Things to Do & See...
Places to Eat & Shop!
Sightseeing/Activity/Excursion
Besides the activities listed below here, we also have recommendations for boat charters, whether it's a sunset sail, a big game fishing excursion or just renting a small boat for some easy fishing, snorkelling and visiting the tiny secluded beaches along the shoreline.
This national park, with an active volcano, is about an hour away from us. You’ll see little bubbling lava pools along the well-manicured walking trail. Easy walking trails, from 2km to 10km loops...and a beautiful waterfall.
102 moradores locais recomendam
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
This national park, with an active volcano, is about an hour away from us. You’ll see little bubbling lava pools along the well-manicured walking trail. Easy walking trails, from 2km to 10km loops...and a beautiful waterfall.
An outing to Playa Ocotal (about 15 minutes south of us). The whole coast is dotted with beautiful beaches (including ours), but Ocotal, with its black sparkling sand, is worth seeing. Also good snorkelling there! We enjoy going to this beach in the morning, getting in some snorkelling/swimming and then having lunch at Father Rooster's!
58 moradores locais recomendam
Ocotal Beach Club
An outing to Playa Ocotal (about 15 minutes south of us). The whole coast is dotted with beautiful beaches (including ours), but Ocotal, with its black sparkling sand, is worth seeing. Also good snorkelling there! We enjoy going to this beach in the morning, getting in some snorkelling/swimming and then having lunch at Father Rooster's!
If you want to take a break from saltwater swimming, then pack a lunch and head to this hidden gem of a waterfall! It's about an hour from our villa. Use Google Maps or Waze for general directions, but to find exactly where you turn off Highway 1, use this little trick: count the overhead walkways on the highway as soon as you turn onto it. The waterfall exit is just after the 4th overhead walkway - it’s a very small sign on your right!
7 moradores locais recomendam
Llanos de Cortés
If you want to take a break from saltwater swimming, then pack a lunch and head to this hidden gem of a waterfall! It's about an hour from our villa. Use Google Maps or Waze for general directions, but to find exactly where you turn off Highway 1, use this little trick: count the overhead walkways on the highway as soon as you turn onto it. The waterfall exit is just after the 4th overhead walkway - it’s a very small sign on your right!
For a more adventurous waterfall experience, we recommend this place! It's an intermediate hike to get there, with some of the route requiring that you pass through rivers (some of it deep and sometimes fast moving, but there are guide ropes to hang onto and they'll give you a flotation device to wear). The payoff is a beautiful blue lagoon and gorgeous waterfall! Note that this is on private land and you can only access it with a tour guide. We can't include any contact info here, but ask us and we'll send it to you once you've booked.
15 moradores locais recomendam
Catarata La Leona
For a more adventurous waterfall experience, we recommend this place! It's an intermediate hike to get there, with some of the route requiring that you pass through rivers (some of it deep and sometimes fast moving, but there are guide ropes to hang onto and they'll give you a flotation device to wear). The payoff is a beautiful blue lagoon and gorgeous waterfall! Note that this is on private land and you can only access it with a tour guide. We can't include any contact info here, but ask us and we'll send it to you once you've booked.
Great fun! You can buy various packages and do as much...or as little as you like: butterfly pavillion; sloths!!; wildlife sanctuary (with big cats & lots of monkeys); sloths!!; botanical garden; sloths!!; traditional house replica tour; sloths!!; zip lining; sloths!!; beach area with SUP, snorkeling, kayaking, hammocks; sloths!!; ocean-view restaurant buffet; sloths!!; rope bridge; sloths!!
150 moradores locais recomendam
Diamante Eco Adventure Park
350 east RIU HotelGreat fun! You can buy various packages and do as much...or as little as you like: butterfly pavillion; sloths!!; wildlife sanctuary (with big cats & lots of monkeys); sloths!!; botanical garden; sloths!!; traditional house replica tour; sloths!!; zip lining; sloths!!; beach area with SUP, snorkeling, kayaking, hammocks; sloths!!; ocean-view restaurant buffet; sloths!!; rope bridge; sloths!!
Home to Guanacaste's original canopy zip-line, extreme zip-lines, horseback riding, ATV tours, wildlife refuge monkey sanctuary, and much more!
34 moradores locais recomendam
The Congo Trail
Home to Guanacaste's original canopy zip-line, extreme zip-lines, horseback riding, ATV tours, wildlife refuge monkey sanctuary, and much more!
Snorkelling right off our beach! We prefer the north end of the beach - snorkel around the jut-out at the north end of the beach and then take a break on the next little beach before heading back. We regularly see all kinds of sea life, including turtles and spotted rays. You can rent snorkelling gear at BA Divers which is on the road from Playa Hermosa to Playas del Coco (about a 5min drive from our villa). If you’re going to do this, please arrange it a day in advance - they don’t keep regular hours.
Playa Hermosa
Snorkelling right off our beach! We prefer the north end of the beach - snorkel around the jut-out at the north end of the beach and then take a break on the next little beach before heading back. We regularly see all kinds of sea life, including turtles and spotted rays. You can rent snorkelling gear at BA Divers which is on the road from Playa Hermosa to Playas del Coco (about a 5min drive from our villa). If you’re going to do this, please arrange it a day in advance - they don’t keep regular hours.
A beautiful hike along a river that serves as a nature corridor. See sloths in the wild, white face monkeys, blue jean frogs and so much more! Reasonably priced, guided tour (on private land).
Bijagua Ranas
A beautiful hike along a river that serves as a nature corridor. See sloths in the wild, white face monkeys, blue jean frogs and so much more! Reasonably priced, guided tour (on private land).
One of our favourite places to be is...under the sea! For snorkelling and scuba diving excursions, these are the folks we book with.
15 moradores locais recomendam
Rich Coast Diving
One of our favourite places to be is...under the sea! For snorkelling and scuba diving excursions, these are the folks we book with.
Food scene
One of our two favourite restaurants for dinner! Best way to describe it is a tapas restaurant with Asian influences. Incredibly attentive staff, great food and drinks, in a treehouse like setting. Right on the main road - if you're walking from our house, walk along the beach until you get to the second beach access road (the road our villa is off of is the first beach access road) - go up that road to the main road and turn left.
64 moradores locais recomendam
Ginger Restaurant Bar
One of our two favourite restaurants for dinner! Best way to describe it is a tapas restaurant with Asian influences. Incredibly attentive staff, great food and drinks, in a treehouse like setting. Right on the main road - if you're walking from our house, walk along the beach until you get to the second beach access road (the road our villa is off of is the first beach access road) - go up that road to the main road and turn left.
A nice little seafood restaurant at the north end of our beach.
26 moradores locais recomendam
La Casita Del Marisco
A nice little seafood restaurant at the north end of our beach.
Roberto's
Monday night features 2 for 1 ribs - right on the beach.
We love this beach restaurant for its Taco Tuesdays (best tacos ever!) and their "Barbecue on the Beach" on Wednesdays and Saturdays - our favourite barbecue item is the whole red snapper!
15 moradores locais recomendam
Hotel El Velero
We love this beach restaurant for its Taco Tuesdays (best tacos ever!) and their "Barbecue on the Beach" on Wednesdays and Saturdays - our favourite barbecue item is the whole red snapper!
Great place for lunches, drinks and casual pub fare dinners. Sometimes have live music. Close to our end of the beach, so a short walk along the beach!
55 moradores locais recomendam
Aquasport Bar & Restaurant
Great place for lunches, drinks and casual pub fare dinners. Sometimes have live music. Close to our end of the beach, so a short walk along the beach!
This restaurant is right on the beach and literally a 2 minute walk from our house! Pricier than the other restaurants on the beach. They also provide drink service to the beach, at their loungers!
Restaurante Niromi By Bosque Del Mar
This restaurant is right on the beach and literally a 2 minute walk from our house! Pricier than the other restaurants on the beach. They also provide drink service to the beach, at their loungers!
Our favourite breakfast spot and, during high season, our other favourite restaurant for dinner on Friday nights!! They have the most amazing house band (The Dream Machine), made up of retired professional musicians, and fabulous food. All year round, they serve the best breakfast in Playa Hermosa, with authentic French crepes on the menu! And it's only a 3 minute walk from our place!! The setting is like an enchanted garden. Love, love, love this place!!
10 moradores locais recomendam
Restaurant Villa del Sueño
Our favourite breakfast spot and, during high season, our other favourite restaurant for dinner on Friday nights!! They have the most amazing house band (The Dream Machine), made up of retired professional musicians, and fabulous food. All year round, they serve the best breakfast in Playa Hermosa, with authentic French crepes on the menu! And it's only a 3 minute walk from our place!! The setting is like an enchanted garden. Love, love, love this place!!
About a 10 minute walk from our villa, up the beach access road our street runs off of, towards the main road (you'll drive/walk past it any time you go up the road). We like their pizza! And they're the only restaurant that's open late in our sleepy little beach town - till 10:00pm!
Bocelli's Pizza
About a 10 minute walk from our villa, up the beach access road our street runs off of, towards the main road (you'll drive/walk past it any time you go up the road). We like their pizza! And they're the only restaurant that's open late in our sleepy little beach town - till 10:00pm!
In Playa Panama, just north of our beach town. A great restaurant, especially for brunch!
HACIENDA BLU BEACH
In Playa Panama, just north of our beach town. A great restaurant, especially for brunch!
Located in Playa Panama, just north of our beach town. It's an upscale restaurant with breathtaking views, exceptional service and gourmet food! It's fine dining - the perfect spot to have a special dinner!
Peninsula CR Steak & Seafood Grill
Located in Playa Panama, just north of our beach town. It's an upscale restaurant with breathtaking views, exceptional service and gourmet food! It's fine dining - the perfect spot to have a special dinner!
In Playas del Coco, just south of us. The best whole red snapper in our area! Beautiful setting.
19 moradores locais recomendam
Restaurante Mar Azul
In Playas del Coco, just south of us. The best whole red snapper in our area! Beautiful setting.
In Playas del Coco. Great food and craft beer served here. In the Pacifico complex, across from Auto Mercado supermarket.
Numu Taproom and Bistro by Chef Nicolas Devenelle
In Playas del Coco. Great food and craft beer served here. In the Pacifico complex, across from Auto Mercado supermarket.
In Playas del Coco. Amazing lasagna!! Exceptional Italian food that is so reasonably priced! Walk down to Heladeria El Coco after dinner (just a couple of doors down, in the same little 'plaza') and enjoy some homemade gelato for dessert!
Verde Salvia Ristorante Italiano E Pizzeria
In Playas del Coco. Amazing lasagna!! Exceptional Italian food that is so reasonably priced! Walk down to Heladeria El Coco after dinner (just a couple of doors down, in the same little 'plaza') and enjoy some homemade gelato for dessert!
A little off the beaten track, but so worth it if you love thin crust, wood oven pizza!
33 moradores locais recomendam
La Caveja
A little off the beaten track, but so worth it if you love thin crust, wood oven pizza!
Supermarket/Pharmacy
Our slightly bigger grocery store, on the main road - about a 15-20 minute walk from our place. Has a small pharmacy built into it...and a souvenir/art store attached to it!
18 moradores locais recomendam
Super Luperon Playa Hermosa
158Our slightly bigger grocery store, on the main road - about a 15-20 minute walk from our place. Has a small pharmacy built into it...and a souvenir/art store attached to it!
This is bigger than our supermarket and stocks some things we have at home, such as frozen berries, almond flour, gluten free foods, etc..
309 moradores locais recomendam
Auto Mercado
This is bigger than our supermarket and stocks some things we have at home, such as frozen berries, almond flour, gluten free foods, etc..
A little grocery store, closest to our home. About a 10-15 minute walk from our house.
Mini Super Hermosa
A little grocery store, closest to our home. About a 10-15 minute walk from our house.