Planning for family travel in Costa Rica – specifically in the beautiful Guanacaste region? We have found Bahia Pez Vela to be a great deal for family travel in Costa Rica.
(Enjoying the ocean view from a private pool outside a villa at Bahia Pez Vela resort.)
As many parents know, once you have kids over a certain age, it’s hard to get everyone into one hotel room. That’s why, for family travel, we’ve been seeking out hotels with family suites or villas. After an exhaustive search to find a family-friendly hotel at an oceanfront location, we found Bahia Pez Vela.
Bahia Pez Vela Location
Bahia Pez Vela Resort is in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, which is the northwest corner of the country. Facing the Pacific Ocean, this region is famous for its stunning beaches, dense forests, and local wildlife. The resort is located in a secluded cove, just about 40 minutes from the Liberia airport. (Liberia is an increasingly popular destination; Alaska Airlines, for example, flies direct to Liberia from Los Angeles.)
(View of Bahia Pez Vela from the ocean.)
Bahia Pez Vela is built on a steep ocean-facing hill, in the secluded cove of Playa Azul. All of the rooms face out onto the ocean, and all are walkable to the black sand beach below. Young swimmers may have fun wading at the beach; there are also kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel equipment sets available for rent for those who want to explore further. Local wildlife includes pelicans diving for fish, sea turtles, and of course many varieties of local fish.
Rooms at Bahia Pez Vela
This resort offers primarily 3 or 4 bedroom villas, each with 2.5 baths, each sleeping 6 to 11 people. (The resort also has select studio villas available that sleep 2.)
A villa kitchen.
The villas each have full kitchens, so you can do your own cooking or prepare for a quick breakfast on days when you want to head out early for sightseeing. (Traveler tip: When arranging your van ride from the airport, ask to include a stop at the local grocery store so you can stock up on provisions.) Also included in each villa is a spacious dining area, living room, and well-appointed bedrooms.
A villa living room.
Although the resort has a lovely pool, many of the villas have private pools as well. We highly recommend Villa Paraiso, which is located at the end of one row of villas, abutting a very dense forest. While we lounged by the private pool, a group of mischievous monkeys played in the trees overhead.
Dining At Bahia Pez Vela
There is one restaurant at the resort, Soluna Beach Bistro, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and of course delicious beach cocktails made with fresh local fruit.
(A passion fruit cocktail at Solano Beach Cafe)
Although we didn’t eat at Soluna Beach Bistro for every meal, the chef was extremely generous in cooking us a feast one night made from some fish we caught. That feast included tuna tartare; mahi mahi ceviche; grilled tuna, mahi mahi, and triggerfish; as well as grilled vegetables, salad, and french fries.
(Mahi mahi ceviche and plantain chips)
A very quick taxi ride will take you to the tiny town of Ocotal next door, which features the popular Father Rooster restaurant. A 10-plus minute ride will take you to the slightly larger and livelier town of Coco, with a variety of restaurants, beachfront bars, and shopping.
Adventures in and Around Guanacaste
Bahia Pez Vela offers a wide range of guided adventures in the area. A perfect family adventure direct from Bahia Pez Vela is the Palo Verde Nature Cruise. After getting picked up at your villa, your guide will drive you to Palo Verde National Park. On a private or semi-private boat ride, you will see countless birds, monkeys, and amphibians, including crocodiles.
(A crocodile cools off in swampy water.)
After that tour, you will visit a local home where the owners prepare a traditional meal of rice, chicken, beans, and vegetables.
(Dining at a traditional Costa Rican home)
Another tour we chose was a four-hour fishing tour around Papagayo Bay. That trip was extremely fruitful for the fishermen in our group. For those of us who weren’t fishing, the scenery enough was enough to make the trip worthwhile.
(Photographing a fish before releasing it)
Other tour options include rainforest tours, waterfall hikes, ATV adventures, whitewater rafting, and more. One can’t-miss experience was a Nicaragua day trip, which we shared in our next post.
It’s entirely possible to get away without a rental car, especially if you are planning on doing mostly hosted expeditions (that come with a van and a guide). For heading into town, we were all set with taxi or ride-share services. However, if you’re choosing your own adventures, a rental car might be your best bet.
Long story short: If you’re looking for a comfortable home base for adventure-filled family travel in Costa Rica, Bahia Pez Vela in Guanacaste is a great choice.
(Blogger disclosure: We did not receive any compensation or complimentary lodging or food for this post. All opinions expressed are our own.)
Hi! I'm Jeanne Fratello - a writer, reporter, and food enthusiast who is on a mission to write great stories about food and where your food comes from. 
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