| 09/11/09 |
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If there’s a paradise on earth, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve found it!
Our family recently traveled to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica for 10 days. The adventure was loosely planned at first until I was recommended by a friend to call the owner (Keith Brown) of Pacifico Villa. That's when our trip came together. Keith who knows the country very well gave us great suggestions for our activities, restaurants, & site seeing. I took the good advice and we discovered a Costa Rica that exceeded our expectations! I would highly encourage anyone traveling to the area to experience.
Pacifico Villa in Buena Vista, Tulemar is a 3-bedroom +, “home” complete with a full kitchen, state-of-the-art eco-friendly appliances, lavish furnishings, a Jacuzzi on the veranda, private outdoor showers, incredible views of the pacific ocean, jungle and mountains, and the most comfortable bed I’ve slept on in years, the list continues... Although our favorite thing was the large outdoor veranda for the viewing the ocean, wildlife watching, and relaxing with our group. While the cost was $550 a night, I would definitely say it was more than worth the price. I think about some of the hotels I’ve booked in New York or Europe for just under that amount and the amenities offered did not compare with what I found in Buena Vista.
While it was difficult to pry myself from my accommodations (easy to understand why), I managed, and was perhaps even more surprised by what I found outside of the villa and around the resort: A lush jungle with monkeys swinging from trees and sloths nestled among the branches; a private beach that is spectacular...where I was able to use a complimentary kayak to explore nearby coves; a hillside restaurant; a gorgeous “endless pool” with a waterfall cascading into it; and a very convenient shuttle service taking guests anywhere through the resort (with the amount of hills in Manuel Antonio, I was grateful for it!).
The staff at Buena Vista was made up of some of the most accommodating and friendly people. When it came time to explore the streets of Manuel Antonio, I found that maneuvering through the town was easy with their various recommendations. I ate at -- in my opinion -- some of the best restaurants in Costa Rica including Kapi Kapi (across the street), the Tapas Bar, and the Aqua Azul – each only a short walk away (all inexpensive and unique).
I have already recommended Pacifico Villa to a friend of mine and her fiancé traveling to the country for their honeymoon in the spring. While it serves as the ultimate backdrop for such a romantic occasion, a trip with the family or a group of friends would be well-served here. I wanted to share my excitement for Pacifico Villa as I’m sure you will too. Thanks Keith for helping make this family trip the best vacation we've ever had! We hope to be back very soon!
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Tracy Parent, Lakeville, MN
952 435 8166 |
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| 08/11/09 |
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Keith - Just wanted to tell you we loved your place in Manuel Antonio. We were extremely happy b/c your place has the best view in Buena Vista.
Anyway, my wife and kids had the time of their lives! Pura Vida!
We saw some titi monkeys on your beach, but that was after we did the titi canopy tour and saw literally hundreds of them flying and wrestling near the restaurant there. On the Chino boat tour we had white face (capuchins?) monkeys climbing all over us as they were fed bananas by the guides. We also saw hundreds of iguanas all over the country. The kids saw crocs but I did not. We toured the park (MA) and saw more monkeys, sloths, couple snakes, toucans.
For me the better waves for surfing were up in Mal Pais (Nicoya Peninsula), but the family loved Tulemar the best. Agua Azul was the best restaurant near your home (we ate there twice). Gran Escape was second best. We cooked a huge roast and potatoes on Sunday and had a big America feast on the balcony table. Special mention: Christian is a fantastic concierge. Helped us with everything.
We had mostly beautiful weather. The norm was sunny mornings and rain in the afternoons and early evenings. A couple days it did not rain at all. The power went out one night during a huge thunderstorm. A couple of big trees in Tulemar fell in the wind and blocked some of the roads too. We don't ever get thunderstorms in Southern California so the kids thought the thunder and lightning was cool.
Your recommendations were very reliable.
Seriously the best family trip we ever had! Thanks again!
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Jon Terry, Newport Beach, CA
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| 08/09/09 |
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We stayed at the Pacifico Villa 404 in Buena Vista. The 3 bedroom, four bath villa itself was truly spectacular. The decor is very tasteful-- the star attraction being the canopy of trees & flowers that surround each standalone villa. Our 3-bedroom had 3 floors. The common space on the first floor had travertine floors, powder room, compact but very usable kitchen, & small sleeping nook that could be used as a lounge or semi-private 4th bedroom. We spent as much time as possible on the spacious terrace, complete with dining table, b-bque grill, lights, fan, hot tub, and up close views of the jungle canopy. Birdwatchers & lovers of flowers and trees, the occasional monkey show and the night-after-night gorgeous sunsets can find the terrace time so enjoyable they don't want to leave. All bedrooms had bathrooms with indoor-outdoor showers- spacious enough for two & decorated with natural pebble walls and slate flooring. Our group of ten has been very comfortable. We have cooked & eaten in more than we expected to, because we love the spacious pleasant ambiance and feel so lucky to be in what feels like a natural spa retreat setting.
The beach is attended by the warm & accomodating David, who takes care of your need for towels, chaise lounges, umbrellas, boogie boards, kayaks, snorkel equipment and other beach toys. With it's proximity to the equator, the weather in Costa Rica is a predictable 80-90 degrees farenheit almost every day of the year. The ocean water on our visit in June is so warm and temperate that several of us have made swimming in the ocean for an hour at a time a high priority each day. The sand is soft- grey in color, the water blue, and the lush foliage of the jungle embraces the cove & is home to wildlife that are easy to spot. Sloth, cappucian monkeys, titi monkeys, kudamunda, a wide variety of colorful birds all made an appearance on property. Surprisingly, we did not find Costa Rica very "buggy." Aside from a few mosquito bites, they did not bother us at all. Each afternoon when our group of 10 went down to the beach, there were fewer than 10 other guests at the beach. The property is great for friends, families, and couples seeking a romantic retreat.
The property also contains several pools--the one closest to our villa was the "adult pool," perfect for our group. The freshwater infinity pool was beautifully designed and landscaped. Again, rarely was anyone there, and it provided a serene retreat for readers, sunbathers, or anyone wanting to take a quick dip after the short hike up from the beach.
We used the great concierge services, valuable because we did not rent a car and we needed to select excursions that included transportation with hotel pick-up. Zipline adventure and snorkel cruises were booked by the concierge, as well as a couple of very good dinners.
As we depart from this country where the people are so warm and the setting so extraordinary, we are all feeling refreshed, renewed, & very grateful!
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Maureen Baker, Denver, Colorado
(303) 620-8038 |
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