Casa Conde del Mar

It was our first time in Costa Rica, and it definitely won't be our last! We had a few non-negotiable criteria when selecting a vacation spot, and CC Beach Front Papagayo met and/or exceeded them all: First, beautiful calm beach. The hotel is located on Playa Panama, in the Gulf of Papagayo. The water is clear, calm (no waves at all), and very refreshing. The sand is volcanic, so it's dark, but it's very soft and there are no rocks at all leading into the water. It's a public beach, but no one will bother you. Second, the dining. There is one main buffet restaurant where you can have all your meals. (There is a smaller "restaurant" that requires reservations and has a small tasting menu, but we didn't do that so we cannot comment.). The buffet never failed to please. Breakfast featured made-to-order omelets and a selection of fresh fruits, baked goods, cereals, yogurt, sausage...and delicious coffee made in the Costa Rican style. Lunch had a selection of meat, fish, veggies, all great. Dinner was a different theme every night-- Asian, Italian, Mexican, Costa Rican, Caribbean, etc., all fantastic. There is something for everyone. (Hats off to the chef, Christian. )You will not go hungry here. Also, there are bars in the restaurant and at the pools, so you will not go thirsty ;-) Third, the accommodations. This is a beautifully laid out, spacious property. There are only 50 rooms, so it's never crowded. The rooms might be a little old, but everything worked fine and was kept clean by the staff. It is very quiet here after 9-10 PM, and there is no nightly entertainment. But that is what we wanted: peace and quiet, and CC Papagayo delivered. Fourth , and very importantly, the staff. Every single staff member we interacted with, from front desk to restaurant to cleaning/maintenance, was very pleasant and friendly. We'd like to single out a few staff members who stood out: Kendy, Alberto, Kevin, Brian, and Daniel in the restaurant. They always greeted us with a big smile and made conversation with us. Thank you for making us feel welcome and at home. Andrea, who works at the tour desk, also was a pleasant presence to greet us every morning/afternoon. (Also, she is great with setting up the right excursion for you--what fits your needs and interests. Highly recommend the Rio Celeste Rainforest Tour.) All in all, if you are looking for a quiet, peaceful, clean and beautiful resort in Costa Rica, look no further than CC Papagayo. Highly, highly, highly recommended.

The hotel was quiet and very peaceful. There was only 1 pool in use as the other was out of order the whole week. The beach was great and The water calm for floating around. The workers were more than nice. Shout out to Adrian our bartender. He made us feel very welcome and always went above and beyond. The food was ok. Not much variety but something to eat all day was a good benefit. I would visit again! Overall good for the price

If you're considering an ATV tour in Costa Rica, stop looking and book with Freddy Costa Rican Tours & Experiences—you won't regret it! My wife and I did the 3-hour ATV tour with Andy, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our entire trip. Neither of us had ever ridden an ATV before. Still, Andy was incredibly patient and thorough, taking the time to explain everything and making sure we felt comfortable before hitting the trails. Thanks to his guidance, we picked it up quickly and enjoyed every minute of the adventure. The tour itself was amazing. We rode through beautiful forest trails, splashed through muddy water crossings, visited a local town, and even made our way down to the beach. Along the way, Andy stopped to show us white-faced monkeys and shared information about the area, making the experience feel much more personal than just a typical tour. What truly set Andy apart was the effort he put into making our experience unforgettable. He took incredible photos and videos throughout the tour, and honestly, some of the best pictures we have from our entire vacation. We were able to focus on having fun while he captured memories we'll keep forever. This was the perfect mix of adventure, adrenaline, scenery, and local culture. Andy's enthusiasm, professionalism, and attention to detail made all the difference. If you're anywhere near the area, do yourself a favor and book with Freddy's. It was an absolute blast from start to finish, and we'd do it again in a heartbeat! 10/10