Punta Islita Marriott Hotel Review - Costa Rica (Autograph Collection)

Punta Islita Autograph Collection is a resort located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and offers a beachfront vacation with a plethora of activities to pick from.

How To Get There

If you are flying in from North America, your best approach is to fly into the Liberia International Airport (Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport/LIB). Many airlines from the US and Canada fly direct to Liberia including United, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue Airways and Air Canada. If you’re wondering how far the Punta Islita Marriott resort is from the Airport, it takes about a two and a half hour drive but may take up to 3 hours depending on traffic. The hotel provides an airport shuttle at a cost of $220 USD plus 13% tax for one way (as of 2024). This means it costs over $700 for a Canadian (about $500 USD) just to get to the resort and back not including your accommodation, food or activities. You could alternatively rent a car but I don't recommend it because the roads are in very poor condition and the drivers drive erratically. Be warned that for the last 15 minutes or so that the road is not paved and turns into a dirt road littered with potholes. Bring anti-nausea medication if you are prone to getting carsick. If you do decide to get a rental vehicle, a car will not be good enough so you will ideally need a 4x4 vehicle with high ground clearance to make it through the dirt road.

If you choose the hotel shuttle, the driver will contact you via WhatsApp to coordinate the time. If you are not familiar with WhatsApp, it’s similar to Apple’s iMessage but far better as it works on any smartphone. I recommend downloading it before the trip. You will need a mobile data plan as you exit the Airport to keep in contact with your driver in case you cannot find him. I always purchase an esim ahead of time on the Airalo App so I’m connected as soon as I land and can call my driver on Whatsapp or use Google Maps without relying on WiFi. If you sign up with my referral code C0887, you’ll save $3 USD off your first esim purchase! Alternately, you can purchase a local sim on arrival but you do have to go looking for a shop that sells it then wait for it to activate. We had some difficulty finding our driver but we were able to locate him after calling him on WhatsApp.

The Resort

Once we arrived at the resort, we were promptly greeted by friendly staff. The resort is nestled on a remote hill that overlooks the beach. The reception is on the main level just after the entrance, followed by the main restaurant and an infinity pool. The infinity pool is stunning and offers gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

The resort is laid out on several different levels separated by what feels like endless stairs. To get down to the beach, you can either use the stairs or ask the staff to call you a shuttle that will ferry you back and forth from the beach to the reception. Note that most rooms in this resort are not Accessible due to the stairs. The grounds around the resort have been kept as wild as possible to attract loads of wildlife. There are also almond trees planted everywhere to support the local macaws (more on that below).

The Rooms

We stayed in the Deluxe Master Suite with a balcony that had stunning views of the mountains and ocean. The rooms felt private and had decent separation from each other though some like the ones with a plunge pool seemed more secluded. The room was clean and newly renovated but be sure to confirm when booking as not all rooms were renovated when I visited in March 2024. We had originally picked an older room but the staff upgraded us to one of the nicer rooms on arrival. After visiting the hotel, I’d say that the old unrenovated rooms are definitely not worth the price.

The renovated rooms are modern with large, comfortable beds

Our room had a hammock on the balcony with a killer view

Tea, coffee and filtered water were complimentary. Snacks and mini bar cost extra ($)

The sink was conveniently separated from the toilet area

The shower came with a view

Food and Dining

This was the hotel’s weakest point. The food was a disappointment and far below the quality that you can expect at similar Marriott properties at this high of a price point. For example, Westin Resorts are often similarly priced but the food and service is night and day apart. The main restaurant, Alma, was upstairs by the infinity pool and served breakfast and dinner. Lunch was only served at the restaurant by the beach called Aura Beach Club. The ingredients at both restaurants were often inconsistent with the menu description. For example, some days my eggs came poached, sometimes fruits were included but sometimes they were missing. Some dishes were served with pita bread on some days but other times no bread was provided. After pointing it out to the server, he would bring it to the table. The saltiness of dishes were inconsistent as well resulting in the same dish being enjoyable or not depending on the day. The burger was delicious but consisted of pickled vegetables that were too salty to eat. Sometimes I would remember to order it without but whenever I forgot, I was left picking through my burger to make it palatable.

For breakfast, I often ordered eggs and tomatoes which were mostly bland. Lunch was only served at the restaurant by the beach, not by the main pool and left a lot to be desired. On the first day, I had the poke bowl which lacked flavour and was oddly served with a side of rice rather than layered into the bowl as a base.

Lunch was only available at Aura Beach Club which is located down the hill by the beach

For dinner one night, I tried the catch of the day which was a tiny sliver of Mahi Mahi but it did taste good though. The worst meal I had was a seafood salad that had too much oil and toasted rice that it felt like I was eating an oil and sand salad with the sand grinding my teeth. If you find something you like, I suggest sticking to it but I grew tired of eating the same average meal every day. Their chicken dish for dinner was good but the size of the chicken breast kept inexplicably shrinking as the week went on.

The service complemented the food in that it was equally as inconsistent. Some waiters always greeted us with a smile and quick service whereas sometimes we were ignored for long periods of time. Some days we were charged for coffee at breakfast but during other days the waiter said it was included. We weren't really sure what to make of it. Our waiters followed every interaction by saying “Pura Vida”.

Overall, meals were disappointing and without many food options around the resort, I was happy that I had brought protein bars and snacks from home. I had also asked the driver to stop at the grocery store prior to arriving so I could stock up on snacks as I had read ahead of time about the complaints regarding the food in Costa Rica. I recommend you do the same.

The beachfront lunch restaurant had a nice view

Breakfast and Dinner were served at the Alma Restaurant

The resort provided bottled water in each room and it was replenished daily. It seemed like the water was filtered and bottled on site. Tap water is offered at the restaurants and unlike the tap water throughout Costa Rica, it was safe to drink without getting sick.

Pool

The adults only infinity pool at the top of the hill was my favourite spot

The infinity pool was gorgeous and lounging around during the day was a great way to relax. The pool was rarely crowded and there was almost always enough lounge chairs no matter the time of day. The swim up bar served up some excellent cocktails! The infinity pool was by far my favourite part of the resort not just for swimming but also because every once a while, we would hear macaws and as we looked up at the sky, we would see some stunning macaws flying overhead. It was magical.

Some days, we were lucky enough to spot macaws who came to feed nearby on the almond trees!!

The second pool located by the beach felt smaller and was more crowded and loud. There was often families with kids and the water was colder as well as it was partly shaded.

The second pool by the beach was more family oriented and tended to be more crowded and the water was cooler

Beach

The beach at the bottom of the hill required about a 10 minute walk or taking a shuttle to reach it. The beach had dark sand and was very rocky. I wouldn't bother trying to swim here but it made for some relaxing afternoon walks with the sound of the waves crashing in the background.

The beach was very rocky

Activities & Wildlife

The Punta Islita Hotel offers a lot of activities and in my opinion, this is where the hotel really shines. The hotel offered many complementary activities including a mixology and local cooking class, a Forest Hike and a brief candle making workshop at the nearby town. There were also several paid activities, including a visit to the nearby Macaw sanctuary (which I highly recommend), a visit to see turtles, laying their eggs on the beach and other boat and fishing trips. I had already done the turtle trip back in Tamarindo but if you haven't then I recommend doing it here.

For the mixology class, the bartender demonstrated how to prepare a delicious Costa Rican cocktail. For the tico cooking class, we prepared some fresh ceviche and got to sample it after.

Macaws

The Macaw Sanctuary was my favourite activity during my entire visit in Costa Rica and the employees here told us about the history of macaws in Costa Rica and how they were near extinction. Through the work that has been done here they were able to successfully breed the remaining population and have been restoring them back into their natural habitats. I highly recommend making a donation or purchasing something from their gift shop if you can afford it in order to support them (they accept credit cards).

Forest Hike

One of the complementary activities was the forest hike where we saw a family of coatis and a single monkey in the trees. We were accompanied by a guide who took us for a walk in the nearby forest surrounding the hotel. During our regular walks around the property, we also spotted an armadillo.

A family of coatis

A howler monkey

An armadillo

The candle making class took place in the nearby town which was cool and a great opportunity to chat with the locals and learn more about the country and their lives. Next to the candle making shop was a convenience store where I bought some locally made ice cream that made me so sick that I started to both vomit and had to keep running to the bathroom all night long and over the next few days so I highly recommend bringing with you some antibiotics and to be extremely careful about what you eat and drink in Costa Rica and pay close attention to the local sanitary conditions.

Gym

Some days I visited the gym to squeeze in a workout. The gym is located at the bottom of the hill. Once you get to the main road, you'll need to make a left turn and walk for a bit until you reach the building on the right. I asked several staff members where the gym was, but no one seemed to really know so I walked around and explored for a bit until I found it. The gym was unattended and I never saw anyone else using it during the week I was there. Towels and water are provided. Just be mindful not to overexert yourself because you'll need to walk back up the hill to your room. There was also a tennis or Pickleball court nearby that might interest some.

Please note that this hotel is located in a no fly zone so don't bother bringing your drone.

Conclusion

2 things I didn’t like:

❌ The food

❌ Value for money

2 things I liked:

✅ The location in the forest

✅ The macaws

I very much enjoyed the infinity pool and visiting the macaw sanctuary but by the end of my week here, I really looked forward to going back home. I found the beach, wildlife and food to be overrated and the price to quality ratio was simply not (that's just Costa Rica in general). For my next beach vacation or wildlife excursion, I will go head back to Mexico instead for the amazing food, friendly service, stunning white sand beaches and similar wildlife all for a lower price.

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Scuba Diving The Catalinas Island, Costa Rica (Can you dive with Manta Rays?)

One of the reasons I wanted to visit the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica was for the opportunity to scuba dive with Manta Rays at the Catalina Islands. It was hard to find information online but I did find some youtube videos taken by scuba divers of encounters with these beautiful rays so I decided to go for it. My experience turned out to be a little different however.

The Dive Shop

Since I was staying in Tamarindo (which I don’t recommend because it is very overpriced and full of trashy tourists), I booked with a dive shop called Tamarindo Diving. They were very friendly and confirmed my booking right way. They also contacted me via WhatsApp to coordinate the pickup time. The dive shop sent a van to pick us up the morning of our dive. I was very pleased that they showed up right on time. We arrived at the shop to try on some rental gear. After completing my Advanced Open Water certification a few years ago, I decided to buy some basic gear for scuba diving so I always bring my own budget dive computer, fins, wetsuit from Amazon and my mask so that I don’t need to try on much at the Dive Shop. I usually just need to try on a BCD. Getting your own gear does not have to be expensive and I highly recommend you build your own collection over time. My dive computer, fins and wetsuit have lasted for years although the wetsuit is showing signs of wear. Once every one was ready and signed their waivers, we drove back a few blocks away to Tamarindo beach. If you have your own rental car, you can follow behind the Dive Shop’s car.

Note that they have now moved the location of their dive shop and it's located walking distance to the boat near the beach. We boarded a small canoe-sized boat to transfer us to their larger dive boat where the crew helped set up all of our equipment. After a quick briefing, we headed towards the Catalina Islands! The ride took about an hour.

The Catalina Islands

As we approached our first dive site, we suited up and split into two groups, one consisting of advanced divers who went off separately from the less experienced divers. We descended to around 18 meters at the first site. There were plenty of fish around but unfortunately due to the visibility being so poor, it was hard to observe them. Our group followed the Divemaster and soon we came across a trio of sleeping whitetip reef sharks. As we passed over them, they suddenly moved around, presumably because they don't like the presence of a large animals above them as it makes them vulnerable. We took a quick break on the boat in between dives (surface interval). Our friendly crew handed out some snacks and juice. Throughout both dives, we continued to encounter several whitetip sharks. There wasn't much to see in terms of corals or large pelagic life so the sharks were the highlight of the dives.

Whitetip Reef Sharks at the Catalina Islands

Swimming over them seemed to make them uncomfortable

So, can you see Manta Rays in the Catalina Islands?

I never quite got a clear answer as to when Manta season is since some people mentioned it was during the dry season whereas others mentioned that the dry season wasn't the time to see them. Either way, even if there were Manta Rays around us, we wouldn't have seen them due to the poor visibility. Mantas are wild animals after all so as it often goes in scuba diving, it is largely up to luck. February is the time for the mobula migration though but we must've been unlucky since we never spotted any. In short, it may be possible to spot Manta Rays but I wouldn’t suggest coming here just to see them. Rather it’s a good place to dive if you already happen to be vacationing here! I did have the chance to go freediving on this trip and while the visibility was very poor, I could hear the songs of the humpback whales underwater!

After the second dive, we headed back towards Tamarindo. During the ride back, we were surrounded by dive bombing birds hunting fish on the sides of the boat. It was a beautiful spectacle to see. The cliffs on the coast made for a nice view as we approached the shore. Overall I wouldn't recommend going out of your way just to come dive here but if you're already planning to visit the area then do allow yourself an extra day to dive with some reef sharks!

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Learning To Freedive In Mexico/9 Things To Know For A Trip To Playa Del Carmen

After seeing the stunning photos of freedivers in the cenotes of Mexico, I knew I wanted to travel to Playa Del Carmen to learn how to freedive. I had always loved diving on the reef and it felt like a natural progression to continue training towards becoming a better freediver. There’s something very peaceful about exploring the ocean with just a mask and a breath of air. Now, you won't exactly get to experience the real Mexico in PDC as several areas feel very Americanized but for someone who is visiting Mexico for the first time or wanting to get out of the resort, it's a great first experience!

PDC has many amenities and services available for locals and tourists alike. You can fly into Cancun Airport (although there is a new PDC Airport opening) and take the ADO Bus directly from the airport. Once you exit the Airport, there will be a booth with "ADO" written on it where you can purchase your tickets. The buses run hourly and cost under $20 one way. They are large coach busses that have plenty of space to store your luggage. You can alternatively prebook a private transfer which costs more but is more convenient. This may be required if you are arriving late. My flight was delayed and I arrived after 10:30 pm and there were no buses running at that time. The bus stops at all the terminals at the Airport and then heads to Playa Del Carmen.

1. Lodging

PDC has lots of condos available for rent on Airbnb. These condos often have swimming pools and usually include air conditioning (make sure to check, especially if you are going in the hot summer months. I've also heard of cases where they charged extra for AC on top of the Airbnb amount). Some have a gym and bar as well. I stayed at a condo a couple of blocks away from 5th Avenue. 5th Avenue is the main street in PDC and it runs parallel to the beach. If you want to feel like you're in the US, this is where you'll want to stay. Otherwise I recommend staying a few blocks away where you can find local eateries with authentic Mexican cuisine rather than burgers and pasta. 5th Avenue is also very touristy and noisy with its numerous clubs and bars so the further away you can get, the better and more authentic it will feel.

2. Transportation

Playa Del Carmen is a very walkable town. If you need to get around for longer distances, you can take a taxi. There are numerous taxi stands around town or you can simply wave one down from the side of the road. Make sure to have cash on you (preferably pesos) and agree on the price before getting. They generally follow a fixed price depending on which zone you are going to https://solmayarentals.com/yucatan-vacation-resources/taxi-rates/ . Note that in Mexico, the currency sign for pesos is the same as the dollar ($) so it may get very confusing sometimes.
Before getting in the cab, just tell the driver where you want to go first. Some may not speak English so it helps to learn a bit of Spanish or simply use Google translate. For example if you would like to go to 20th Avenue North, that's avenida 20 norte. "Cuánto?" means "how much". It is usually less than 100 pesos when traveling within PDC.

3. Safety

I was obviously apprehensive about my safety at first due to the media but I never felt unsafe there. I stayed in a somewhat busy area (stay close to 5th avenue if you are worried but that area is very touristy and gets loud at night with the clubs and bars). I also met several solo female travelers during my time there. Just take the basic precautions like don't walk alone late at night in unpopulated areas, don't flash your cash in the street, don't buy illegal drugs, that sort of thing. I also walked alone at 6 am in the dark to go paddleboarding before sunrise and while it did feel a bit eerie, it wasn’t any worse than big cities back home in Canada. In fact, I saw some people who were still heading home from the night before. If you have an iPhone, you can share your location with your friends and family. On Android, you can use WhatsApp to share your live location if you are concerned. Additionally, I also keep an AirTag in my backpack so my partner always knows where I am when I am travelling solo.

4. FreeDiving

I signed up for the SSI Freediving Course with Blackfin Freediving and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. They sent me the training materials to watch ahead of time on the SSI App. When I arrived at the shop on the first day (they will send you directions to their shop after you sign up), we started the initial theory portion right away followed by a quiz. Then we tried on some wetsuits, fins and masks and headed to the the gorgeous cenotes by car. Cenotes are freshwater sinkholes that are connected to other water systems underground. Some are cave-like while others feel like swimming in mangroves. The water is often crystal clear near the surface with a deep blue hue. We practiced 1 minute breath holds and several safety exercises on the first day. The first cenotes felt more like a river system in the mangroves with a maximum depth of only 6 metres; perfect for beginners. Over the next 2 days, I went diving at different cenotes where I practiced my freediving and rescue skills using the line to guide me. To pass the course, you will be required to demonstrate all the safety procedures at a minimum of 10 meters depth. These include rescuing your buddy who's blacked out at 10m and taking off your mask and ascending to the surface without it. The instructors will stay with you the entire time in case you need help.
Freediving is one of the most at peace and calm I've ever been in my life. It feels like the world and the mind just stop and it's only you and the water. If you like yoga/meditation and the ocean, you're probably a perfect fit to be a freediver. I also think that because the cenotes don't have any waves and the wildlife is limited to small colourful fish, the calming environment in the cenotes only enhances the experience. I've tried freediving in the ocean when it was very wavy and it was a vastly inferior experience.

The calm cenotes allow for pool-like calm conditions and are perfect for freediving

Freediving Encounter

The cenotes can have unexpected visitors

There are also other dive shops located in the area like Amancay and Pranamaya. While I didn't go with Amancay, they were quick to respond when I inquired for my Level 2. I also know someone else who completed his Level 1 with Pranamaya and he had only positive things to say.

One thing to note is unfortunately if you tend to get cold like me, it's going to be very difficult to freedive because once I start to get cold, my muscles tense up which makes my jaws tighten up. I then have trouble equalizing and holding my breath and it feels like I am suffocating only a few meters below the surface. You might require a thicker wetsuit, vest or hood if you tend to get cold. I also met a freediver who wore two wetsuits and that allowed to him to maintain his body heat (the less body fat you have, usually the more cold you will feel). I visited in December and the water temperature was on the cooler side at that time of the year. You may also experience some equalization issues which are pretty common. While the course takes 3 days, it's best to allow yourself extra time in case you are unable to complete all the skills or need more time to equalize at depths.

5. Do I need to know Spanish?

It is of course helpful if you can speak Spanish however for the most part, everyone is very welcoming. Most of the waiters and receptionist at hotels speak English. If you are planning to do touristy activities like scuba diving or paddleboarding, your tour guide is almost guaranteed to speak both English and Spanish. I suggest downloading the Spanish language pack on the Google Translate App to help you out if needed. For example, the attendants at the Laundromats often don't speak English so you may need some help translating.

A little known fact is that there are a lot of foreigners who work in Mexico. There is a large community of thousands of Argentinians who live and work here. They speak fluent English and Spanish. I met several of them while in Playa Del Carmen and it was wonderful to meet other immigrants like myself who moved somewhere new to start a new life and hear all about their experiences

6. The Beach

Parts of the beach almost disappear during winter as most of the sand is eroded away by the waves. Whatever beach is left is overrun by beach chairs from all the beachfront hotels. In my opinion, this isn’t the place to book a beachfront resort, there’s public access to the beach from the town and it can get pretty crowded. It’s not the sort of beach where you’re going to enjoy some peace and quiet. It's better suited for partying and tanning. If you are looking for calm beachfront resorts, places like Tulum are a much better option though you will be far from nearby towns.

7. The Food

One of the highlights of visiting Mexico is the mouthwatering local food! This area of Mexico specializes in the Al Pastor tacos which consists of pork or chicken cooked on a vertical rotisserie grill, similar to a shawarma. The sight and amazing smell of the sizzling meats always enticed me to walk right in and order a couple of them. It's also a delight to watch the cook carve out each slice of meat and carefully place them on a soft corn tortilla then top it with a slice of pineapple. The tacos often served with salsa, freshly chopped onions and coriander. Heavenly.

My other favourites were the Cochinita Pibil (pulled pork sandwiches), quesadillas, ceviches and also make sure to try a marquesita! There are plenty of delicious and budget friendly local food but there's also international restaurants if you prefer that.

Unfortunately I didn't find any coconut street vendors but several cafes and restaurants did serve them. Most places sell various local beers to accompany your meal with Modelo being a very popular choice. Expect to spend $10-$15 (including a beer) when dining at a local eatery. International/American restaurants were closer in price to the US but I never bothered eating there anyway. Why go all the way to a country with some of the most amazing food in the world to eat pizza and burgers?! I found the waiters friendly and service was usually fast. The standard tip for dining out was 10%.

8. Do You Need Cash?

Almost all shops and restaurants in PDC accept credit cards. This is the way to go because you don't need to carry around a lot of cash and the credit card exchange rate is better than what you get at the ATM or when exchanging money. I recommend checking if your bank has an ATM close to where you're staying. As a Canadian, I found out that Scotiabank has 2 ATMs close to where I was staying. If you have a Tangerine debit card, you can use these ATMs without paying any fees, just make sure to notify the bank before travelling so your card doesn't get blocked.

9. Bullsharks

While I wanted to visit PDC primarily for the cenote freediving, the winter months also provide an opportunity to scuba dive with pregnant Bull Sharks who visit the area in the winter! PDC is also a great place for Scuba Diving!

Conclusion

I love my time in Playa Del Carmen and learning to freedive was one of the best things I’ve experienced in my life. I think in the end, you have to ask yourself what are you looking for from this trip? This town is very Americanized but if you're coming here to dive in the cenotes for example, you won't be disappointed. Your experience may highly depend on where you are staying. The closer to 5th Avenue you are, the less authentic it is. Nonetheless there is a decent beach, the food is amazing and it's a great way to experience Mexico outside of the resorts.

I am so grateful for making it there, it was one of the best trips of my life!

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