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MKHR
Since 28 Aug 2007
116 Posts
Hood River
Stoked
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 Sun Jun 13, 10 2:02 pm Heading to Costa Rica next March.....looking for the DL |
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My wife and I are heading to Costa Rica for 10 days next March. Planning to spend a few days in the north, a few days in Tamarindo and a few days Malpais.
We would like to stay 3-4 days in Bahia Salinas to kite. Looking at a kite-specific hotel called Blue Dream.......sounds great and cheep. Anyone been there? Good/Bad? Any other suggestions
http://www.bluedreamhotel.com/kite-surfing/spot.html
Cheers,
Mk |
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DBrice
Since 01 May 2010
34 Posts
Vancouer
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| Sun Jun 13, 10 3:02 pm |
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| I spent 10 days in costa rica last summer, i hadnt started kite boarding yet but the country is amazing. We stayed in a house we rented in Punta arenas, it was not the best area but the house was cool and the people who wokred there were awesome. You will want to rent a car to get around and driving in complete chaos especially on the pan american hiway. The hot springs up at the big volcano is cool, the food everywhere is very good, the beer is good and cacique rum is called gringo killer for a reason haha. We were there in July and it was like 90-100 degrees with a rain shower and amazing lightning show every evening. We heard Limon was cool, it isnt. Ummm thats all i can think of right now over all its a lot of fun and I would go back in a heart beat. |
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Bettyboarder
Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Jun 14, 10 8:48 am |
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Costa Rica is a really cool place....still one of our best vacations ever.
That hotel didn't exsist when we went there 6 yrs ago so I can't comment directly on it...but you will probably want a car ....from the hotel to the water is a pretty steep hill wont be much fun hauling gear back and forth up it.
The food was great when we were there. Make sure you talk to the locals cause there are some specials things kiting wise you will want to know before you go out.
If you can dont fly to San Jose fly to the other airport save you a long drive.
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Guido
Since 13 May 2008
101 Posts
PDX
Stoked
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| Mon Jun 14, 10 9:51 am |
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| I would avoid Tamarindo. The place just isn't the same as it use to be. Lots of thefts and swimming in the bay is not recommended. I would go about 20 min south to Playa Avellanes for surf/beach and a more laid back vibe. |
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DownStream
Since 18 Apr 2007
381 Posts
Obsessed
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| Mon Jun 14, 10 6:55 pm |
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| island surf and sail will hook you up at playa copal. if you want to stay someplace amazing and decadent check out recreo, amazing and decadent. bring small kites. |
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jcarlson
Since 10 Jun 2006
12 Posts
Seattle
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| Mon Jun 14, 10 9:21 pm |
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| I stayed at the Blue Dream January 2008. It was pretty basic but decent. If you don't have a car (most guests did not) they take everyone to the kite beach in their van for the day. It would be to far to want to walk, so you are out at the beach until the group returns. If you did have a car you could stay in the town a few miles up, but not much going on there. We stayed one night there on the way in in a place that had a great view looking down to the water, lots of birds flying around. |
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typhoon
Since 02 Sep 2009
26 Posts
Portland
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| Tue Jun 15, 10 12:27 pm |
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| Another place to check out is Cometa Copal (www.cometacopal.com), it's down the road from the Blue Dream. Bob Selfridge is the owner. I met him on the beach between sessions one day last month. Great guy. I would recommend renting a car as there is not much to do in the evenings or if there is no wind. |
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playacopal
Since 15 Sep 2008
30 Posts
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| Thu Jun 17, 10 4:22 am |
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march is a great time to come...
we offer beach front villas, or hilltop cabinas, the closest to the kite beach..walk to kite...if you want to explore between sessions, a rental car is recommended, but not needed, as we can usually get our guests where they need(want) to go.
kite rentals and lessons are available as well as kite caddies to help with gear.
email me
Lguardbl@gmail.com
thanks
Bob Selfridge
Cometa Copal Kitesurfing
Bahia Salinas, Costa Rica |
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playacopal
Since 15 Sep 2008
30 Posts
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| Thu Jun 17, 10 4:24 am |
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downstream,
thanks for the props...
bob |
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Burny
Since 05 Feb 2008
13 Posts
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| Thu Jun 17, 10 11:07 am |
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I just went to costa rica this march and it was awesome! We went to la fortuna to check out Arenal Volcano stayed at Gringo Petes clean and cheap, then went to Bahia Salinas and stayed at the Blue Dream Hotel and kited one day. The view is sick from the hotel room and Nicola is a great guy. Plus there were several cool kiters there to chill with that were from all over the world. We were even fortunate to be included in a birthday bbq celebration. However, just to save some money I would buy some food/snacks/and water to bring to blue dream so you don't have to buy everything there. There is a supermercado in la cruz but I would grab it before you hit the dirt road because it takes a little bit of time. It was windy the two days I was there and beautiful. THen we went to tamarindo to surf. Tamarindo is more crowded and some talk bad about it but I wouldn't. I think its still a great beach town and the surfing is really fun. I enjoyed all three places. Not sure how much time your going for but we decided to just stay in Tamarindo for the remainder of the trip so we didn't have to be in the car more. Originally we wanted to go to Mal Pais too...we just needed more time to do so. Have fun and let me know if you have any other questions.
PURA VIDA! |
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Marcp
Since 24 May 2010
32 Posts
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| Thu Jun 17, 10 1:14 pm Cost Rica |
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Flamingo Beach is a nice alternative place to stay if you want to avoid the touristy Tamarindo. The fact is, Costa Rica is pretty rustic no matter where you go. Besides Lake Arenal and Bahi Salinas, I did not find wind anywhere along the North Coast.
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AquaMan |
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playacopal
Since 15 Sep 2008
30 Posts
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| Fri Jun 18, 10 3:55 am |
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there are some days(few) where you can kite the beaches in guanacaste, but it is hit or miss...ive kited Nosara, Aveallanas, Santa Teresa..in good sizable surf, but lighter winds...also, Pavonnes has kiting...
but for the most consistant-read every day!-Bahia Salinas...
come see us
Bob Selfridge
Cometa Copal Kitesurfing
Lguardbl@gmail.com
www.cometacopal.com |
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Surf Dude
Since 04 Jul 2008
73 Posts
Mosier, OR
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| Fri Jun 18, 10 8:26 am |
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My wife and I stayed at the blue dream hotel for 12 days in April 2008. Although inexpensive the food at the Bar /Restaurant was very good. We thought the place had a great vibe with very interesting people staying there from all over the world. There was a nice camaraderie in the restaurant among the quest in the evening. You can walk back to the hotel from the beach, by road it is about 1.75 miles or along the beach when the tide is out it is a little over a mile walk, Nicola will bring your kiting gear back in the truck at the end of the day. When I was there the experienced kiters would do a downwinder in the morning from the nearby beach across from the hotel to the kiting beach.
Nicola is a great guy; we enjoyed his family and friendly staff and especially his very special daughter Elizabeth. |
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