Day Trip to Los Vivos Beachfront
Are you looking for a low key, relaxing experience for a whole family with a bit of adventure added in? Look no further, Los Vivos is all of that plus an amazing experience with culinary fair crafted from all-organic ingredients grown by the family who owns it. If you would like to learn more about this location, family and the experience, I highly recommend visiting their website here - it is truly an inspiring story.
The organic farm that provides ingredients for the onsite restaurant (open from 10:00am-9:00pm daily) also provides the produce to other families in town through Santa Teresa Farmers Market and other locations- it is the large stand with fruits and vegetables that is always at the Saturday’s Farmers Market!
Los Vivos resembles an island as it is only accessible through sea/boat which makes it a really fun experience for the whole family It is a perfect place to get away, escape the crowds, enjoy nature and relax. The location offers peaceful white sand beaches, clear water, idyllic views, beautiful fauna and flora, on-site activities and lodging, delicious food and kids corner with a handmade outdoor kitchen, tepee and sand toys! The food and drinks were amazing, especially the patacones and freshly made drinks, so make sure to try them!
There are several ways to get to Los Vivos- you can book a local boat tour that will take you directly there, or you can drive to Tambor or Pochote (park at the Camping Don Trino, 2000c) and then book/catch a small boat (for about 3,000c/per person for round trip) that will take you there (*there are always some boats parked by the Campground, so you do not have to worry about booking one in advance). During our last trip, we ended up driving to Pochote and asking a local fisherman to take us there and pick us up.
Alternatively, Los Vivos offers a $50 Daypass that includes a boat transfer (and $40 is allocated towards food purchased at the restaurant) to/from the island frrom "Camping Don Trino" Parking Lot. And if you purchase the Day Pass, you can use their comfy beach chairs. If tha option feels the most appealing, you can inquire directly with them to schedule that via WhatsApp +506 8318 3630. Wish you a fun trip!
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Our knowledgeable team takes care of every detail, from personalized recommendations and seamless reservations to arranging transportation and family-friendly accommodations. With our expertise and local connections, your family will explore the wonders of Costa Rica together, creating joyful memories that last a lifetime.
Restaurants & Hotels with Public Pool Access in Santa Teresa
Vista de la Olas is one of our favorite pools in town. It is located up the Calle Vista de Olas road in Mal Pais. It is a pretty steep road, but it has been paved in recent years, so you might be ok without a 4x4. Vista de Olas has an amazing infinity pool and jacuzzi overlooking the ocean, and sunset in the evening. There is also a bar and a restaurant at the venue. The bar can be accessed directly from the pool. To enter the pool, adults need to pay 20,000 colones per person which can all be applied to food and/or drinks.
Another super easy to access pool is Selina North located just steps away from the beach, across Eat Streets. The pool can be accessed by the public by paying a $5 entrance/pool fee. Jump in!
There are other locations that have pools accessible to the public when you dine at the location:
Frank’s Place at Crossroads in Playa Carmen
Brukas (great dinning experience with a pool and a view)
Que Mae w/ Koji’s in Manzanillo (super fun location for a pool jump, sushi, sunset and good craft beer)
Tropico Latino *note: this has been a hit or miss for us (depending on manager who is working) so if you are hoping for a pool jump, I would contact them beforehand to confirm that the pool can be used by restaurant guests.
Manzu (Nantipa) a beach front restaurant with great food, ambience, and pool. I recommend visiting the restaurant in the afternoon-evening hours- playing in the pool first to grow an appetite, and then ordering some food at the restaurant to catch a beautiful sunset while eating your delicious dinner. The pool is large and has different depths, so it is suitable for babies, toddlers (*under supervision) and older kids, and the surroundings area/garden are beautiful and tranquil. The management asks to obtain a day pass at the reception to access the pool, the day pass is $75 and $50 of that amount can be spend towards the food/drinks at the restaurant (*note - this option is only available during off-season, so contact them beforehand if your main goal of the visit is enjoying the pool!)
Hanging Bridges, Ziplines and Waterfalls!
Check out this sweet day trip idea that offers a chance to explore local fauna & flora, some novelty and a bit of adrenaline for the brave ones! Sun Trails in Montezuma offers access to Montezuma Waterfalls from the top of the town through an array of hanging bridges and trails, as well as the option of zip lining through the jungle! This hiking or zipping adventure is surely to be remembered.
The trails through the jungle are wide enough for carrying a hiking backpack, so you can easily discover them with the youngest ones. The hike by itself is pretty easy, but it does get steep for a short period of the road, so make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes. Also, fyi, the entrance through the Sun Trails bridges costs about 3000colones/adult. If you are lucky, you will spot some wildlife while on your trail- birds, snakes, lizards, butterflies and/or other critters! For the brave ones at heart, there is an option of ziplining through the jungle- my 6 year old really enjoyed it. He needed to ride with the guide on some of the ziplines since he is pretty lightweight (*might have not gotten to the end of the line on his own). The guide has explained that some 5 year olds can ride by themselves (depending on their weight and level of confidence) while some 8 year olds still choose to ride with a guide on all the rides, so it all really depends on the kiddo, and their level of confidence. You know your kids best, so you will know what is right for them. Either way, with or without the guide, adventure is guaranteed! And then you can just enjoy the beautiful waterfalls and refreshing bath in the river water.
Ready to Go?
Our knowledgeable team takes care of every detail, from personalized recommendations and seamless reservations to arranging transportation and family-friendly accommodations. With our expertise and local connections, your family will explore the wonders of Costa Rica together, creating joyful memories that last a lifetime.