Ocotal Beach Resort
Playa del Coco PO Box 1, Playa Ocotal Costa Rica
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3.5
#1 of 1 resort in Playa OcotalLocation
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See why so many travelers make Ocotal Beach Resort their resort of choice when visiting Playa Ocotal. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a luxury setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you.
Rooms at Ocotal Beach Resort offer a refrigerator and a seating area providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi.
Room service and a concierge are some of the conveniences offered at this resort. A pool and free breakfast will also help to make your stay even more special. If you are driving to Ocotal Beach Hotel, free parking is available.
While staying in Playa Ocotal, you can check out a popular French restaurant like Maracuya Beach Club, which is serving up some great dishes.
If you’re looking for something to do, The Monkey Farm (0.6 mi) is a nice way to spend some time, and it is within walking distance of Ocotal Beach Resort.
At Ocotal Beach Resort, your comfort and satisfaction come first, and they look forward to welcoming you to Playa Ocotal.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Diving
Babysitting
Parking
Wifi
Infinity pool
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Tennis court
Fishing
Shuttle bus service
Car hire
Business Center with Internet Access
BBQ facilities
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Clothes dryer
Self-serve laundry
Washing machine
Room features
Room service
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Microwave
Refrigerator
Kitchenware
Bath / shower
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Business
Luxury
Languages Spoken
Spanish
Location
Playa del Coco PO Box 1, Playa Ocotal Costa Rica
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Detailed Reviews
El Ocotal is superbly located on a headland, and small bay, about 2 miles from the slightly seedy town of Coco. The Hotel Restaurant, and its surrounding wooden decked verandah, have wonderful views over the Gulf of Papagayo and these alone are almost enough to make up for the expensive, bland and lukewarm food on offer in the, much touted although very disappointing, restaurant.
The hotel's location is at once its greatest asset, and one of its weaknesses, for the site is spread from sea level to the headland peak, a few hundred feet higher. Movement around the hotel, say from the beachside pool to the restaurant or reception, involves a steep climb, either via the road or the cliff path. Even for the relatively fit this can be quite a chore and it would present a real problem to the elderly or the infirm (there is transport available but most will not to wait its availability).
The rooms vary from the beautifully situated ones along the beach where the ever present iguanas, birds and monkeys make up for the rather tired and basic facilities, to the larger, and better equipped, bungalows along the steep cliff path, each pair of which shares a small plunge pool.
The hotel boasts a number of facilities including a well stocked Gym, Dive School, Big Game Fishing Fleet, 2 modest sized swimming pools (one with "swim up" bar and a small restaurant for light meals during
the day) and these may arguably justify its 4 star rating. However, there is no bar,(apart from the "swim up" that closes at 6pm), and many of the other facilities (e.g. the restaurant) close at the ridiculously early time (at least to European standards) of 9-9.30pm. My wife and I found eating out in the evening to be a chore, rather than the pleasure it should have been, and one that had to be planned and executed, like a military operation, by no later than 7.30pm. The limited choice was:
a) the previously mentioned, limited and disappointing menu at Ocotal's own resaurant,
b) the, even worse, El Piccante Restaurant attached to a hotel in the next bay, ("Piccante" the food most definitely wasn't),
c) "Father Roosters", 300 yards along the beach, where the Tex/Mex food was simple but good. However, this was sometimes closed for private parties and, on one occasion, a wait from 7.45pm until 9.15pm still did not result in a table!
or d) a $10 return taxi ride into Coco where there are a number of restaurants (most untried).
There are drawbacks to this hotel and, in my opinion, other reviews I have seen tend to be over enthusiastic about it. The general standards are reasonable, but not top class, and the food and drink are costly, particularly in view of its questionable quality. However the staff are invariably pleasant and they try their best to be helpful.
We have just returned from this, our first trip to Costa Rica (February 2006). We loved the wild life, the countryside and the people, but Pacific Mexico has a better climate, better countryside and it is much cheaper away from such monstrous resorts as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta etc. A four wheel drive vehicle is an absolute essential if you intend to see the sights. The roads are appalling, some are just tracks and most have bone shattering pot holes, with the result that it can easily take an hour to travel 15 miles or so. Allow sufficient time and try and check the destination weather before you start - our 4 hour drive to see Arenal volcano ended in a rain storm that prevented views of the bottom of the volcano, never mind the top! Other "must sees" can also be blighted by poor weather and does it rain in the Monte Verde rain forest?- man it pours!
Costa Rica isn't really finished yet but the rate the coast is being sold to foreigners is frightening and one fears for the result when it is. Go see it now, warts and all. In ten years it may be too late.
The hotel's location is at once its greatest asset, and one of its weaknesses, for the site is spread from sea level to the headland peak, a few hundred feet higher. Movement around the hotel, say from the beachside pool to the restaurant or reception, involves a steep climb, either via the road or the cliff path. Even for the relatively fit this can be quite a chore and it would present a real problem to the elderly or the infirm (there is transport available but most will not to wait its availability).
The rooms vary from the beautifully situated ones along the beach where the ever present iguanas, birds and monkeys make up for the rather tired and basic facilities, to the larger, and better equipped, bungalows along the steep cliff path, each pair of which shares a small plunge pool.
The hotel boasts a number of facilities including a well stocked Gym, Dive School, Big Game Fishing Fleet, 2 modest sized swimming pools (one with "swim up" bar and a small restaurant for light meals during
the day) and these may arguably justify its 4 star rating. However, there is no bar,(apart from the "swim up" that closes at 6pm), and many of the other facilities (e.g. the restaurant) close at the ridiculously early time (at least to European standards) of 9-9.30pm. My wife and I found eating out in the evening to be a chore, rather than the pleasure it should have been, and one that had to be planned and executed, like a military operation, by no later than 7.30pm. The limited choice was:
a) the previously mentioned, limited and disappointing menu at Ocotal's own resaurant,
b) the, even worse, El Piccante Restaurant attached to a hotel in the next bay, ("Piccante" the food most definitely wasn't),
c) "Father Roosters", 300 yards along the beach, where the Tex/Mex food was simple but good. However, this was sometimes closed for private parties and, on one occasion, a wait from 7.45pm until 9.15pm still did not result in a table!
or d) a $10 return taxi ride into Coco where there are a number of restaurants (most untried).
There are drawbacks to this hotel and, in my opinion, other reviews I have seen tend to be over enthusiastic about it. The general standards are reasonable, but not top class, and the food and drink are costly, particularly in view of its questionable quality. However the staff are invariably pleasant and they try their best to be helpful.
We have just returned from this, our first trip to Costa Rica (February 2006). We loved the wild life, the countryside and the people, but Pacific Mexico has a better climate, better countryside and it is much cheaper away from such monstrous resorts as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta etc. A four wheel drive vehicle is an absolute essential if you intend to see the sights. The roads are appalling, some are just tracks and most have bone shattering pot holes, with the result that it can easily take an hour to travel 15 miles or so. Allow sufficient time and try and check the destination weather before you start - our 4 hour drive to see Arenal volcano ended in a rain storm that prevented views of the bottom of the volcano, never mind the top! Other "must sees" can also be blighted by poor weather and does it rain in the Monte Verde rain forest?- man it pours!
Costa Rica isn't really finished yet but the rate the coast is being sold to foreigners is frightening and one fears for the result when it is. Go see it now, warts and all. In ten years it may be too late.
Read more
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ocotal Beach Resort was a fabulous resort. We stayed at the resort for 8 days during the Labor Day holiday. My husband and I are scuba divers and we heard the Papagayo Gulf was a great spot for diving this time of year. We were pleasantly surprised with the look and location of the resort. The photos on their website do not give it justice. We upgraded to a bungalow and were the first bungalow at the base of the hill (#202). Intially we were concerned with the minimal view but after 1 or 2 walks up their very steep hill we realized we were in the perfect spot (they do have a shuttle). We were also right next to the dive shop and fabulous pool with swim up bar. We also had close beach access. I would recommend staying at the bottom of the hill in either the bungalows or beach front rooms. The beach front rooms are older however the pool is far better near these rooms (with a snack bar) and access to the beach is steps away. It was nice to be able to hear the waves crashing at night (something the higher up rooms don't get). The staff was very accommodating and friendly. Service during the breakfast hours was phenomenal! The free buffet was very good and had a lot of selection. Eggs, french toast, rice, hash browns, yogurt, toast, fruit. The dinner menu was very expensive and the service was not as good. Father Rooster (a quick walk down the beach) was a GREAT lunch and dinner spot and fairly inexpensive. The Tica Linda drink is awesome! Also, for $5 you can get a cab into Coco for dinner. Lot's of choices and would HIGHLY recommend Tequila Bar. Great mexican food and tequila of course. Luis and his wife Ley are amazing hosts. We did have a hard time getting a cab at the hotel so I would recommend renting a car. The rental car companies will deliver cars to Ocotal if you wish. Diving was o.k. The visibility is moderate and we didn't see many big animals. We did the bull shark dive out at the Bat Islands but didn't see any sharks..first time ever they said. The dive masters and crew were very professional and fun to dive with. They were knowledgeable and made sure every detail was taken care of. Top notch dive shop indeed! I would definitely stay here again and dive with Ocotal.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here with a 12-year-old nephew in August of 2005. We had a bungalow junior suite (#206) and would recommend either 206 or 208 as being midway up the hill between the restaurant and the beach. The plunge pools are right outside the even-numbered 200 rooms, so request one of those, as we felt our neighbors at 205 didn't get the full value of the pool.
Monkeys came by one day about 8am; racoons and skunks and squirrels and lizards and crabs were all about. Cleaning, both of the room and the pool, was excellent. The breakfast was great; view is wonderful -- but like most folks say, the restaurant at night was a beautiful view, but had very little to offer for children. Do Father Rooster's, or the pool restaurant (closes at 6pm).
Another thing that isn't clear - the tours are not chargeable to the room, or on a charge card (they have the machines there to do it, but aren't willing to). There isn't really a full-time concierge for the tours, even though they say there is. There is an ATM in Coco, but I recommend you carry enough US cash to cover the tours. There were several tourists at the bank who were strapped without a debit card (trying to get $$ from their credit card).
We did the ATV trip (good) and the Palo Verde tour (good, but longer than advertised, due to stopping at other resorts).
Monkeys came by one day about 8am; racoons and skunks and squirrels and lizards and crabs were all about. Cleaning, both of the room and the pool, was excellent. The breakfast was great; view is wonderful -- but like most folks say, the restaurant at night was a beautiful view, but had very little to offer for children. Do Father Rooster's, or the pool restaurant (closes at 6pm).
Another thing that isn't clear - the tours are not chargeable to the room, or on a charge card (they have the machines there to do it, but aren't willing to). There isn't really a full-time concierge for the tours, even though they say there is. There is an ATM in Coco, but I recommend you carry enough US cash to cover the tours. There were several tourists at the bank who were strapped without a debit card (trying to get $$ from their credit card).
We did the ATV trip (good) and the Palo Verde tour (good, but longer than advertised, due to stopping at other resorts).
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Date of stay: August 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We just returned from Costa Rica where we spent our entire 7 day vacation at the Ocotal Resort. The resort is absolutely the best value and the most relaxing holiday we ever experienced. All the staff from reception to the waiters, maids, security and bartenders were the most helpful, friendly and accommodating people were ever encountered on a holiday. While all the rooms have views of the ocean, the main level rooms in the 500 building look over the roof of the 300 building. We were intially checked into the main level 300 building and having arived in the dark couldn't see much of the view. In the morning we were disappointed and the staff immediately relocated us to different rooms. My wife and I moved to one of the villas at a small additional per day supplement, and it was well worth it. Wow. Spacious, fantastic view, large deck, small fridge, and a private swimming pool to cool off in! What more could a person ask for. My mother moved to one of the units in the 300 building which was the same rate as the 500, 400 buildings. It was a little smaller and older unit than the ones in the 500 building, but walks right out to a patio and green grass overlooking the bay. What a fantastic view! The 400 units would be the same. The advantage of the 400 and 300 units is that they are on the same level with the restaurant, so it cuts down on some of the climbing that the 500 units and villas entail. What a hill to climb!!! We enjoyed it because it forced us to exercise and walk off some of those calories that we consumed int he restaurant. But if people are elderly or not physically fit, climbing the hill would prove a challenge. Mind you, the hotel provides a shuttle service by car from the hotel reception (next to the restaurant at the top of the hill) down to the main pool and beach. The shuttle runs all day long and will even drop people off at the individual villas which are located on the hill side.
The food was absolutely fantastic in the restaurant and the pool grill. You could buy sandwitches (like BLT and Club) from around $5 to jumbo shrimp and beef brochettas (cubes of meat grilled on a stick) for $10 (with two sticks) and lobsters for around $20. The breakfast buffet (included in room charge) was absolutely great with fresh fruit, fruit juice, eggs or omolettes made to order, toast, other baked goods, bacon, sausages etc...
We also experienced the restaurants in town and other resorts and found the prices at the El Ocotal to be comparable (perhaps just a touch higher than in town, but without the cab charge it evens out).
We had a great lunch and dinner every day (with seafood and fillet mignon galore) and found that overall what we spent was about equivalent to the extra we would have paid for an all inclusive resort.
We rented a car for the week and found that to be absolutely great to be able to go into town when we wanted. However, STAY AWAY from Thrifty's which is inconveniently located east of the airport, gave us extremely poor service, the car felt like it was going to fall appart (with 80,000 km) and they tried to rip us off by charging us an extra $55 on check out. (they finally admitted that they added the figures up wrong :-) )
But overall a great experience.
Oh, one last thing to mention, all kinds of wildlife around the resort from Parrots to monkeys, racoons that come for handouts and eat out of your hand to huge iguanas! We had a couple of iguanas that called our deck home and they loved apples and bananas!
And the weather was a constant 25 to 32 C, even at night we didn't need a jacket.
The food was absolutely fantastic in the restaurant and the pool grill. You could buy sandwitches (like BLT and Club) from around $5 to jumbo shrimp and beef brochettas (cubes of meat grilled on a stick) for $10 (with two sticks) and lobsters for around $20. The breakfast buffet (included in room charge) was absolutely great with fresh fruit, fruit juice, eggs or omolettes made to order, toast, other baked goods, bacon, sausages etc...
We also experienced the restaurants in town and other resorts and found the prices at the El Ocotal to be comparable (perhaps just a touch higher than in town, but without the cab charge it evens out).
We had a great lunch and dinner every day (with seafood and fillet mignon galore) and found that overall what we spent was about equivalent to the extra we would have paid for an all inclusive resort.
We rented a car for the week and found that to be absolutely great to be able to go into town when we wanted. However, STAY AWAY from Thrifty's which is inconveniently located east of the airport, gave us extremely poor service, the car felt like it was going to fall appart (with 80,000 km) and they tried to rip us off by charging us an extra $55 on check out. (they finally admitted that they added the figures up wrong :-) )
But overall a great experience.
Oh, one last thing to mention, all kinds of wildlife around the resort from Parrots to monkeys, racoons that come for handouts and eat out of your hand to huge iguanas! We had a couple of iguanas that called our deck home and they loved apples and bananas!
And the weather was a constant 25 to 32 C, even at night we didn't need a jacket.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here from January 12-26, 2005 and absolutely loved it! The resort is very small (about 60 rooms) and quiet with a beautiful setting.
ROOMS
We stayed in room 517 which is at the top of the hill with spectacular, panoramic views of the Gulf of Papagayo. All of the rooms/suites/bungalows have ocean views. The 500 building has the best views, but only from the top floor. The rooms from the bottom floor overlook the 300 building impeding some of the view. The 300 and 400 buildings also have magnificent views. The 200 buildings are small bungalows, with 2 rooms per building, and small, private pools. There are also smaller, older, beachfront rooms in the 100 building that are right beside the main pool & pool bar and the K-Lamar bar & grill. We met many people that stayed in these rooms and loved it. The only downside to the 300-500 buildings are there are no refrigerators in the room, but the restaurant staff are happy to give you ice to fill up your bathroom sink to chill your cervasas (much cheaper at the supermarket than at the hotel).
RESTAURANTS/BARS
The restaurant at the hotel is on a beautiful patio setting and the breakfast buffet was wonderful. We enjoyed breakfast there every morning. Lots to choose from...eggs, bacon, sausages, fresh fruit & juice, yogourt, rice & beans, omelettes, waffles, etc. However, we only ate dinner at the hotel twice. Once at the main restaurant and once at the Pool Bar & Grill. Both meals were delicious, but there is so much more to choose from in the town of Playa Del Coco, which is a $5 cab ride each way and the food is generally less expensive.
Father Rooster right on the beach at Ocotal was delicious and had the best nachos and burgers we've ever tried.
You MUST go to the Papagayo Pura Vida restaurant on the beach in Coco (meals for 2 with drinks & appys $40 USD). Much better than the overrated Papagayo Seafood restaurant in town ($50 USD). Also, be sure to try the Sol y a Luna Italian restaurant which is off the beaten path a little bit ($40 USD). You should also try the Tequila Bar in Coco - not really a bar, but an amazing little Mexican restuarant! The food here is top-notch ($25 USD). The owners rescue sick street dogs and pay for their vet bills so don't be surprised to see Spikey laying at your feet while you eat dinner.
There are numerous watering holes in Coco as well. Our favourites were the Lizard Lounge where you can dance and the much more laid back La Vida Loca (also a little off the beaten path) where you can play ping-pong and pool.
STAFF / TIPPING
The staff at Ocotal are wonderful! They are all taking English lessons and most speak very good English and will give you a Spanish lesson if you ask. At the front desk, Edwin and Jennifer are the best! The front desk manager could use some customer service courses, but he is pleasant. The guys who do the tours out of Ocotal are the best. Unfortunately we used Swiss Travel Service which is less personal with larger tour groups. People we met used the Ocotal tour guys, Chicho, Alex, and Alberto, and had a blast.
Our favourites at the resort were Stuart at the pool bar, Rodolfo at the beach towel hut, and Randall at the restaurant. We know we have made friends for life.
You will note that there is a govt standard 10% tip included in most tourist services (particularly meals/drinks), but this 10% is shared by everyone so it is very important you know to ALWAYS tip another 10% if your service is good (which is almost always). We tipped Stuart and Rodolfo at the end of our stay equivalent to a minimal 10% of services and the same to our favourite restaurant staff.
THINGS TO BRING
Bincoulars! We could see whales, monkeys, parrots, etc from our room, but were kicking ourselves for not bringing binoculars to see it all that much closer.
A pocket calculator. If your brain goes to mush like mine when on holidays, this would help. Everyone accepts US $, but often you are given the bill or change in Colones, which can hurt the brain to convert.
Also, bring US $ when you go. We couldn't use our CDN bank cards at the ATM in Coco (although Americans didn't seem to have the same problem), but the ATMs often run out of $$$ and we heard that the line ups at the tellers inside the banks were 1-2 hours long! It is completely safe to leave your passports/travel documents/$$$ in your hotel room although we were often advised not to take this stuff or alot of $$$ into Coco.
The weather is HOT during the day and stays really warm at night. You don't really need long sleeves at all and we didn't once wear pants or jeans. Everything is really casual so don't bother bringing alot of dress clothes either.
FISHING/TOURS
We went deep sea fishing 3 times while we were there. We caught a few Rooster fish (60-70lbs) and had a 100lb sailfin on the line but it snapped. Lots of tuna too. The resort offers a full day for $665 US, but we found a newer better boat with a great capitan in Coco for $500. The company is Blue Marlin Service. Ask for Wilber to be your capitan and be sure to tip him well.
We went on the Buena Vista Lodge tour (Mega-Combo) and it was well worth it. We got to swing from the trees on the zipline canopy tour, try the fastest waterslide ever, horseback ride up to a waterfall, and lather ourselves up with volcanic mud and then soak in the natural hot springs. Lots of fun!
We also went to watch the 600lb Leatherback sea turtles laying their eggs on the beautiful beach of Playa Grande and it was the most amazing thing we've ever seen and well worth the trip.
We tried to go to Arenal a few times, but apparently it was raining alot there and causing mudslides on the road. We heard from numerous people it is a great place to visit for a couple of days but your chances of seeing the volcano are 50/50 due to the clouds.
LAST WORDS
We have both travelled extensively to the Carribean, Mexico, South America, Asia, Hawaii, etc and neither of us have ever fell so completely in love with a country than Costa Rica. The people here are very proud of their country and have every reason to be. As the tourism increases in CR, we hope the Costa Ricans will continue to fiercely protect their environment and teach others to respect it as they do. And most of all, we hope nothing changes. Pura Vida!
ROOMS
We stayed in room 517 which is at the top of the hill with spectacular, panoramic views of the Gulf of Papagayo. All of the rooms/suites/bungalows have ocean views. The 500 building has the best views, but only from the top floor. The rooms from the bottom floor overlook the 300 building impeding some of the view. The 300 and 400 buildings also have magnificent views. The 200 buildings are small bungalows, with 2 rooms per building, and small, private pools. There are also smaller, older, beachfront rooms in the 100 building that are right beside the main pool & pool bar and the K-Lamar bar & grill. We met many people that stayed in these rooms and loved it. The only downside to the 300-500 buildings are there are no refrigerators in the room, but the restaurant staff are happy to give you ice to fill up your bathroom sink to chill your cervasas (much cheaper at the supermarket than at the hotel).
RESTAURANTS/BARS
The restaurant at the hotel is on a beautiful patio setting and the breakfast buffet was wonderful. We enjoyed breakfast there every morning. Lots to choose from...eggs, bacon, sausages, fresh fruit & juice, yogourt, rice & beans, omelettes, waffles, etc. However, we only ate dinner at the hotel twice. Once at the main restaurant and once at the Pool Bar & Grill. Both meals were delicious, but there is so much more to choose from in the town of Playa Del Coco, which is a $5 cab ride each way and the food is generally less expensive.
Father Rooster right on the beach at Ocotal was delicious and had the best nachos and burgers we've ever tried.
You MUST go to the Papagayo Pura Vida restaurant on the beach in Coco (meals for 2 with drinks & appys $40 USD). Much better than the overrated Papagayo Seafood restaurant in town ($50 USD). Also, be sure to try the Sol y a Luna Italian restaurant which is off the beaten path a little bit ($40 USD). You should also try the Tequila Bar in Coco - not really a bar, but an amazing little Mexican restuarant! The food here is top-notch ($25 USD). The owners rescue sick street dogs and pay for their vet bills so don't be surprised to see Spikey laying at your feet while you eat dinner.
There are numerous watering holes in Coco as well. Our favourites were the Lizard Lounge where you can dance and the much more laid back La Vida Loca (also a little off the beaten path) where you can play ping-pong and pool.
STAFF / TIPPING
The staff at Ocotal are wonderful! They are all taking English lessons and most speak very good English and will give you a Spanish lesson if you ask. At the front desk, Edwin and Jennifer are the best! The front desk manager could use some customer service courses, but he is pleasant. The guys who do the tours out of Ocotal are the best. Unfortunately we used Swiss Travel Service which is less personal with larger tour groups. People we met used the Ocotal tour guys, Chicho, Alex, and Alberto, and had a blast.
Our favourites at the resort were Stuart at the pool bar, Rodolfo at the beach towel hut, and Randall at the restaurant. We know we have made friends for life.
You will note that there is a govt standard 10% tip included in most tourist services (particularly meals/drinks), but this 10% is shared by everyone so it is very important you know to ALWAYS tip another 10% if your service is good (which is almost always). We tipped Stuart and Rodolfo at the end of our stay equivalent to a minimal 10% of services and the same to our favourite restaurant staff.
THINGS TO BRING
Bincoulars! We could see whales, monkeys, parrots, etc from our room, but were kicking ourselves for not bringing binoculars to see it all that much closer.
A pocket calculator. If your brain goes to mush like mine when on holidays, this would help. Everyone accepts US $, but often you are given the bill or change in Colones, which can hurt the brain to convert.
Also, bring US $ when you go. We couldn't use our CDN bank cards at the ATM in Coco (although Americans didn't seem to have the same problem), but the ATMs often run out of $$$ and we heard that the line ups at the tellers inside the banks were 1-2 hours long! It is completely safe to leave your passports/travel documents/$$$ in your hotel room although we were often advised not to take this stuff or alot of $$$ into Coco.
The weather is HOT during the day and stays really warm at night. You don't really need long sleeves at all and we didn't once wear pants or jeans. Everything is really casual so don't bother bringing alot of dress clothes either.
FISHING/TOURS
We went deep sea fishing 3 times while we were there. We caught a few Rooster fish (60-70lbs) and had a 100lb sailfin on the line but it snapped. Lots of tuna too. The resort offers a full day for $665 US, but we found a newer better boat with a great capitan in Coco for $500. The company is Blue Marlin Service. Ask for Wilber to be your capitan and be sure to tip him well.
We went on the Buena Vista Lodge tour (Mega-Combo) and it was well worth it. We got to swing from the trees on the zipline canopy tour, try the fastest waterslide ever, horseback ride up to a waterfall, and lather ourselves up with volcanic mud and then soak in the natural hot springs. Lots of fun!
We also went to watch the 600lb Leatherback sea turtles laying their eggs on the beautiful beach of Playa Grande and it was the most amazing thing we've ever seen and well worth the trip.
We tried to go to Arenal a few times, but apparently it was raining alot there and causing mudslides on the road. We heard from numerous people it is a great place to visit for a couple of days but your chances of seeing the volcano are 50/50 due to the clouds.
LAST WORDS
We have both travelled extensively to the Carribean, Mexico, South America, Asia, Hawaii, etc and neither of us have ever fell so completely in love with a country than Costa Rica. The people here are very proud of their country and have every reason to be. As the tourism increases in CR, we hope the Costa Ricans will continue to fiercely protect their environment and teach others to respect it as they do. And most of all, we hope nothing changes. Pura Vida!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
we just returned from the worst passover program of our lives. I feel the word needs to get out so that more people don't experience what our family just did!! we were so isolated at this dirty, run down hotel that this tour took over for the holiday. they wouldn't give us bottled water because they said that it "isn't environmentally friendly". If they truly cared for the environment they would take measures to keep it clean. The grounds were filthy, surrounded with raccoon poop that nobody bothered to clean. Any request I made (ex: "can my kids have orange juice?") was turned down. No food was shipped there because they claimed it was all "local fresh cuisine". They just didnt want to spend the money because there's nothing fresh about powdered juices and food that just keeps getting recycled (ex. hard boiled eggs for thurs breakfast =egg salad for fri lunch and sat night dinner!!) nasty nasty nasty. if david or joel (the guys in charge) cared even a little to accomodate us we may not have felt so terrible about this really bad trip.
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Date of stay: April 2011
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â dont stay here, go to four seasons or riu.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have just returned from a holiday in Costa Rica that included a few nights at the Ocotal Beach Resort and I was so disgusted with the customer service at this hotel that I have ignored the 500 emails in my work inbox to write this review and a letter of complaint to the hotel. The staff at the Ocotal seem to believe the customer comes last at their resort and they are not responsible for helping you enjoy your stay. Some of the lowlights include not providing basics like irons/ironing boards, clean beach towels, snorkelling gear when you want to use it, taxis to airports that actually show up (!) and most importantly friendly reception staff. The only positives I can really mention are the restaurant staff, stuart at the pool bar and the views.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We just returned from our seven day belated honeymoon at Ocotal. Overall, this is a very pleasant mid-range resort with a top notch location. The price matches the views but not the overall experience. The location is absolutely stunning and the staff are all very helpful, but those key things that make for the "perfect" experience never materialized. Because of this, we would not recommend Ocotal. Actually, simply based on the lack of sound proofing in our rooms, we would not recommend this place. Our low rating thus is based on the fact that we just plain wouldn't subject someone to the experience, despite the many very good points of the resort.
The resort is located a short (half hour) distance from the airport, and about two miles from town. We arrived and were given our room key and a map of the resort, then sent off to drag our luggage to the room (half way down the hill). The clerk did ask if we wanted the shuttle, but there was certainly no bellman on hand. If you have checked-in to a youth hostel, you will find the experience comparable. If you have stayed in finer hotels, you may be disappointed.
We began our stay in bungalow 207 (the bungalows are actually something akin to duplexes), which had a lovely view (as all of the bungalow rooms appeared to), even though it was not on the side facing the shared pool. The bathroom was enormous, although there was no bath tub (no hot tub in the entire resort, except for Jacuzzi tubs in the suites -- the cool pools were fine during the day, but we sure would have liked a hot tub at night when it cooled off and the wind picked up). Our biggest complaint was that each of the bungalows we stayed in totally lacked soundproofing. You can hear every action and word that takes place in the adjoining room -- not great for a honeymoon. The bungalows' decor is pleasant, but the linens are sub par (just old, gritty sheets and the comforter covers...and who hasn't seen those Frontline specials about how much human waste is usually lingering on those), there is no information about the resort or environs provided, and the furniture is quite uncomfortable. In all honesty, we probably would have been happier camping on the beach and just working out a way to use the resort's facilities.
On the third day of our stay, we awoke to discover that the nice gentleman who had checked-in to the bungalow adjoining ours was accompanied not just by his wife, but also by their au pair and two small children. And they all got up at 6:30. Keep in mind there is NO sound proofing. We asked to be moved, and Jennifer at the front desk was quite accommodating. Thus we spent the rest of our stay in the bungalow closest to the beach, which was pretty much a replica of the first bungalow, but facing the shared pool this time (definitely something worth requesting).
Ok, enough negatives. Our experiences during the day were fantastic. Oodles of wildlife, such as parrots, howler monkeys, pelicans, and a myriad of lizards made just sitting out by our pool a delightful experience. The staff at the pool bar and restaurant are great, as are the food and drink. The breakfast buffet was top notch with a variety of choices, and a waffle/omelette station. We wound up only doing one tour -- set up right in the lobby -- a boat trip through Palo Verde, where we saw even more wildlife (various birds, crocodiles, etc.) and had the chance to feed bananas to white faced monkeys. The tour guide was wonderful, and we would definitely recommend working with him. Father Rooster was our main dinner location, with excellent food and service. We also made our way over the hill to Picante a couple times, and had wonderful meals there.
To summarize, if the management really wants to make this a top notch resort, they will need a better front desk experience (including a concierge), better linens, any form of sound proofing for the rooms, a couple of hot tubs, a spa service of some sort, and a staff that is trained to be a bit more attentive. And they may want to think about having a "family area" of the rooms-- we love kids, but not first thing in the morning on our honeymoon.
The resort is located a short (half hour) distance from the airport, and about two miles from town. We arrived and were given our room key and a map of the resort, then sent off to drag our luggage to the room (half way down the hill). The clerk did ask if we wanted the shuttle, but there was certainly no bellman on hand. If you have checked-in to a youth hostel, you will find the experience comparable. If you have stayed in finer hotels, you may be disappointed.
We began our stay in bungalow 207 (the bungalows are actually something akin to duplexes), which had a lovely view (as all of the bungalow rooms appeared to), even though it was not on the side facing the shared pool. The bathroom was enormous, although there was no bath tub (no hot tub in the entire resort, except for Jacuzzi tubs in the suites -- the cool pools were fine during the day, but we sure would have liked a hot tub at night when it cooled off and the wind picked up). Our biggest complaint was that each of the bungalows we stayed in totally lacked soundproofing. You can hear every action and word that takes place in the adjoining room -- not great for a honeymoon. The bungalows' decor is pleasant, but the linens are sub par (just old, gritty sheets and the comforter covers...and who hasn't seen those Frontline specials about how much human waste is usually lingering on those), there is no information about the resort or environs provided, and the furniture is quite uncomfortable. In all honesty, we probably would have been happier camping on the beach and just working out a way to use the resort's facilities.
On the third day of our stay, we awoke to discover that the nice gentleman who had checked-in to the bungalow adjoining ours was accompanied not just by his wife, but also by their au pair and two small children. And they all got up at 6:30. Keep in mind there is NO sound proofing. We asked to be moved, and Jennifer at the front desk was quite accommodating. Thus we spent the rest of our stay in the bungalow closest to the beach, which was pretty much a replica of the first bungalow, but facing the shared pool this time (definitely something worth requesting).
Ok, enough negatives. Our experiences during the day were fantastic. Oodles of wildlife, such as parrots, howler monkeys, pelicans, and a myriad of lizards made just sitting out by our pool a delightful experience. The staff at the pool bar and restaurant are great, as are the food and drink. The breakfast buffet was top notch with a variety of choices, and a waffle/omelette station. We wound up only doing one tour -- set up right in the lobby -- a boat trip through Palo Verde, where we saw even more wildlife (various birds, crocodiles, etc.) and had the chance to feed bananas to white faced monkeys. The tour guide was wonderful, and we would definitely recommend working with him. Father Rooster was our main dinner location, with excellent food and service. We also made our way over the hill to Picante a couple times, and had wonderful meals there.
To summarize, if the management really wants to make this a top notch resort, they will need a better front desk experience (including a concierge), better linens, any form of sound proofing for the rooms, a couple of hot tubs, a spa service of some sort, and a staff that is trained to be a bit more attentive. And they may want to think about having a "family area" of the rooms-- we love kids, but not first thing in the morning on our honeymoon.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the Ocotal Resort May 14-21, 2005. We had a bungalow and feel that it had to be the best place in the entire resort for the views and privacy. We were fortunate that no one stayed in the adjoining room so we had the private pool to ourselves. We were in room 208 and the pool with this bungalow has the most privacy. The location was about 1/2 way down the hill so the walk to the restaurant on top of the hill was not bad and the walk down to the beach was also not bad. However, the hill is really steep. We found that the walk on the path was easier than the road. Of course you have the option of calling the front desk for a shuttle up or down the hill.
The staff were the best. Everyone made us feel right at home and did everything they could to make the trip as enjoyable as it could be. Now this is not a 5 star resort with all the amenities, but you still get the feeling of being pampered if that is what you want.
Food: The breakfast buffet was GREAT!! Bacon, eggs any way you want them and prepared fresh, french toast and waffles were outstanding, hash browns, beans and rice, cereals, excellent coffee, and fresh squeezed juices along with bread and fresh fruits. Other meals did not really grab me like breakfast. Beef not as good as in the states. Seafood was OK. The K-Lamar restaurant by the dive shop was OK. Father Rooster just down the beach had better hamburgers and Nachos, but the seafood was somewhat blah. If you go fishing, the restaurant will prepare your fish for you for a small charge.
Visit to town: Playa del Coco: We only ate at Papagayo Pura Vida on the beach. The grilled fish was good. The banana split was great. Not a lot going on in town as it is small but a good day trip to get a few souveniers.
Tours: I would not recommend the Buena Vista tour. We thought the canopy tour there was too short. You should ask around about another canopy if you want to get on a zip line. The one at Arenal Volcano is much better but 3-4 hours away. There is also another canopy near Buenavista but we travelled on our own and were not sure where it was and with the weather looking like rain ended up at the Buenavista. The Congo trail near the resort is fairly good and for the location would be preferable to Buena Vista and is less expensive. The canopy there is just as good. Diving was OK, the visibility not but about 30 feet at most sites. Saw lots of fish, some morays, and seahorses. Fun but not like the carribbean. Mostly volcanic rocks with some algae growth. The fish made up for it and were friendly. Fishing was a little slow but we did get a Sailfish and a Wahoo. Check prices with someone in town as the trip is much less expensive than at the resort.
Negatives: Lots of trash beside the roads especially in and around town. The resort area was nice though. We arrived after a 5 month drought and everything was dead looking. It did rain most of the week we were there and by time we left, things were again turning green.
All in all, we had a great time and all the people were very friendly and helpful. We met another couple with a car and found it fun to ride around on our own and see the country as we went to various tours.
The staff were the best. Everyone made us feel right at home and did everything they could to make the trip as enjoyable as it could be. Now this is not a 5 star resort with all the amenities, but you still get the feeling of being pampered if that is what you want.
Food: The breakfast buffet was GREAT!! Bacon, eggs any way you want them and prepared fresh, french toast and waffles were outstanding, hash browns, beans and rice, cereals, excellent coffee, and fresh squeezed juices along with bread and fresh fruits. Other meals did not really grab me like breakfast. Beef not as good as in the states. Seafood was OK. The K-Lamar restaurant by the dive shop was OK. Father Rooster just down the beach had better hamburgers and Nachos, but the seafood was somewhat blah. If you go fishing, the restaurant will prepare your fish for you for a small charge.
Visit to town: Playa del Coco: We only ate at Papagayo Pura Vida on the beach. The grilled fish was good. The banana split was great. Not a lot going on in town as it is small but a good day trip to get a few souveniers.
Tours: I would not recommend the Buena Vista tour. We thought the canopy tour there was too short. You should ask around about another canopy if you want to get on a zip line. The one at Arenal Volcano is much better but 3-4 hours away. There is also another canopy near Buenavista but we travelled on our own and were not sure where it was and with the weather looking like rain ended up at the Buenavista. The Congo trail near the resort is fairly good and for the location would be preferable to Buena Vista and is less expensive. The canopy there is just as good. Diving was OK, the visibility not but about 30 feet at most sites. Saw lots of fish, some morays, and seahorses. Fun but not like the carribbean. Mostly volcanic rocks with some algae growth. The fish made up for it and were friendly. Fishing was a little slow but we did get a Sailfish and a Wahoo. Check prices with someone in town as the trip is much less expensive than at the resort.
Negatives: Lots of trash beside the roads especially in and around town. The resort area was nice though. We arrived after a 5 month drought and everything was dead looking. It did rain most of the week we were there and by time we left, things were again turning green.
All in all, we had a great time and all the people were very friendly and helpful. We met another couple with a car and found it fun to ride around on our own and see the country as we went to various tours.
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Date of stay: May 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just returned from 4 nite stay ,I found all staff very professional and accomadating
I stayed in the 500 section which is the highest point affording the best view.
Of course climbing back from Pool Bar is definately challenging. Most guests either
dive, fish or tour making the resort almost empty during day hours. Stewart is an
absolute asset and will be waiting at pool bar to greet folks returning from Day trips
with his "I can make 100 drinks" speal. Priscilla (front desk) is exceptional and
Manuel ( night clerk) is also wonderful. If you need anything just call them and
it will be taken care of. I would not hestitate to stay here again. If we could
suggest any changes it would be nice to add refrigerators to all rooms and possibly
screens on patio doors so racoons would not come in. The Ocotal website will
show you how gorgeous this place is. Breakfast is very tasty and dinner menu is
limited. Coffee is Terrific . The Father Rooster rest on beach will even let you charge
items to your hotel room . If you take a taxi to Coco Beach is will cost $5 us
and the meals at Pappagayo Seafood and Louisiana Rest were worth the trip
Email me if you have questions
I stayed in the 500 section which is the highest point affording the best view.
Of course climbing back from Pool Bar is definately challenging. Most guests either
dive, fish or tour making the resort almost empty during day hours. Stewart is an
absolute asset and will be waiting at pool bar to greet folks returning from Day trips
with his "I can make 100 drinks" speal. Priscilla (front desk) is exceptional and
Manuel ( night clerk) is also wonderful. If you need anything just call them and
it will be taken care of. I would not hestitate to stay here again. If we could
suggest any changes it would be nice to add refrigerators to all rooms and possibly
screens on patio doors so racoons would not come in. The Ocotal website will
show you how gorgeous this place is. Breakfast is very tasty and dinner menu is
limited. Coffee is Terrific . The Father Rooster rest on beach will even let you charge
items to your hotel room . If you take a taxi to Coco Beach is will cost $5 us
and the meals at Pappagayo Seafood and Louisiana Rest were worth the trip
Email me if you have questions
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Date of stay: November 2004
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ocotal Beach Resort is closed, someone is working on the main building but we couldn't get close enough to check out what was going on. A fence has been put up around the perimeter, no entrance, closed.
"The bungalow that we had facing the ocean was so perfect for two couples. We felt we had lots of privacy."Read full review
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ALSO KNOWN AS
ocotal beach hotel playas del coco, ocotal beach resort, hotel ocotal beach
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacastePlaya Ocotal
NUMBER OF ROOMS
59
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingOCOTAL BEACH RESORT - Reviews (Playa Ocotal, Costa Rica) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Ocotal Beach Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Ocotal Beach Resort?
Nearby attractions include Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours (3.3 km), Costour (3.8 km), and Playa Hermosa (6.6 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Ocotal Beach Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Ocotal Beach Resort?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Ocotal Beach Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Tandoor Indian Restaurant, Naans & Curries Coco Beach, and Numu Taproom & Bistro By Chef Nicolas Devenelle.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Ocotal Beach Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Is Ocotal Beach Resort located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of Playa Ocotal.
Are any cleaning services offered at Ocotal Beach Resort?
Yes, self serve laundry and a clothes dryer are offered to guests.
Does Ocotal Beach Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Ocotal Beach Resort accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.