So my girlfriend and I have booked a trip to Costa Rica (playa grande) for almost 10 days. We are flying Taca (CR airline I think- any experience with them...?) Basically I am REALLY wanting to take my board on the trip (I have a bag and pack it with pretty much all my clothes and towels) but I'm nervous about breaking in transit. This might have to do with my new years trip (last year) to PR (Rincon). My board was fine but my bag got ripped up. My brother on the other hand had both board totally FU.....D down by the fin box (American Airlines...). anyways let me know what you guys think. My surfing ability is pretty good but my girlfriend is still learning (not riding lines comfortably but can get up pretty well). Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks! CORRECTION!!! * I am actually flying American Airlines... So if anyone has anymore horror stories of boards getting broken on transit, let me know. And if anyone has any good tips on the best way to pack my board... also please let me know. Money is tight and cant afford to get a new board if my baby breaks!!! We are staying at La Marejada ("the swell" Playa Grande) and Byblos (Manuel Antonio).
fly Jetblue. their prices are reasonable and treatment is probably pretty reasonable too (at least in my sole experience flying jetblue)
What airport are you leaving out of? I'm assuming you are in the Delmarva area and that airline doesn't really offer anything for us. I'm leaving for Tamarindo on March 18th and taking Continental then a smaller plan (nature air) to the Tamarindo airport.
im flying out of Dulles (IAD) leaving at like 5:10 am on Sunday March 15 and coming back on the 23 (monday). The flight is already booked with Taca airlines... it was really hard booking what we got because the trip is only like 5 weeks away. In addition to flight help, any places people suggest we visit? places to eat, bars, surf spots...? Again, I am going to be in playa grande, approx 20 min from Tamarindo.
Well if you ever get bord up there and come down to Tamarindo we are staying at the Diria I hear they have a nice bar. I think there is generally more night life in Tamarindo but the taxi ride back might suck.
TACA is the best airline to take you down to Costa, they have good board fees, I would reccomend bringing a board if you have a favorite. Check out their website for prices. I think I stayed at the Diria (sp?), it is a very nice hotel, definately the nicest place I ever stayed in Costa, right on the beach and yes it has a nice swim up pool bar, and when I stayed I think they gave us a free drink per night or something like that. Have fun, when you going? March is when the South swells start to pick up and the hard offshore that kill the surf die down, you should get lucky if you are there for 10 days. Man I wish I could have a Casado de pescado...
Traveling with boards. I have flown four times with boards. I have two boards packed on the way to costa rica and not a single issue. Flew out to san diego with three boards and again not a problem. If you pack them well enough they should be fine. I was always instructed to also take pictures of before and after so that you have evidence if something were to happen. Have fun down there its a blast. If you are renting a car and are flexible i would say hit up hermosa and def dominical. These two spots are a bit differnt but dominical is awesome. Very rural and not touristy at all. no swim up bars just cool little places to hang out.
(sorry for all the posts) We were planning on renting a car/suv for our whole trip so we could drive to different spots but I have seen people saying online that the streets suck there and are not marked very well...? Some people suggest hiring a private driver!?!?!? I feel like worst case scenario a GPS would work out fine. Experiences.... thoughts? I really appreciate all the feedback!
you dont need to hire a driver. i drove from san jose to pavones and back and its nothing that you catn easily get used to. if u get caught speeding then ur prolly gonna have to pay off the cops but other than that it was smoothsailing for us.
You can definitely drive it, but the catch is getting a rental. It's best to arrange for a car through a legitimate company prior to your arrival. This will ensure you that the guy holding your name will actually have a car waiting for you. Plus, you have to put a hefty deposit down. I got a buddy who went last year in may and has yet to be refunded. ________ MENTAL HEALTH ADVICE
no need to go all the way to Dominical, it would take you about 8-10hours. There are plent of place close to Tamarindo to explore, Negra, Avellanas, Nosara, Samara. You are going in the dry season, so don't be scared to cross rivers if that is where the road takes you, yo will find some nice secluded spots. Hopefully you have a 4x4. I just remembered too, you are going for Spring break, is your around Easter? if so the whole country goes on vacation to the beaches, I went to Avellanas to camp that week, it was soooo hot and soooo crowded, around little Hawaii there were a dozen+ people on a week peak break, so in other words you will want to drive around and explore. It will be worth it and fun too.
I went to Playa Grande from Dec. 13th, 07' to Jan. 14th, 08'. Place ruled... not built up like other cities and such. Everyone there pretty much knows everyone and they are SUPER friendly! The owner of Las Tortugas is kind of a whack job but pretty nice none the less. You have to most definitely go to Playa Grande Inn. This couple from Florida sold off everything they owned and purchased this hotel right there and are not living there full time and running it. I forget their names now, but they were really nice and awesome to hang out with. If you do go to PGI, definitely mention my name, Mike from NJ. There was 5 of us that went there pretty much everyday and became friends with them. Pretty much every place around there has great food and its all within walking distance. Let me know if you want to know anything else about PG.
tamarindo is a lot of fun. surf can get quite good at the rock there on the right swell, lots of local tico's all over that place though when its on (and even when its not). grande is pretty spread out, so even when its crowded you probably will find some peaks to surf on your own. but i've been on 4 different trips to the area over the past 5 years, and have only seen grande really good a handful of times. some of these places are pretty tide sensitive, so local knowledge is key. There is much partying to be had too in tamarindo, if the surf's down you definately have a lot of nightlife options going on over there you can really get carried away with that whole aspect of the trip if you let yourself costa rica is always a blast. my favorite times have been just trunkin it in fun surf all day long, and watching the sunsets with a couple of cold ones and gettin to bed early to score the dawny the next day
