[Got Ham?]

looking to head down to Costa in August. planning on staying around Tamarindo. who's been there? who has some details for me?

[waterwolfnyc]

you renting a car? 

[little_nasty]

i've been up and down the coast.  what are you looking for?

[Got Ham?]

a girlfrienf friendly hotel, right on a good surfing beach, with other non surfing things to do nearby. and I must surf witches rock. just have to.

[little_nasty]

i'd prolly suggest playa grande.. there's some turtle hotel joint i stayed at a long time ago.. was pretty good as i remember.

i find witches rock way over-rated.

if you want spoilage for the woman i'd suggest Punta Islita (many fond memories) or skip the drive and crowded nicoya and hit a joint like Gaia hotel and reserve.  lotsa space, points, rivermouths in/around manuel antonio in which the hotel is located.

btw, can't remember where but someone was talking about taking a cab to tamarindo and environs for like $100+.  I gotta tell ya, i hitched a ride for 50 bucks on a private plane which left from the little domestic airport near juan santamaria.  I just showed up with by board and met a pilot who gave me a very very scary very low level tour of the mountains and coast before dropping me off at my hotel's airstrip.  I bought him some good cigars and he came back to give me a ride back.  the key though, is kinda not to have the woman with ya.  unless she can dig the impromptu non-planned spontanaity and accompanying incovenience/farkups/adventures.

[frroK]

a girlfrienf friendly hotel, right on a good surfing beach, with other non surfing things to do nearby. and I must surf witches rock. just have to.

NO!!!! what happened to our brazilaian escapade??

[the Kook]

  the key though, is kinda not to have the woman with ya.  unless she can dig the impromptu non-planned spontanaity and accompanying incovenience/farkups/adventures.

And if she can deal with that brown trout you got a keeper. 

[surfdawg]

Harbor reef hotel in Nosara is nice, 5 min walk to the beach.

One thing to consider, August is really rainy, so plan on dp surfs or events with the gf before 2pm (sometimes starts rainig earlier!)

[Crackie Onassis]

If you have to stay in Tamarindo, the Crocodile Hotel is right near the rivermouth and features an excellent bakery on site the first floor, ocean side rooms are really nice (or seem to be). If she wants to learn to surf, the surf camp is right there, as is the rivermouth which is a great beginners break.

For your purposes, Tamarindo will probably be flat, and if its not, Playa Grande will still be better. It is about a 15 minute walk down the beach (or a 15 minute drive). Just look for the yellow house. Langosta is about a 30 min walk in the other direction. Watch out for the Manowar (Shacky got zapped pretty good there). There's a kick azz empanada place on the way to Playa Grande, so you may want to drive at least once (ask Shacky about the empanada place!).

If its happening, you'll want to surf Playa Negra, and the Playa Negra Hotel is definitely girlfriend friendly, albeit a bit pricey. If Negra is closing out, check out Las Olas in Play Avellanes. Both are about a 20-30 minute drive to Tamarindo depending upon the roads (mud or not). I've seen Playa Negra at DOH and it is world class. During this time we went and surfed head high Avellanes and had a blast. I've stayed at Las Olas a few times and really like it alot; good people, and good food. You'll like Little Hawaii and the Rivermouth, but if its good you'll surf Playa Negra mostly. If you get skunked, its a slow moving, 45 minute drive to Marbella. Marbella saved our trip, but leave NOTHING in your car; many thieves.

Never did Witches Rock, but I know that Ventura Local had a great session there.

[Sandshark]

brazil sux.

[little_nasty]

  the key though, is kinda not to have the woman with ya.  unless she can dig the impromptu non-planned spontanaity and accompanying incovenience/farkups/adventures.

And if she can deal with that brown trout you got a keeper. 

this is true, but should be qualified.  I found me a keeper that enjoys the spontaneous adventure, but nowadays with the hotels, she's like "i'm too old for that bullshit" and we end up in some fancy rip-off.

[Crackie Onassis]

My friends just emailed me from Costa.

Two words: Boca -  Barranca.

[Shacky]

Two words: Boca -  Barranca.

Caught that place 3 feet overhead and perfect.  One of the best days of my life.  Can you say leg burn?

Hey Ronshores you need to chat with Crazy Legs and I.  He mentioned Marabella, but there's another place we found near Playa Negra that we didn't find out about until then end of our trip. 

Empenada place is sick, and the Crocodile Hotel has a great pastry deli out front. 

[SURFWOLF]

LEAVE THE GIRL FRIEND HOME AND GO TO HERMOSA.....IN HERMOSA IS WHERE YOU WILL SCORE SOME WAVES THAT WILL BURN A IMAGE INTO THE BACK OF YOUR BRAIN FOREVER!

[surfdawg]

LEAVE THE GIRL FRIEND HOME AND GO TO HERMOSA.....IN HERMOSA IS WHERE YOU WILL SCORE SOME WAVES THAT WILL BURN A IMAGE INTO THE BACK OF YOUR BRAIN FOREVER!

thumpthump thumpthump