Hotel Cala Luna, The Nicoya Peninsula

Location

Just outside Tamarindo (The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica)

Description

Small, intimate hotel on the outskirts of Tamarindo, a fishing village of about 1000 inhabitants. There is a wild, beautiful beach about 100 yards away, and we would usually recommend a hire car in order to explore the area and for easy access to the village with its beach, restaurants and bars.

Activities

Surfing, windsurfing and water skiing, deep-sea fishing, diving, horseback riding and mountain biking are amongst the activities the hotel can help organise. Excursions on offer include sunset cruises, boat trips into the nearby Wildlife Refuge (which protects a large estuary), mangrove forest and tropical dry forest, and river floating down the Coribici, great for nature lovers.

Accommodation

20 deluxe rooms tucked away in luxuriant gardens of hibiscus and bougainvillaea. All have private bathrooms, hot water, air-conditioning, television, fans and a terrace. In addition there are 21 spacious private villas (2 and 3 bedroom) each with kitchen and its own small swimming pool.

Our comments

This property is beautifully designed and decorated, with an intimate, relaxed atmosphere combined with excellent service. Italian-owned, it's a 15-minute walk or short drive from the village centre. The quiet beach (Playa Langosta) is just a 2-minute walk away. Ideal for honeymoons, or indeed anyone looking for comfort and privacy to unwind.

When to go

November to April (warm and dry), although the rest of the year enjoys much fine weather. In September it can be very wet, hot and humid.