Tamarindo

Stop, slow down & check out the monkeys once in a while…

Our condo has many of the convieneces of home….BUT, things aren’t the same as at home…I’m reffering to the fast paced urban jungle where you expect 30 minute or free pizza, the same place that when the bus sign says 3:38 you can expect it to arrive at 3:38 give or take a minute.  You may also expect if they say they will send someone up soon to mean in 10 minutes….you could wait a whole lot longer than that though…

Life is slower down here, drivers might be late, the waiter might forget about you for a few minutes….I suggest you stop, slow down & check out the monkeys…..*grin*

This baby Howler Monkey was up in a Mango tree at our condo (Sunrise Condo, Tamarindo).  He was playing with another baby moneky and they were learning how to Howel… tiny little grunts, it was SO cute!

My point is, I was disappointed with our property manager when we told him our coffee maker had a broken caraf a week ago and when we arrived yesturday it was still broken… he explained that they are looking for one but they do not sell coffee makers in town so they had to wait until someone was going to the larger town near by…. Lesson learned, so I went out and looked for the monkies in the mango tree again…

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica condo was a blast

I went to Costa Rica on an Earthwatch expedition in mid April. In my group, we gathered data from coffee plantations in the Tarrazú region outside of San José. Here we worked on a research project studying pollinators (bees). These studies are being conducted to see if the presence of pollinators increase the coffee yield which is a self-pollinating plant. This is a small portion of an on-going project between Earthwatch and the coffee farmers.

After my week in the mountains I rented the condo in Tamarindo Beach for a week. The condo was spacious and clean with a pool, and a nice large terrace. We ate all our meals on the terrace. Best of all, it was right across from the beach. The staff at the vacation rental office were very helpful in booking our excursions. It was the perfect ending to the trip. I highly recommend going to Tamarindo and booking the condo from the Krons.

Our Favorite Restaurants in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Here is our top restaurant picks for the town on Tamarindo where we have a vacation rental condo in the Sunrise Condo Complex.  We have tried to provide you with information to find these places but giving you an address is difficult because there are no street names in Costa Rica.  Everything is mapped by how far away it is in relation to local landmarks.  If you can not find these places just ask around – people here are extremely friendly!  

LA PALAPA (hotel and restaurant) 5 – 7 minute walk from our condo, just past the Hotel Dira on the beach side of the road.  They specialize in Seafood – but there’s something on the menu for everyone.  This is my favorite restaurant because of it’s beach location.  At night they light up the palm trees that frame this beach patio and it’s as if you are in paradise. 

EL COCONUT located on the main road in tamarindo about a 5 minute walk from our condo. Likely the most expensive restaurant we have ever been to in Costa Rica but well worth the money in my opinion!  and it’s not really that expensive by North American standards.  Featuring seafood and steak dishes, the chef makes each dish delicious with a creative flare.     

VOODOO LOUNGE located in Central Tamarindo (506)653-0100 about 5-7 minute walk from our condo
This place is fine dining with entertainment.  Great food! 

 MATAPALO located in the Hotel Diria 50 metres South of our condo (Sunrise Condo Complex) and just a two minute walk away. This world class hotel has a wonderful restaurant that features a wide range of local and international foods.  We suggest if you are going for dinner arrive early and enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset from this ocean view patio.   

PIZZERIA/RESTAURANTE/HELADERIA PORTOFINO located across from the beach on the main road of Tamarindo about a 3-5 minute walk (towards the circle) from our condo.  This open air pizza shop/ice cream parlour is a great place to enjoy a pizza and a glass of vino in a casual setting.  This is a good choice for eating if you are starting to get a little home sick for food(…not that you will with all the variety in the area – i’m just saying IF YOU DO…). 

There are many, many more restaurants and as we explore more places we will extend our list.  Also feel free to ask around and check out the restaurants posted menus.

Buen Apetitio!

Is the Water in Costa Rica safe to Drink?

Is it safe to drink the water in Costa Rica?  YES and NO….  There are certainly places where I would not drink the water and places where I feel completely safe about consuming water right out of the tap.  If in doubt – don’t do it!   Bottled water is readily available throughout the country.

Over the past few years the quality of the drinking water in the touristy parts of Costa Rica has been getting better all the time.  To this day I still ask the restaurants if their water is filtered or even bottled and then take that into consideration when ordering a drink, weather or not to have ice cubes, bottled beer or a mixed drink.  If they dont have filtered water I don’t order a salad or uncooked veggies. It also depends on the location, if you are in the larger towns like Tamarindo then chances are the water is filtered but drinking out of a garden hose at a hut in the Jungle might not be such a good idea.  Always bring plenty of water with you on day trips, and if you are on an organized tour they will likely prodive you with bottled water.

Our condo complex (Sunrise Condominium in Tamarindo) has installed a water filtration system – so we never have to worry when we are drinking the water at our condo or washing the fruits and veggies.  If you are staying in a home, condo or cabana without a filtration system I would suggest purchasing large bottles or containers of water for drinking, food preparation, brushing your teeth and for making ice cubes.

ATV tour in Costa Rica