Costa Rica Vacation

carlxcal · Nov-06-2009, 01:33 PM

Looking for some help and suggestions to help make some decisions on a family trip we're planning this winter.

We're looking at heading down to Costa Rica and I'm trying to figure out better places / areas to stay at for my family. I will have my 3 and 6 year old daughters with us.

I'm also looking at doing a day trip for Sails. I've wanted to land one since I can remember and if I'm going down there, I'll be taking a trip.

Right now we've looked at resorts in Playa Tambor and in Puntarenas as well as Jaco Beach and as far north as Liberia. So we're obviously open to location but do any of these destinations offer some decent sail fishing?

When's a good time to go for calmer seas and catchs.

Any info you can provide would be appreciated.

Carl

shinerunner · Nov-06-2009, 01:50 PM

Los suenos marriott in Jaco will get you on the fish from their marina, nice and spendy.
Jaco is pretty seedy though, a better spot for a vacation with the boys than the fam.
A buddy of mine owns a cool place on jaco beach . Its secure and the property is staffed he rents it on vrbo.
Dec into march for big sails there. I don't know about the other areas.

Matt_e · Nov-06-2009, 03:50 PM

Look into Quepos. It's not far south of Jaco beach. I fished there last March thru Luna Tours charter and stayed at Costa Verde hotel. Very nice, good service, and good fishing!

cksea · Nov-06-2009, 04:17 PM

You can always catch a boat out of Heradura, next to Los Suenos but cheaper. Quepos, I mean Marina Pez Vella is an excellent choice.

Don't go to Puntarenas.

Thums up · Nov-08-2009, 01:08 PM

If your interested in coming to southern Costa Rica I can help you out. A lot more natural than most area. We have some great fishing and very calm seas year round. I recomend the Iguana Lodge in Puerto Jimenez and we pick up at the public dock in Jimenez. It is right on the beach. For the little one there is plenty to do. Tour the Choc. farm, hinking in the rain forest, atv tours etc. Also a very safe region and picked by national geophic as the most bio-diverse place on the plant and one of the 50 places to visit before you die by Conde-Naste traveler.

budman · Nov-08-2009, 05:52 PM

A safe place, and great for both fishing and beach fun is Puerto Jimenez on the Osa. Look contact, Cory Craig at www.tropicfins.com . Capt Cory Craig once worked at Crocodile bay Lodge as well as Parot Bay. Cory has 14 years under his belt as being one of the top guides. He also has two small kids who love to fish and play onn the beaches. He has a great personality and will show you what the Oas has to offer. I've fished with most of the guides in the area and enjoy my time with Cory above all. Hit costa Rica from late Feb until April. I'm not his agent, just a good friend who has spent many happy hours with Corey and his family. I now live and fish in Panama where the "big boys " are.

jimfrogs · Nov-10-2009, 09:01 AM

For a family vacation Manuel Antonio is my favorite place. Further south and the insects can make live miserable for the kids. The beach at M.A. is also very nice and pretty safe for kids. The fishing out of there is also good. Best season is thanksgiving through valentines day or even later but the fishing drops off a bit. The first two weeks of Jan have great weather and less tourists for some reason so it is a good time to go. MAtt e had the right idea with costa verde hotel and Luna Tours for chartering. Si Como No is another family friendly hotel or even the Blue Monkey or Mono Azul which is a bit less pricey for a hotel.I lived there for years and it is a great place to visit just a hard place to live. PURAVIDA

Kareem Korn · Nov-10-2009, 10:18 AM

Get the big paperback of "Surfer's guide to Costa Rica" by Mike Parise. Make sure it's a current edition, because it describes things by landmark sometimes. Stay a night or two at Tortugas (Las) Hotel. Lewis owned and ran it when I went. Cool place if you have a little kid or two. About 1/2 hour from tamarindo. Nobody on the beach nice break. Google it. When we were there I met a dude that vacations every year with his wife and three kids. They stay at a place right on that beach. If I was to bring my family next time, I would go to this part of CR. Everywhere else to me seemed shady. Theft is part of making a living there. So, watch your stuff. I mean like over watch it.
I wore trunks and t-shirts 95% of the time. And, left one of my t's there every day to a kid to lighten my load for souviners.

carlxcal · Nov-10-2009, 07:54 PM

Thanks for the info!

I'll be looking into most of the suggestions and trying to make some sense of this. I know my wife is looking for a larger resort type spot for this year as we are bringing the girls. If it doesn't work out, she promised a solo trip me and her next year in one of the smaller places. I really want to go this year!

JP Sportfishing · Nov-13-2009, 11:26 AM

Hello Carl,

I own a Sportfishing Charter Company for over 15 Years. We fish out of Quepos, Central pacific of Costa Rica. A lot of people call it the Sailfish Capitol of the World.
Best time to come will be from mid December thru March, I will be more than Glad to help you out with questions, quotes, etc. Very calm water.
Toll Free 1-866-620-4188
www.jpsportfishing.com

Carlos

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlxcal

Thanks for the info!

I'll be looking into most of the suggestions and trying to make some sense of this. I know my wife is looking for a larger resort type spot for this year as we are bringing the girls. If it doesn't work out, she promised a solo trip me and her next year in one of the smaller places. I really want to go this year!

CostaRicaHooker · Nov-17-2009, 08:25 PM

Carlxcal;

I am glad to hear you are planning a trip here to Costa Rica and I would be glad to assist you in having the very best fishing and travel experiences you could possibly have here.

Los Suenos is globally know as the Fishing Capital of Costa Rica and you will find the best selection of top Captains and Boats here, as well as the most productive and consistant fishing in Costa Rica hands down. Please feel free to contact me at info@hookedoncostarica.com or Toll Free from the USA at 1-877-446-0653 and I'll galdly answer your questions and help you make the best choices for a fantastic trip to Costa Rica.

Pura Vida from Paradise

Jay Warner · Yesterday, 05:52 AM

Los Suenos hands down for a family trip. Top notch everything. Spent a month there in 07 and had no complaints what so ever. Rent a condo and enjoy.