During our 14-day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica trip with Gate 1 Travel, we stayed in six hotels.
Starting Out
However, as previously mentioned, we stayed at the Park Inn by Radisson San Jose three times during the trip: once when we first arrived, again after two days exploring Tortuguero, and again to wrap up the trip before our flight home.Â
We stayed at the Aninga Lodge in Tortuguero for two nights before meeting with a larger group to explore the rest of Costa Rica.
Here are reviews of the other four hotels and the resorts’ meals and activities.
Our next blog will explore activities, restaurants, and adventures outside these resorts.
Arenal
La Fortuna de San Carlos
Arenal, Costa Rica
It was a quaint hotel with views of the Arenal Volcano, about a twenty-minute drive from the Arenal Volcano National Park. We were there for two nights, but both days were quite full, so other than meals, we spent very little time here.
Aside from the resort in Tortuguero, these were the most rustic accommodations on the trip. Quaint might be a better term, as the resort was comfortable, and the staff could not have been friendlier.
The rooms were grouped in small motel-like units with a few rooms in each building. The resort was a bit hilly but only a challenge when it rained. There was a small pool and jacuzzi, but our schedule didn’t allow any time to swim there.
Our room was spacious, with two queen-sized beds, an armoire, and a safe. In one corner was a “kitchenette” – a counter with two stools, a coffee maker, and a small refrigerator.Â
The bathroom was large, with a lovely walk-in shower and decent hot water.
We were served dinner the night of our arrival. Unfortunately, we were exhausted and didn’t take great notes of dinner; we knew there was a creamy Mushroom and Vegetable Soup that was very good. Mark had Pan-Seared Fish with Shrimp, Chuck took the Beef option, and we both had Flan for dessert. Both the food and service were excellent.
The hotel offered a decent breakfast buffet in the morning with fresh Juices, Fruit, excellent Coffee, and some pastries. There were usually Pancakes or French Toast, and every day, there were Potatoes, Picadillo, and Gallo Pinto, Costa Rica’s staple Rice and Beans.
Overall, the hotel was nice. The big drawback was that it sits at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, and because of the clouds and rain, we never saw the volcano. We were surprised that Gate 1 had recently changed hotels in Arenal.
Monteverde
1 km de Santa Elena, en ruta a la Reserva Monteverde
Monteverde, Costa Rica
This hotel is known for its incredible plants and wildlife. It is owned by a Quaker / Costa Rican family and sits on 150 acres of rainforest.
This hotel was one of our favorites but wasn’t without its quirks. The main building with the breakfast buffet and registration was down off the road, and multiple lodge-like buildings were dotted along the sharp incline.Â
We were located toward the top of the hill, nearly a mile from the main buildings, so fortunately, they offered a shuttle service, which worked well.
The room had two queen-sized beds facing a wall of windows, which provided incredible views and some of the best sunsets of your trip. The bathroom was large and had a shower and a tub.
The only blip with our hotel was that shortly after our group’s arrival, most of the power went off in our building. The hotel’s team was right on it, and it was fixed in about fifteen minutes.
Outside our room, plants attracted butterflies, hummingbirds, and even a few coatimundis. Chuck befriended the one who came begging for cookies. And the views and sunset were outstanding!
We had booked a night walk in the cloud forest with friends at the top of the hotel’s mountain. The guides were spectacular, and the forest was tranquil and disconnected from the resort. On our trek, we saw incredible insects, reptiles, and animals. If you’re able to do this at the resort, BOOK IT!
TRAVEL NOTE: It’s dark, the paths are pretty narrow, and you hear many unique sounds. At one point, Mark was a little freaked out, hoping that nothing was jumping out at him. However, it was well worth the scare.
After our night Walk, our group ate dinner at Leggus, the resort’s fine-dining restaurant. They had an excellent wine selection, delicious food, and attentive staff.
Mark opted for two appetizers: a Compressed Watermelon and Manchego Cheese Salad and sauteed Shrimp and Artichoke Hearts. Both were unique and very tasty. Chuck opted for the deconstructed Eggplant Parmesan, which was also different but very good.
Breakfast was served in an extensive buffet room at the street level. This might have been the best breakfast buffet of the trip, with something for everyone and fantastic staff.
Tamarindo
Calle Central Tamarindo, Santa Cruz
Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
This beautiful resort was located on the Northwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
We have a love/hate relationship with this resort, so we’ll discuss the good and the bad.
The good: The resort is beautiful and well-maintained. The gardens’ pools and facilities are some of the best we encountered.
The resort is divided into two sides of Tamarindo’s main road. The side closest to the ocean has hotel rooms, an extensive breakfast buffet, a bar, a beachside restaurant, and a reception desk.
The roadway is lined with many shops, boutiques, a casino, and restaurants. Some seem to be part of the hotel complex but are still very public. Everything is walkable; however, the farther up the road from the resort, the worse the road and walk becomes.
Our room was on the far side of the road, away from the ocean, where several large clusters of hotel rooms and beautiful pools were located.
The bad thing is that we lost power after arriving in our room—no AC, fans, Wi-Fi, or running water. It seemed everyone near us in the “Adult Only” area had the same issue. A call to the front desk got a response with a bit of a chuckle. The front desk clerk (nervous or otherwise) literally laughed at our request, not once but twice. Our tour manager jumped in and handled the issue, but it took quite a while.
The room was large and nicely decorated. The bathroom was huge, and we had a terrace facing the pool.
The pool area had a great bar, plenty of loungers, and cabanas. In the morning, they set up a nice breakfast buffet while still offering the option of the much more extensive buffet across the road.
Unfortunately, while we had free time one afternoon, the bar was closed for a private event: a wedding rehearsal dinner/pool party. So we could not get drinks, and the “adult-only” pool area was overrun with a loud group and a few kids.
Pizza and Dinner At The Resort
Mark is NEVER one to turn down Pizza. He and two friends grabbed lunch one afternoon at the resort’s Niri Pasta and Pizza. The Diavola Pizza with Pepperoni, Red Onion, and Jalapenos was excellent, and this was the personal size, at about $13.00 US on our visit.Â
On our last night at the resort, our group had dinner in the resort’s restaurant just off the beach. Eating under the stars was beautiful, and the service was terrific.
We had several appetizer, entree, and dessert choices. We both opted for the Lobster and Shrimp Bisque, which was amazing. Other options included a Grilled Pineapple Salad or a Spinach and Lettuce Salad with Balsamic and Honey Vinaigrette.
For entrees, Chuck selected the Jalapeña Tenderloin Tips, and Mark went with the Sea Bass with Guava. Both were dishes we would order again. Other options included a Vegetable Risotto or a Chicken Curry.
We both chose the Tiramisu for dessert, which was unique but delicious. Other options offered included Pineapple Cheesecake or Caramel Flan.
Overall, despite the issues we encountered, we really enjoyed the resort.
TRAVEL NOTE: Our group received coupons for a complimentary welcome drink. We thought the drinks were very watered down, and the wine pours varied. Next time, we’d opt for a bottled beer.
Manuel Antonio
Shana By The Beach – Hotel Residence & Spa
Ruta Punta Quepos Manuel Antonio,Â
Provincia de Puntarenas,Â
Quepos, 60601, Costa Rica
Located on the Pacific coast, the resort sits high on the cliffs above the beach and ocean.
Interesante!Â
Before arriving at the resort, our group was split into two groups. Part of the travel group was a group from an Arizona community, about ten couples. They were lovely and interacted well with everyone else. We’re not sure if it was by design or whether our hotel was full, but they were all dropped off at a boutique hotel down the road from our resort.
The resort is built on a cliff, and walking from the rooms to the main building with pools, bar, restaurant, and spa was straight up a steep walkway. Be sure to call for a shuttle or hold the handrail on the way up the driveway.
Our room was ENORMOUS. It had two King beds, a patio seating area, a small coffee station with a refrigerator, and a HUGE closet/dressing area between the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom was large enough to park our SUV, with an excellent shower and plenty of hot water.
The pools and bar area were excellent, and we enjoyed cocktails and relaxing there. The monkeys climbing along the cabanas were fun to watch and didn’t cause too much havoc, although they did try.
Unfortunately, our group had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant on our free night. It was spacious and opened to the outdoors, with a big open kitchen. The service went from bad to worse. None of the food came out together, several orders were wrong or never made it to the table, and even the simplest things, like fish fingers, were incorrect. The manager came over several times to try fixing things and comped all of the entrees.
Ending on a high note, Mark decided to skip the excursion to Manuel Antonio Nature Park and instead booked a full-body massage in the resort’s spa. The spa was clean and tranquil, and the massage therapist was excellent. The massage was offered at a decent price for a resort.
More to come…
Overall, the resorts were clean and comfortable. Aside from a few bumps, we enjoyed each for different reasons.Â
Next, I will share some of the fun activities we enjoyed during the rest of our fourteen-day trip, including activities, meals on our own, and a few random stops along the way.
