Main road into Playa Grande estate, 250 to Northeast from MINAE, Playa Grande, Costa Rica | (888) 616-5829
Shaka's, a surfer-chic restaurant and bar with a pool table
and organic cuisine
Two pools, one shaded by a sprawling Guanacaste tree that's
illuminated at night
Made-to-order breakfast included in the room rate
Rooms feature twin day beds in addition to queen-size beds
The villas offer rustic style and full kitchens, close to the beach
Free Wi-Fi
The pools are small and shaded, not ideal for sunbathers
The beach closes after sundown, due to nesting turtles (but night tours are available)
The hotel is not located directly on the beach
The rooms do not have safes
The villas are dated and in need of updating
The restaurant is closed on Mondays
The location is isolated, away from other restaurants and
bars
It's a 30-minute drive to the action of Tamarindo
Playa Grande Park is a laid-back, mid-range
boutique hotel with personal service and a surfer-chic restaurant and
bar serving organic burgers and artisan brews. The hotel offers eight rooms set in a two-story
building overlooking a pool shaded by an enormous Guanacaste tree as well as more spacious villas enclosed in a private compound. Set within the Marina
Las Baulas National Park, an important sea turtle nesting site, the
hotel neighbors the park's welcome center and is just a short walk to the sand
and surf of the aptly named Playa Grande, one of the area's most sought-after surfing
destinations.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A casual boutique hotel with a artful on-site restaurant that caters to surfers and guests with healthy cuisine, billiards, and an interesting selection of beers
A low-key restaurant with a collection of colorful surfboards painted by
Costa Rican artist Gabriel Riggioni, a soundtrack heavy with Jose Gonzalez, and
a bar that looks like it was sliced from a burly tree and then polished to
perfection, sets the stage for guests as they enter the Playa Grande Park Hotel.
The little boutique hotel appeals equally to surfers, families, and
nature-lovers with its affordable rates, prime location within Marina Las Baulas National
Park, and easy access to Playa Grande. The wide, three-mile stretch of beach attracts visitors at night for the chance to take a guided tour to view nesting sea turtles. Beach-goers love Playa Grande for jogging and strolling, while surfers come to ride the consistent swells and breaks.Guests of Playa Grande Park start their mornings with made-to-order breakfasts --
pancakes or eggs with rice and beans (gallo pinto) -- before setting off to surf or partake
in excursions such as zip-line tours, river safaris, or catamaran tours, all
which can be arranged by the front desk staff. The hotel's small shaded pools (at the
main hotel and within the Beach House compound) are ideal spots for afternoon
lounging and reading, especially after a day in the sun. In the evenings, the giant Guanacaste tree near the pool is illuminated to cast a romantic glow over the property. Guests from the hotel and other hotels
within the park come to Shaka's to dine on locally caught grilled fish, fish tacos, shrimp stir fry, and other somewhat healthy (including many vegetarian) options. On some nights, there's live music on the outdoor
terrace where customers can settle in brightly colored Adirondack chairs and lounge
on low-slung bean-bag furniture, leaning back to watch the stars and listen to tunes. Those in search of a more robust and late-night scene can head to Tamarindo, a 30-minute drive, but most turn in early, exhausted after a day of surfing and exploring.
Location
On a partially paved road, a short walk to Playa Grande and steps to the welcome center for Marino Las Baulas National Park
The hotel is set within the Marino Las Baulas National Park, a conservation area that protects sea turtles and more than 170 species of
birds. Playa Grande is about a five-minute walk from the hotel. It is separated from Tamarindo by the Matapalo River, commonly
called the estuary, and guests have the option of taking a five-minute boat
ride across the water to walk in to the town or drive 30 minutes around the
river. - Five-minute walk to Playa Grande
Rooms
Eight rooms and six two-bedroom villas with rustic furnishings, air-conditioning, and access to designated private pools
The hotel has eight rooms set in a handsome two-story white
building with a red barrel-tile roof and exposed dark wood beams, overlooking the pool
and the surrounding canopy of trees. In addition, the hotel has The Beach
House, a separate, walled compound with six two-bedroom villas and a pool,
located a short walk up the road from the main hotel, closer to the beach. Both
the rooms and the villas follow a similar, basic design with terra-cotta
tile floors, white-washed walls with hand-painted, somewhat elementary, framed
murals of ships and sea life, and thick
wood furniture. Playa Grande Park's Standard Rooms are located on the first
floor of the building, offering direct access to the pool while Deluxe Rooms
are set on the second floor, featuring loftier views and semi-private seating
areas with pod-like rattan chairs and small tables. All of the rooms are
furnished with one queen-size bed and one twin-sized day bed. Furnishings are
basic, but adequate, with soft white linens, tiny reading lamps, mini-refrigerators,
small flat-screen TVs, water coolers, desks, and locker-type wood closets with shutter doors. Bathrooms
are slightly dated with drab tiles, walk-in showers, and single vanities. A
small basket holds assorted toiletries, but there is a lack of hairdryers and
safes.The six villas that make up the Beach House are set behind a
concrete wall, accessed by a gated entry. Gravel paths lead guests through a
forest of palm trees and stone sculptures of ancient settlers and animals to a
small pool. The two-story villas feature open living areas with vaulted
white-washed ceilings with exposed beams, small kitchens with white cabinetry, and a wall of sliding glass doors. The master bedroom
features a king-size platform bed with a deep blue accent wall serving as the
headboard. Sliding glass doors open onto a wooden deck overlooking the pool.
The second floor loft, accessed from an open staircase in the living area,
holds two queen-size beds beneath a slanted ceiling that's precariously low in some spots. The bathrooms in the
villas are finished in white tiles and have driftwood mirrors hung over the single
vanities.
Features
A laid-back, surfer-chic restaurant with a health-conscious menu, a billiards table, and a bar that specializes in artisanal beers
Shaka's perfectly reflects the vibe of Playa Grande, one that is much more relaxed and serene than its congested, party-oriented neighbor, Tamarindo. The restaurant attracts a mix of hotel guests from the handful of properties in Playa Grande as well as a steady stable of local surfers, many who are friends with the restaurant's manager. A billiards table is a good distraction for those looking to converse and enjoy one of the many artisan beers on the menu and there is also a lounge area with swings made from recycled wood pallets and a collection of milk crates topped with purple cushions surrounding a cocktail table. Diners come for the casual cuisine, which includes fish tacos, burgers made from organic beef, and plenty of fresh vegetarian options. An outdoor terrace is perfect on starry nights, especially when the restaurant has live music. Murals of surfers in action painted on canvases of corrugated metal hang on the exterior walls overlooking the terrace, tiny twinkling lights are wrapped around the railings, and there's a collection of yellow and turquoise adirondack chairs and oversized bean-bag seating, ideal for relaxing after a day of riding waves and exploring the national parks.
