The two cabanas are right on the beach, close enough to walk to town, but far enough to enjoy some peace and quiet. Everyone is very friendly and the staff guys will be your buddies by the time you leave. We really enjoyed having a kitchen. We cooked breakfast most mornings and a couple of lobster dinners on the barbecue grill (which they will bring to your doorstep). The only thing better would be a private little place to eat outside. The rooms were clean and AC worked well. We had monkeys come visit a few times. Overall, this is as advertised and we would go back. If you are booking tours, I would suggest doing it on your own, unless you're booking weeks in advance during the busy season. You will pay a 20-30% upcharge if the hotel does it for you. The best "tour" we found was to drive our rent car to Brasalito (Playa Conchal) and ask for Gallo (he's been there 27 years and Antonio plays soccer with him). Gallo is the spearfisherman for many local restaurants. He took us out in his boat, gave me a speargun, and let us snorkel with him to spear fish, catch lobster and harvest oysters. We then went back to Playa Conchal and cooked lobster and oysters and drank beer on the beach. He then gave us lobster to take home and cook that night, and lobster is very expensive in the markets. What a blast! Gallo is great! You need to speak a little Spanish though. Also, I don't think you need to visit here during the high season. It's dry and dusty and not very tropical. Go right after April, and you will find less people, more green stuff growing, less dust and much better prices. It will rain about 5:00 most days for about 30-60 minutes, but will be sunny during the day. Oh, and ask Marie about the pizza place up the street. It's the bomb! Hope that helps, and enjoy "la buena vida"!

This was our first international vacation, so we weren't sure exactly what to expect. We selected Casa Cook based on all of the great reviews. We were not disappointed! In fact, by the end of our stay we had visited other areas around Tamarindo, and saw other accomodations within Tamarindo, and there's no place we'd rather stay in Tamarindo than Casa Cook. We did not rent a car for this trip, but instead had Marie book our transportation to and from the Liberia airport. In fact, Marie took care of anything we needed during our stay from booking our canopy tour excursion, ordering food for delivery, checking out the giant spider (which turned out to be a crab) by the pool, to buying delicious banana bread from the German bakery truck that stops by twice per week.. Marie made our stay perfect! The entire staff at Casa Cook felt like family, by the time we had to head home. The beach is very private, and immaculately clean. Antonio must clean the beach every morning! There are many really good restaurants in walking distance, with a variety of cuisines to choose from, yet Casa Cook sits just on the edge, where you can enjoy privacy, and solitude if you choose. It just doesn't get any better than that.

This place was home away from home in the truest sense of the word We stayed in one of the beachside cabinas during Green Season and it was tranquil, comfortable and low key. Steps to the beach. When Ruthann said this was the best part of the beach she was not mistaken(quiet with very few necklace/bird chirp vendors). It is a 10 minute walk to restaurants, grocery, banks, and the center of town. Antonio and the staff are very accommodating and the nighttime security is a great thing to have. Though we booked our own excursions, Marie was essential in my decisions for which ones to go on. We loved Tamarindo, plan to return and expect to stay nowhere but Casa Cook when we do. Hopefully it is with our Mahi Mahi catch of the day BBQ'ing fish tacos in front of our cabina with Buddy the Cat.

Loved this place. There are only 4 units plus the owners home. It is right on the beach and far enough down from the hustle bustle of the surf shops to have some peace but close enough for an easy walk down the beach for the restaurants. The units have kitchens and the grocery store is right down the street. Ruth Ann has a fullmtime staff of several people even though so small. They are always cleaning the grounds, rakingnthe beach, wiping down chairs. They will carry the chairs out to the beach for you. The property is gated, so very secure. 24 hr patrol so very safe.