Playa Grande Park Hotel and Villas

A low-key restaurant with a collection of colorful surfboards painted by Costa Rican artist Gabriel Riggioni, a soundtrack heavy with Jose Gonzalez, and a bar that looks like it was sliced from a burly tree and then polished to perfection, sets the stage for guests as they enter the Playa Grande Park Hotel. The little boutique hotel appeals equally to surfers, families, and nature-lovers with its affordable rates, prime location within Marina Las Baulas National Park, and easy access to Playa Grande. The wide, three-mile stretch of beach attracts visitors at night for the chance to take a guided tour to view nesting sea turtles. Beach-goers love Playa Grande for jogging and strolling, while surfers come to ride the consistent swells and breaks.

Guests of Playa Grande Park start their mornings with made-to-order breakfasts -- pancakes or eggs with rice and beans (gallo pinto) -- before setting off to surf or partake in excursions such as zip-line tours, river safaris, or catamaran tours, all which can be arranged by the front desk staff. The hotel's small shaded pools (at the main hotel and within the Beach House compound) are ideal spots for afternoon lounging and reading, especially after a day in the sun. In the evenings, the giant Guanacaste tree near the pool is illuminated to cast a romantic glow over the property. 

Guests from the hotel and other hotels within the park come to Shaka's to dine on locally caught grilled fish, fish tacos, shrimp stir fry, and other somewhat healthy (including many vegetarian) options. On some nights, there's live music on the outdoor terrace where customers can settle in brightly colored Adirondack chairs and lounge on low-slung bean-bag furniture, leaning back to watch the stars and listen to tunes. Those in search of a more robust and late-night scene can head to Tamarindo, a 30-minute drive, but most turn in early, exhausted after a day of surfing and exploring.

The hotel is set within the Marino Las Baulas National Park, a conservation area that protects sea turtles and more than 170 species of birds. Playa Grande is about a five-minute walk from the hotel. It is separated from Tamarindo by the Matapalo River, commonly called the estuary, and guests have the option of taking a five-minute boat ride across the water to walk in to the town or drive 30 minutes around the river.

• Five-minute walk to Playa Grande
• 25-minute drive to Playa Flamingo
• 30-minute drive to Tamarindo
• 70-minute drive to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, Liberia
• Two-hour drive to Palo Verde National Park
• Four-hour drive to Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose
• Four-hour drive to Arenal Volcano National Park

The hotel has eight rooms set in a handsome two-story white building with a red barrel-tile roof and exposed dark wood beams, overlooking the pool and the surrounding canopy of trees. In addition, the hotel has The Beach House, a separate, walled compound with six two-bedroom villas and a pool, located a short walk up the road from the main hotel, closer to the beach. Both the rooms and the villas follow a similar, basic design with terra-cotta tile floors, white-washed walls with hand-painted, somewhat elementary, framed murals of ships and sea life, and thick wood furniture.

Playa Grande Park's Standard Rooms are located on the first floor of the building, offering direct access to the pool while Deluxe Rooms are set on the second floor, featuring loftier views and semi-private seating areas with pod-like rattan chairs and small tables. All of the rooms are furnished with one queen-size bed and one twin-sized day bed. Furnishings are basic, but adequate, with soft white linens, tiny reading lamps, mini-refrigerators, small flat-screen TVs, water coolers, desks, and locker-type wood closets with shutter doors. Bathrooms are slightly dated with drab tiles, walk-in showers, and single vanities. A small basket holds assorted toiletries, but there is a lack of hairdryers and safes.

The six villas that make up the Beach House are set behind a concrete wall, accessed by a gated entry. Gravel paths lead guests through a forest of palm trees and stone sculptures of ancient settlers and animals to a small pool. The two-story villas feature open living areas with vaulted white-washed ceilings with exposed beams, small kitchens with white cabinetry, and a wall of sliding glass doors. The master bedroom features a king-size platform bed with a deep blue accent wall serving as the headboard. Sliding glass doors open onto a wooden deck overlooking the pool. The second floor loft, accessed from an open staircase in the living area, holds two queen-size beds beneath a slanted ceiling that's precariously low in some spots. The bathrooms in the villas are finished in white tiles and have driftwood mirrors hung over the single vanities.

Shaka's perfectly reflects the vibe of Playa Grande, one that is much more relaxed and serene than its congested, party-oriented neighbor, Tamarindo. The restaurant attracts a mix of hotel guests from the handful of properties in Playa Grande as well as a steady stable of local surfers, many who are friends with the restaurant's manager. A billiards table is a good distraction for those looking to converse and enjoy one of the many artisan beers on the menu and there is also a lounge area with swings made from recycled wood pallets and a collection of milk crates topped with purple cushions surrounding a cocktail table. Diners come for the casual cuisine, which includes fish tacos, burgers made from organic beef, and plenty of fresh vegetarian options. An outdoor terrace is perfect on starry nights, especially when the restaurant has live music. Murals of surfers in action painted on canvases of corrugated metal hang on the exterior walls overlooking the terrace, tiny twinkling lights are wrapped around the railings, and there's a collection of yellow and turquoise adirondack chairs and oversized bean-bag seating, ideal for relaxing after a day of riding waves and exploring the national parks.