Papagayo (Costa Rica) recommendations?

[Reef_Geek]

Planning a trip to Costa Rica, to the Papagayo region... staying at a hotel near Playa Panama. Anyone ever been there? Any recommendations on things to do, must do, regret doing etc?

My wife and I would love to do some snorkeling. I'm also a scuba instructor, but wife doesn't dive anymore... if there's something really cool, willing to send wife to spa while I go diving...:lol:

[Aquattro]

I've gone lower down the coast many times (Tamarindo), but mostly for surfing. Close to shore has always been a bit murky while snorkeling, so you may have to go further out. Jason has been a few times and may have more diving experience there..

[Reef_Geek]

Thanks. I've heard of Tamarino, doubt I'll make it down that way. I think there's a volcano near papagayo, thinking about checking out...

[Aquattro]

Thanks. I've heard of Tamarino, doubt I'll make it down that way. I think there's a volcano near papagayo, thinking about checking out...

Tamarindo is about an hour south, not a long drive. The only volcano I know is Arenal, and that's a couple hundred k from that area.

[Reef_Geek]

Well, just came back Sunday. Here's some pics to share.

http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182589_10151325013512953_608823147_n.jpg
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[Delphinus]

Wow! Looks awesome!

[Reef_Geek]

http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381802_10151325104387953_1101618406_n.jpg
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[Delphinus]

Are these Pacific side or Caribbean side?

[Reef_Geek]

... and some short videos

a 980 meter long zip line ride through the canopy
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2jlNbV2L-HXU0tMeGg1SGJhNFE

some underwater scuba diving action...
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2jlNbV2L-HXUVlpMTJpb3N5QnM

chasing a small moray eel while snorkeling off the beach
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2jlNbV2L-HXbjRROGREUTIzNk0

a Black Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas agassizi laying eggs
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2jlNbV2L-HXcTRCR2N1Vml0Tlk

a Black Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas agassizi burying her nest
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2jlNbV2L-HXRkRXWldtelhxVms

[Reef_Geek]

Are these Pacific side or Caribbean side?

Guanacaste province, the most northwestern part of Costa Rica. Pacific side.

[LeanneP]

Great pics. I'll add it to my bucket list of places to go!

[kien]

Looks like an awesome vacation. Love that starfish!

[Jason McK]

Great Shots, Sorry i just saw this thread. It would appear you found some diving and Monteverde. Has to be my fav place on the planet.

[Reef_Geek]

Great Shots, Sorry i just saw this thread. It would appear you found some diving and Monteverde. Has to be my fav place on the planet.

Thanks. The rain forest photos are near the Arenal volcano or around Palo Verde rivers. Under water shots were all around Gulf of Papagayo, diving and snorkeling. We just ran out of days... so many places to go. Monteverde cloud forest and Ricon de la Vieja rain forests didn't make our list this trip. Had we another week, would have done those plus the Nicaragua trip to see their volcanos & old towns. Trip was certainly a blast. More of an adventure vacation than a beach vacation. In six days, we packed in biking, kayaking, zip line, 2 national parks, scuba diving, sea turtle watching, a snorkel trip, and some beach/pool time. I need another vacation just to recover from this one! :mrgreen:

[Jason McK]

LOL Ya that's what I love about Costa Rica. Next trip will be to the far south likely to Manuel Antonio area for most of our trip.

Diving isn't what I'd call spectacular but I was nose to nose with a 30 foot Manta Ray. That was for sure the high light of my dive trip.

Glad you have a good time.

[Aquattro]

If you really love it down there, I can set you up a really nice deal on 2.5 acres just down the coast :)

[Jason McK]

Don't tell my wife. She is seriously working to retire there

[Aquattro]

Don't tell my wife. She is seriously working to retire there

So am I. I have some friends that lived there but have since moved to Panama, and they'll sell me a lot they have in Samara for what they paid for it 9 years ago.
Heading back in February, probably Tamarindo again. Love that place!

[Jason McK]

Never been to Tamarindo too Many surfers ;) LOL

Panama might be some where we want to look at as well. The market really took a dive there an is now coming back. Good time to buy. But who am I kidding I'll be stuck here till I die doing water changes LOL

[Jason McK]

Reef Geek, What camera are you shooting with on Land? The dynamic rage is incredible.
Our last trip to CR we actually sent our Camera back to Canon to have it fixed because half way through the trip we could not get correct exposures. Canon charged us $135.00 and did nothing. :)

[Reef_Geek]

Reef Geek, What camera are you shooting with on Land? The dynamic rage is incredible.
Our last trip to CR we actually sent our Camera back to Canon to have it fixed because half way through the trip we could not get correct exposures. Canon charged us $135.00 and did nothing. :)

Bummer to hear about your camera troubles. I once sent back a brand new lens to Canon because I was having trouble with the autofocus... only to find out (rookie mistake) that it was because I put a polarizer filter on it. Fortunately, only cost me shipping.

In the sequence of the posted photos:

photo 1, 10 to the end: a point and shoot Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS digital elph... underwater housing is an Ikelite http://www.adorama.com/IK624014.html

photos 2,3,5-8
Canon 5D mk II with lens EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS

photo 4
Canon 5D mk II with lens EF 24mm f/1.4 L

photo 9
Canon 5D mk II with lens EF 50mm f/1.2 L

all photos edited with Canon's Digital Professional to increase saturation, contrast, and sometimes brightness. SLR photos shot in RAW format.

[Jason McK]

Nice thanks.

I also shoot with a Canon Powershot A(something) with an Ikelite housing. Do you use strobe?
Looking at getting a housing for my D50 since my wife just got the 7D

J

[Reef_Geek]

Nice thanks.

I also shoot with a Canon Powershot A(something) with an Ikelite housing. Do you use strobe?
Looking at getting a housing for my D50 since my wife just got the 7D

J

these point-n-shoots have come a long way...
no strobe. I think if I lived somewhere with tropical diving, or just some diving in general, I'd go for an underwater housing for my SLR. Being in Calgary... I have very few opportunities.

Talking about getting a housing... if you're not already aware of B&H and Adorama...
when I used to live near the US border, I used to mail order photography equipment from Adorama http://www.adorama.com/ or B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com
You could also try Leisure Pro, they are my go-to dive gear mail order place. http://www.leisurepro.com/

As far as I know, these are the cheapest places for new gear, and still reputable. I've spent thousands of dollars at each of these three places, have done returns, no issues (at least for me). They provide free shipping within the US, and since they're out of NY, shipping to another state means no sales tax.

Here's an example of how it might be done...
1) locate a UPS store on the states side that is convenient for pick up
2) email the UPS store and ask about having a box shipped to them for pick up... how much it would cost... probably $10 plus $1 per day of holding.
3) go to UPS.com to see how long it would take for ground shipping to send from NY to WA... likely 5 days
4) think of when you can go to the US, then work backwards on when to place the order... ie, you can go Saturday of next week when the UPS store is open, takes 5 days to get there, place the order this Sunday night so it ships out Monday for Friday arrival.
5) place the order, use your Canadian address as the billing address, use the US based UPS store as the shipping address, use your own name and put 'hold for pick up' on the same line as your name, get the tracking number
6) email the UPS store the tracking number of the package coming, and tell them when you'll come to pick up, email you if any issues.
7) track and go pick up, come back and claim at customs as you would cross border shopping. Not declaring at your own discretion and risk. After paying taxes at the border (typically GST only) usually is still cheaper than buying in Canada plus PST/GST.

food for thought... I miss living near the border... SIGH

[Jason McK]

Ya I use a place called Point to point in Port Roberts about 10 minutes away.

But I buy all my dive gear locally, mainly because I'm usually looking for cold water gear

J

[Coralgurl]

These pics are amazing, we are looking into going to Belize in January to look at land. The bf wants to retire south somewhere and has been looking around. These pics sure make it look convincing!!

[Jason McK]

These pics are amazing, we are looking into going to Belize in January to look at land. The bf wants to retire south somewhere and has been looking around. These pics sure make it look convincing!!

Belize is very nice as well. Really great diving as well as very nice rain forests

[Reef_Geek]

These pics are amazing, we are looking into going to Belize in January to look at land. The bf wants to retire south somewhere and has been looking around. These pics sure make it look convincing!!

thanks. Wife and I want to do Belize as our 2013 big trip (well, it's a toss up between granite counter tops and that trip at the moment). You'll have to tell us about your trip in January!

[Coralgurl]

He's been before and fell in love with it. Ive never been anywhere tropical so it would be an amazing experience! We just realized our passports expire in January so have to get them looked after ASAP! Your trip looks so beautiful and WARM!! So over the snow and cold already....lol