Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
dishes, all served with homemade dipping sauces. Don't miss the refreshing house 'Arnold
Palmer' with homemade lemonade.
Papaya Restaurant
SEAFOOD, VEGETARIAN
( 2654-9125;
www.conchalcr.com
;
mains US$6-18; 7am-10pm Thu-Tue; )
Vegetarians and seafood lovers, rejoice! For the former, there are all-day breakfasts, power
salads and tofu curries. For the latter, there are seafood salads, fresh grilled fish and jumbo
shrimp. Come during the day for big burritos and flatbread sandwiches or come at night
for fancier fare. There's also
típica
(typical Costa Rican food) if that's what you're craving.
The restaurant is at the Conchal Hotel.
Don Brasilito's
COSTA RICAN
( 2654-5310; bocas US$3-5; 5pm-midnight; )
Set a block north of the square, this massive dive is popular with the gritty old-school tour-
ist set who descend from early afternoon. The wall-less interior offers ample seating.
Getting There & Away
Buses to and from Playa Flamingo travel through Brasilito. There is a bus ticket office at
the north end of Brasilito - look for the blue house with the sign for
Tralapa Agencia
(
8am-noon & 1-6pm Mon & Wed-Sat, 8am-noon, 1-3pm Sun)
.
Playa Conchal
Just 1km south of Brasilito is Playa Conchal, a gorgeous stretch of sea and sand backed by
palms. Conchal rates among the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. The name comes
from the billions of
conchas
(shells) that wash up on the beach, and are gradually crushed
into coarse sand. The shallows drift from an intense turquoise to sea-foam green deeper
out, a rarity on the Pacific coast. If you have snorkeling gear, this is the place to use it.
On weekends, the beach is often packed with locals, tourists and countless vendors, but
on weekdays during low season, Playa Conchal can be pure paradise. The further south
you stroll, the wider, sweeter and more spectacular the beach becomes.
