It all started in 2006...

It all started in 2006.  My wife and I were invited to visit  some Texas friends who had a house in the Guanacaste northwest region of Costa Rica,  the town of Playa Hermosa. I had been in the Liberia area several times for work before and was familiar with the general area. The area was growing rapidly with hotels, shops, hospitals and lots of real estate developments. I read in the local newspaperthat the Guanacaste region was selected by the government for additional resources ($$) for infrastructure development for tourism and all the activity in the area proved it was happening. Things in Costa Rica don't happen fast with the bureaucracy but they are slow and deliberate with there goals. We call it Tico Time.

So we packed up and headed to Playa Hermosa for a five day visit to our friends house on the hill.  When we got there, we could tell this place was different than a Cancun visit or a Key West trip. The house on the hill had a nice Pacific Ocean view and the warm winds were comforting. Fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and local coffee were abundant and delicious. The beach was clean and the waves were perfect for us. We drove around to the local towns of Playa de Coco, Ocotal, and Panama and would see the signs of development happening everywhere. We also made day trips to Samara and Tamarindo to check things out. There was a boom town gold rush situation in the area. It was hard not to notice the for sale signs and construction on the hill sides. We had a great, relaxing time in Hermosa and getting to know the area better than my quick business trips previously. We also knew we would come back soon.

After our return home, we were already planning our next trip to Costa Rica but this time to check out real estate. My wife and I had always wanted to have a place in the tropics to use and retire to eventually.  Playa Hermosa was starting to fit our description of what we were dreaming about doing later in life. We planned a trip back to Hermosa two months later and set up an appointment with Jennifer at Remax Tres Amigos .Our purpose this time was to look at ocean view land lots to build on later. For two days we drove around looking at developments with ocean view lots for sale. Many were way to expensive for us to consider but finally we found a pre-construction pricing lot in a very nice development called Ladera del Mar up the hill overlooking Coco and the Pacific Ocean.

Some quick info to get started on your 1st visit to Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

 Mi Amigo,

Here are a few details that may help you put together a trip to Costa Rica. We visit the area a few times a year to mix some relaxation with a little house business. I have composed this brief list of information to get you started on a visit to the Playa Hermosa and Playa Coco areas.

We fly into Liberia (LIR) usually on Delta from Atlanta. UAL may have two flights a day (depending on when you go) out of Houston and a daily out of EWR. Many other airlines serve LIR from a lot of different cities now. Flights seem to be fullest on Saturdays and then Sundays. After clearing customs and before leaving LIR airport, pay your $29 departure tax. The window is located near the security area in the main terminal. This will save you time (30 minutes) during your check-in process for the return flight home.

Once in Liberia, rent a car from Dollar rent car (http://www.dollarcostarica.com). There prices are reasonable with efficient service to and from the airport, even in the wee early morning hours if you must travel on early flight. You can book online (24 hr cancellation policy) and I would recommend small 4x4 like a Susuki Grand Vitara for a small family or the Suzuki Celerio for a couple only. CDW basic insurance coverage required ($13). Don't need car seats in CR unless you want to bring them. We just throw the kids in back seat and tell them to buckle up. We have rented from other local outfits ( Adobe, Hola) but most pleased with Dollar. Thrifty, Avis, and Hertz also serve LIR.

We mostly frequent the Coco and Playa Hermosa area. It is 30 minute drive from LIR airport. Tamarindo  is at least 1:15hr. When we stay, we slum it out at the Hotel Valero (http://www.costaricahotel.net). It is on the beach, clean, good food, free wifi, and pilot cheap at about $75-90 night depending on season. Another local hotel that we have checked out (but never stayed at yet) is Hotel Bosque del Mar (www.hotelplayahermosa.com). It is on the beach with very nice rooms ($175+ night) with good ambiance. La Finisterra (www.lafinisterra.com) is a hotel located on the hilltop overlooking Playa Hermosa and the Pacific. Incredible view up there and a great place for happy hour sunsets. It is located just down the Beach Road#1 then follow signs up hilltop. If you wanted an all inclusive deal, the Hilton Papagayo(http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/promotions/hi_papagayoresort/) may work though expensive. Rooms are good and the food buffets are good too. This hotel is in Playa Panama, just a 10 minute drive north from Hermosa. This used to be a crew hotel for us but since moved to Hilton across from airport. The Delta pilots stay here now. May still be able to work in a crew discount. I know the crew discount works at the Airport Hilton Gardens ($105 night and includes really good breakfast) if you get bumped on a flight or early morning staging for flight home. Another all inclusive hotel that just opened near LIR is the Riu (http://www.riu.com/en/Paises/costa-rica/guanacaste/index.jsp). I have not been inside to look around but have talked to people who have and they say it is very nice with everything on property, even a beach. This hotel is in a secluded area  and about a 20-30 minute ride down a dirt road( Monkey Trail Rd.) although they were paving it when we tried visiting.  Not sure about prices but consider comparing this to Hilton Papagayo. If you stay here, I would still get a car so that you can travel around to other cities and see the area. If not interested in that, then I believe a bus can pick you up at airport but then you are stuck in secluded compound for visit.

Not sure about Tamarindo hotels. We just visit Tamarindo for day to enjoy shops, beautiful white sand beachs. Lots of surfers and beach bums in the area here.

There are hotels in Playa del Coco just south of Hermosa, but I don't know names. Just google it. Coco has many restaurants (even a Subway), shops, American style grocery store, ATM's, banks all in a neat little beach town. Our favorite restaurant is Papagayo Seafood and Papagayo Sushi located on south side of street 1/2 way into town. Great fish cooked how you want it. Pizza is also good further down the street. This town seems busy but it is a great place to find anything you need on a visit and then head back to your quite room on the beach or elsewhere. Our land sits on a ridge above Coco looking towards the Pacific. The development is called Ladera del Mar and is just off the main road for Coco and the north turn off to  Hermosa. 

Playa Hermosa has restaurants like Gingers for dinner, Bococelli pizza on Beach Rd #1, and breakfast at El Valero on Beach Rd #2. One small store grocery store off the main road.

Remax Tres Amigos real estate office is located on the road into Hermosa. We recommend talking with Rhett Schubert, rhettschubert@gmail.com  (506) 8869-3147. That extra 8 in the phone number is not a typo either. Try to set up some time with Rhett before your arrival if you would like to see some RE in the area. Tres Amigos website ( www.remax-tresamigos-cr.com ) also has some good listings on it to give you an idea of what is in the area for purchase. There is no centralized MLS in Costa Rica.

As far as things to do, the hotels can set you up with tours as you like, zip line, snorkel, horseback, Rincon/Arenal volcanoe tour, and the usual stuff. Once there, just inquire about things to do with the kids. You may be able to drive there yourself or some operators may provide van for additional fee. Personally, we like to do the beach thing and travel to small beach towns exploring the area.  If you wanted to travel further  south to see the area on a day trip, consider driving down to Samara. It will take 2 hours or so but the drive is beautiful. The town has big white sand beaches and food/shops too. Just further north is Nosara but the road there is dirt and very bumpy. Many small quant B&B (with pool) in the area if considering an overnight somewhere out of the Coco/Hermosa area.

I hope this gives you some ideas for the area. Not sure about traveling to San Jose other than it is a 5 hour drive from Liberia. New superhighway out of San Jose gets you to Pacific coast (Manual Antonio/ Jaco) in 1:30 - 2 hours. Very quick but I hear those areas are quite crowded on weekends with Ticos and Americanized now. Give me a call anytime and I'll try to help with suggestions but this should give you a good place to start planning the areas to see and stay at in the Guanacaste region.

Adios