, an easy 3-minute walk from the condo. They have a good supply of food and drinks including gluten-free options and fresh fruit.
This is an upscale Grocery store with a wide variety of options. If you're visiting from the US, Canada, or Europe you'll find it the easiest to navigate. They also carry a lot of imported food from all over the world. The employees are super helpful and nice! They even have fresh Sushi!
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Auto Mercado
This is an upscale Grocery store with a wide variety of options. If you're visiting from the US, Canada, or Europe you'll find it the easiest to navigate. They also carry a lot of imported food from all over the world. The employees are super helpful and nice! They even have fresh Sushi!