A suite at the Harmony Hotel in Nosara, Costa Rica
Almost everyone likes to finish their Costa Rica holiday with a bit of time on the beach. Apart from anything it’s nice to have time to process all of the extraordinary things you will have done and seen over the previous week or two.
The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is the obvious choice. There are all sorts of options out there, from marina/golf course type affairs, to the more low key. On our holidays, we forget the former and plump for the latter every time.
The Harmony Hotel in Nosara is a great example of the sort of hotels we like. It’s in Nosara which is a pretty relaxed, surfy type village. The hotel is set around lush tropical gardens but has its own path (1oom or so) down to the beach. And what a beach. Very long, very golden, very sandy and very sunny. In fact, watch out because there’s nothing much by way of shade to be had.
The Harmony pretty much epitomises barefoot luxury. It’s not luxurious but it is very comfortable indeed. It is very barefoot.
If you are going, I’d say spring for a suite. These are detached bungalows spread throughout the gardens. They are a very good size and well done. The photo above is one of the suites.
I personally thought that the standard, Cocos, rooms were not where I would want to be. They are actually all in a line, somewhat like a motel and were just a bit too dark for my liking.
The food is very, very good. They major on fish, sushi in particular. Wash it down with one of their genuinely top notch smoothies/juices and you have a healthy diet which really complements being out on a beach. For me it works.
I would say that you are likely to feel a bit out of place here if you are in your 50s or more – the median age is somewhere in the 30s I suspect.
Surfing is definitely the activity of choice and this is a cracking spot if you want to learn a new skill or if you are an old hand. There’s a surf board rack at the entrance to the hotel, and it’s always full.
If you are minded to, they have daily yoga classes and some quite ‘out there’ sounding dance classes. Personally I would stick to having a go at standing up on a surf board, sunset walks on the beach, visits to the Ostional Reserve to see turtles and exploring some of the tiny villages and beautiful coastal landscape all around.
Looking for Costa Rica holidays? Our Costa Rica self drive holidays generally end up at Nosara or nearby Samara. Call us on 01273 676712 if you would like us to tailor make a holiday for you.