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Are there any beaches that are family-friendly for swimming , yet commutable from San Jose? I have stayed in Jaco/Playa Hermosa area but the water was too hostile for a novice to swim.

Is the Caribbean Coast within a driving distance? I rarely hear people talk about it. Most of the discussions center around the areas on the Pacific coast.

I am from New Jersey and honestly find the sand here too be much better here than in the Jaco area beaches. Can't say the same about the weather though

Try Punta Leona...it's 20 km before Jaco. The resort takes a lot of the beach but there is an area next to it with adequate parking and beautiful white Jersey style sand

Thank you Livincr - I have noted and started looking for a place there

All the beaches have undertow - not good for Ch*ldren or novices. Estarillos beach (spelling?) is about 20 miles south of Jaco (you want the first exit), when the tide goes out there is a natural pool about 2 feet deep that is excellant just to hang out at. There are no or limited services at this beach so be prepared and bring a BBQ. Just be careful - when the tide comes back in it is dangerous.

Also Playa Blanco just north of Puntarenas

I'd suggest Puntarenas as the best place to take Ch*ldren to swim. The beach is huge so no problem finding your own slice. However, it is about the same as Jaco in beach quality. Nice thing about Puntarenas is there are no bad currents so it is about as safe to swim in as any beach in Costa Rica. Also, being a cruise ship stop, there are a lot of places to eat and shop at. With the new highway, Puntarenas is about as close, drive time, as Jaco.

If you have the money, Los Suenos has a very safe beach as well with some great pools at the Marriott. Most condos inside Los Suenos also give you access to this 'private' beach as well as having their own pools.

I would NOT suggest any beach on the Atlantic side. The security situation has deteriorated around Limon and farther south at Puerta Viejo to the point I would not recommend that to anyone, much less a family. It is also farther to get to.

Lot farther drive, but the ultimate spot in Costa Rica for family adventure and a safe beach to swim is inside Manuel Antonio National Park IMHO...

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Thank You. Will look into Puntarenas. Manuel Antonio is probably the bets but too far of a drive to be able to see dentists in San Jose.

That one is called Sugar Beach. No clue why that one is white sand and the adjacent ones there are not. Interesting place all in all--multi use? Private homes, hotel rooms, cabins, apartments, all inclusive options. Huge sprawling property. I remember long jogs thru the jungle hills. Alot of the homeowners had golf carts. I was there for a few days along, long time ago and it was mostly Tico home and condo owners and Tico tourists then. I remember they had one of the pools closed by the police because sadly a Tico boy drowned. Jusr looked at my pre-digital fotos of that place and that was in May of 1997. So obviosuly different now.

A grand gated entrance with security that anybody who has been to Jaco has not noticed on the west side of rt. 34. But you are a more then a few miles to get out of the compex and into normal life, closest being the Jaco commercial center at the first red light coming in. So go loaded.

And, you are going to have a mui bravo surf in high tide like most centro-sur CR playas. A smart guy with a Ch*ld would play during the low tides waist deep or lower. You can walk out of any undertow at that depth (and it's there) unless you are frail/old, drunk, stupid, too young and alone, and/or suicicdal.

Puntarenas would work for the tide/beach but that town would be my last choice for CR beaches. The very beautiful but now essenstially lawless until it's too late Atlantico is way too far by car for what you are trying to do.

Inside MA Parque as mentioned (not the main tourist beach where all the hotels are-- a few people drown there every year--2 newlywed gringos last month) but inside the Nat'l Parque's beach, that one is a world class special, really beautiful, unforegettable and safe, horseshoe natural bay. But you first must enter into a Natl Park gateway, pay a fee, and then walk until you are ready to say what the heck. It is a long, long way in and out to get to that beach, and with very limited facilities like only toilets (and I have heard they have closed them for ecological issues), not sure, hearsay, anyone know? So pack everything from soup to nuts to toilet paper.

Unless you have this thing about swimming in the surf all day being a must, I'd say go back to Hermosa, you posted you liked that, now you know it and the surroundings, and then swim and surf during low and receeding tides and be close to SJ. How much are you going to be doing that anyway in the green season? You want to stay w/in short range driving to SJ for dental care. Few options and no beach town is going to be perfect for all your requirements. If it ani't broke why change it?

[quote="Lollypop54"]Are there any beaches that are family-friendly for swimming , yet commutable from San Jose? I have stayed in Jaco/Playa Hermosa area but the water was too hostile for a novice to swim.

lollypop. Why don't you do like I did with the K*ds and take them to Balnerio water park in Puntarenas? Very nice, no undertow, no sand, 1 hour 20 minutes away and they will have a blast. Beach is right there as well. I would definitely stay away from the Caribbean side. Too far. He's a link to the pics of the park. http://www.google.co.cr/search?q=balnea ... 66&bih=600

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Add a little spice to you life.This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "Sex tourism or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.

Forgot about the San Lucas Beach Club (Balneario)...it is a nice place. Here is a good article on the water park and Puntarenas in general.

http://www.liveincostarica.com/blog/201 ... eario.html

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[quote="Lollypop54"]Are there any beaches that are family-friendly for swimming , yet commutable from San Jose? I have stayed in Jaco/Playa Hermosa area but the water was too hostile for a novice to swim.

Another option that will keep you close by your dental appointments in San Jose, is a water park here. Here's the link to one. http://www.billbeardcostarica.com/php/n ... dicion=408

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Add a little spice to you life.This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "Sex tourism or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. We ended up staying in Jaco. The deal we got and the condo and the pools at Bahia Encatada made up for the pebbly beach. We got a great deal on a 2 BR condo which was really hard to turn down. I had rented a SUV, so the drives to San Jose were easy.

The car renting process itself was a nightmare and my fault for leaving the mainstream rental companies and going with Economy car rental. They are bunch of thugs and I'll be writing about them in a separate post.

Post what was the deal at the condo also please. Problems at Economy come as no surprise, anxious to hear. I always rent from Budget and never had a problem, but one of the regular posters said they pulled the flat tire trick on him which surprised the hell out of me.

We got a two-bedroom condo for five nights, beachfront for $500. Bob Johnson bobjohnson6@verizon.net owns the place and told me that he paid 450,000 for the place. The condo was extremely well decorated and worth every penny. We got this price because it was the green season. In reality, it rained very little and was very sunny and warm three of the days.

I am writing a trip report and will detail Economy Car rental and other findings in it.

An Ejectivio bus only 1.5 hs or 2 hs by bus from SJ to Quepos? Any other details about the busline and terminal and cost Greengo?