Costa Rica: Tamarindo: Capitan Suizo (February 2004)

My spouse and I stayed at the Capitan Suizo for three nights in late February 2004. Capitan Suizo is located on the south end of Tamarindo, approximately a 15-minute walk to town. Rooms have no telephones or televisions. Bungalows have no air-conditioning, and no windows (just screens); however, we stayed in the more traditional two-story hotel building, the ground floor of which have air-conditioning. Rooms include a mini-refrigerator. There are many howler monkeys living in the trees around the property. Rooms had two doors: a traditional door to the back of the unit, and a sliding door facing the pool/beach. Rooms have two levels. The bathroom was large, and located at the back of the unit.

 

The 6 bungalows, 6 ocean front units, 22 superior rooms and the 4-bedroom-suite, (maximum 8 people) are spacious, furnished with local materials and decorated with regional craftsmanship and antique photographs from Costa Rica. All of them overlook tropical gardens, face the ocean, and feature a balcony or terrace and king-size beds draped with mosquito nets. In aaddition, each room has a sitting area with a queen-size sofa bed (except for the two oceanfront garden rooms) and sliding. All units have a small refrigerator, coffee and tea facilities, telephone, safe deposit box, radio, and a large closet. All the spacious bathrooms have a shower and hair dryer.

 

There was a wall-mounted hair dryer in my first-floor A/C room at Capitan Suizo. It also had a (really old-fashioned) radio, but no clock. The rooms have phones, but they only work within the hotel to contact the front desk. The rooms have a mini-fridge (empty except for the free bottle of water that they provide), which comes in handy if you want to buy drinks/snacks at the nearby supermercado (an easy 5 minute walk). Capitan Suizo was abit more rustic than Cala Luna (where we ate dinner one night). Capitan Suizo has lots of howler monkeys near their pool, which is pricless. One day we counted 11 in the trees next to the pool. This was priceless, in my opinion. Lots of great landscaping and foliage. Its pool is beautiful, plus it is on the beach.

I've heard many people comment on the screaming kids at Capitan Suizo. I can only say that when I was there in February, there were no children at all (and the hotel was filled to capacity). In fact, I would say that it was one of the most secluded and peaceful hotels that I have ever stayed in (but then again, I stay at lots of all-inclusive properties and in huge skyscraper hotels in major cities). Capitan Suizo isn't that big, and there is nothing for kids to do there. The rooms don't even have TVs, so I don't know why it would be an appealing place for families.

I stayed at Capitan Suizo in February of this year. The pool is beautiful. I am a sun worshipper, and there is plenty of space for tanning. There is also tons of shade near the pool, so it offers the best of both worlds! The pool was almost completely shaded by about 3:00 or 3:30 each afternoon; there was only one small patch of sun big enough for one lounge chair until about 4:00 or 4:30--just look for the spot where the iguanas sun themselves on a big rock.

We ate the continental breakfast that was included with our room rate. It included many different types of fruit (watermelon, papaya, mango, bananas, canteloupe, pineapple) and pastries (chocolate croissants, plain croissants, about seven different types of bread), cereal, yogurt, and juices.

It was an easy 10 minute walk from Capital Suizo to Tamarindo town on a paved road, and the lighting at night was fairly good. You could also walk to town on the beach, which was quicker and cooler in the daytime. The beach was prettier than I expected. Of course it wasn't the aquamarine water of the Caribbean, but the darker blues and rocky areas were attractive. There are horses on the beach, but we didn't encounter any of their droppings that so many people have been complaining about. There are also a few cabs in Tamarindo.