Nikki Solano

Hi again Surfer Girl!

Got it! If you’re interested in the Playa Blanca that’s nearest to Playa Tamarindo, that’s the Playa Blanca that sits south down the coast from Tamarindo. It’s sandwiched between Playa Negra and Playa Junquillal, both south of Playa Avellanas. It’s about a 45-minute-drive from Tamarindo if you go during the dry season and don’t encounter a lot of traffic along the way.

Pura vida! 🙂

Hi Stefani Graff!

Sorry for the confusion! Our sister site that processes discount requests for Costa Rica day tours (Pura Vida! eh? Inc.) was closed temporarily for part of the pandemic. It’s up and running again, and the checkout page is now active so you shouldn’t experience the issue again. 🙂

Pura vida!

Hi Kathleen B Huddle!

Absolutely! The article above includes drive times to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca; here’s a link to the exact place where you can find the info: https://costaricatravelblog.com/costa-rica-driving-distance-duration-for-popular-routes/

We don’t provide drive times between Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Manuel Antonio because this particular route is a long one that most travelers don’t make, especially in one day. That being said, if you’d like to do it, the drive will be roughly 8 hours, depending on the time of day you make the trip.

As for resources for the Caribbean side of the country, we certainly have these! Since you plan to visit Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, you may want to start with our Puerto Viejo city guide: Must-Know Info About Puerto Viejo Costa Rica And The Southern Caribbean Coast. Additionally, other articles about the Puerto Viejo region can be found here: https://costaricatravelblog.com/category/where-to-go-in-costa-rica/puerto-viejo-de-talamanca/

Pura vida! 🙂

Hi Kim!

If you’re interested in the hot springs, you’ll want to stick to the La Fortuna area. (Most other destinations in Costa Rica that have hot springs either don’t have a developed center that you can walk around or else aren’t particularly safe for a solo female traveler.)

If you aren’t limited to a destination with hot springs, though, be sure to check out the Costa Rica Destination Tool that’s available on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica. The tool filters roughly 66 destinations by nearly 150 criteria in less than 1 minute, so you can quickly and easily decide where you should go in Costa Rica according to your unique preferences, wants, and needs.

Pura vida! 🙂

Hi Joe E Kingsley!

Both the Baldi Hot Springs and the Tabacon Hot Springs (as well as all other hot spring properties we’re familiar with in La Fortuna and elsewhere in Costa Rica) require a bathing suit to be worn at all times.

Pura vida! 🙂