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I’m sorry, but it must be said: I have found the perfect beach. The fact that the adjacent hotel is called "Pirate’s Bay” ("La Bahia de los Piratas”), conjuring up visions of South Pacific islands with white-sand beaches and swaying palms, has nothing to do with this conviction. The fact that the hotel is on a curving white-sand beach, with swaying palms, helps a lot.
The hotel rises on the hill behind the beach. The complex comprises first a large thatch-roofed, open-air restaurant and bar, on the edge of the road passing the beach. A pizza oven offers hot fresh pizza for a dining alternative. Restaurant prices range from ˘1,500 to ˘5,000 (for lobster).
Then comes a double pool, with the water cascading from the smaller children’s pool into the larger pool below. Deck chairs and umbrellas surround the pool area, where outdoor showers are also handy for rinsing off sand before taking a dip. Further up behind the pool is the air-conditioned rec. room where guests may play pool or cards, read or watch TV.
Then curving along the road up ahead are 13 white villas with sleeping quarters for four to six. Each villa comes completely furnished, Kitchenettes are handy for heating coffee and keeping drinks cool, but cooking facilities are available only to guests staying at the villa rate. Bedrooms have twins or a queen-size bed and private hot-water bath. All bedrooms also come with quiet, efficient air-conditioners and fans that make afternoon naps especially comfortable.
All the villas have ocean views and most come with small front porches where guests can sit with their morning coffee and watch the howler monkeys make their way through the trees. Activities of just about every nature (snorkeling, riding, fishing) can be arranged by the management, or just lazing on the beach or by the pool are a definite option. Comfy lounge chairs along the curving, practically private, white-sand beach, make resting by the waterside even more tempting.
Cool ocean water (so rare on our hot shores) is a special bonus on this beach. Hotel prices including breakfast are $84 (incl. tax) for a double and $128 (incl. tax) for four. Villa prices (with complete kitchen set up, etc.) are $186 for four and $208 for six.
Getting there:
The easiest way is to fly to Playa Tamarindo and arrange with the hotel to have a taxi meet you. Buses leave for Flamingo-Potrero for San José daily at 8, 10 a.m. and take six hours.
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