It is a quick 45 minutes drive to your hotel if you are flying into Liberia (about 4.5 hours if you are landing into San Jose). Giardini di Papagayo is located directly on the beach, which is a dark sand beach. I was able to clearly hear the sounds of crashing waves from my room while I laid in bed. This was not the case while I stayed at other all inclusive hotels like the Hilton Puntarenas or Barcelo Langosta.

There is a little bit of a rustic vibe at the Giardini di Papagoyo. The pool areas are simple and basic, and serve their purpose of refreshing you after spending a few hours under the hot sun. The pools however, are not the type of pools where you would like to spend the entire day next to.

The meal plan at Giardini de Papagayo is one of the reasons they are able to offer much lower prices than their competitors. They consider themselves all inclusive because all the meals are included, however, they only serve 3 meals a day, at specific times, and they are served on plates, not buffet style. I was never hungry during my stay, however, I like to go over the top when I stay at an all inclusive resort, and this was not possible here. All in all, I would only recommend staying here if budget is an important issue in your travel plans, yet you still want unlimited alcoholic drinks and all meals included.

Playa Panama itself has darker sand, and small waves. There is not good surfing in the area unless you take a boat across to Witch’s Rock, one of the country’s best surfing spots.

Jardin del Eden is a hotel located in Tamarindo. As mentioned in other posts, Tamarindo is a busy beach with a definite party atmosphere. Many of the hotels have a wide array of guests, however, Jardin del Eden is an exception. This hotel stands out in the area for me, as the best option for those looking for a beach town with lots to do, as well as a nice beach, while also looking for a hotel that they can relax. Each room at this hotel is uniquely decorated with an International theme. Some of my favorite themes are the Moroccan and Mexican ones.

The pool area is probably my favorite place to unwind. It is a beautiful two level pool that is smoothly integrated with the restaurant. I know it sounds strange, but you really have to see it to understand it. Really well done. The food at the restaurant is also as good as it gets in Costa Rica. Anything with seafood will surely be a hit at your table. Even if you are staying at a different hotel, having dinner here is definitely one of the top things to do while in Tamarindo. The restaurant also has the largest wine selection in the area. If you are interested to travel to Costa Rica, staying here should definitely be considered.

EXT Hotel Rating

Overall 4/5
Value 4/5
Luxury 4/5
Cleanliness 5/5
Amenities 5/5
Location 5/5
Romance 4/5
Family 4/5

EXT Hotel Rating
Overall 4/5
Value 4/5
Luxury 4/5
Cleanliness 4.5/5
Amenities 3.5/5
Location 4.5/5
Romance 4.5/5
Family 3.5/5

EXT Hotel Rating
Overall 4.5/5
Value 5/5
Luxury 3.5/5
Cleanliness 5/5
Amenities 4/5
Location 5/5
Romance 5/5
Family 3/5

EXT Hotel Rating
Overall 4/5
Value 3/5
Luxury 3.5/5
Cleanliness 4/5
Amenities 5/5
Location 3/5
Romance 3/5
Family 3/5