Harry's, El Escondite
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About
#4 of 19 villas in Tamarindo
Location
4.7
Rooms
4.7
Value
4.9
Cleanliness
4.6
Service
4.8
Sleep Quality
4.8
Free use of surf boards and bikes. Surf lessons and guide available. A secluded 4-plex of studio-apartment style cabinas; favorite 'hideout' for both returning surfers and first timers. Accommodations for individuals up to a party of 10 in 4 cabinas. Each cabina can sleep up to 3 people and has a kitchen, large bathroom with hot water, air-conditioning and cable TV. El Escondite also has laundry facilities, phones and internet access. A pool, BBQ and hammocks round out a perfect place to hangout after surfing.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Pool
Outdoor pool
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Air conditioning
Kitchenette
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Quirky Hotels
Business
Location
Cabinas Escondite, Tamarindo 2000 Costa Rica
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
76 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 134
- 17
- 2
- 0
- 2
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Detailed Reviews
Just returned from Harry’s, and so hard to leave! It takes a few days to throw off the shackles of urban living/ expectations and just accept Tamarindo life as it is. Harry has lived there for over 30 yrs and is a conduit for many who now live there. It’s a great jump off place for out trips or local attractions. ( new gym 2 min away). Spooky ( his kitty) the monkeys, parrots and surrounding flora/ fauna were always a source of entertainment/ wonder. Walking the hot dusty roads of Tamarindo were always ending with a dip in the pool and great conversations! We took in the nightly sundown serenade and truly enjoyed everything we experienced. No wonder there were so many people there! We are already planning our return! Thanks again our dear friend!
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I can highly recommend staying at Harry’s cabinas. The place is beautifully designed, has a nice pool in the center of the building and all the flats a tastefully placed so that your privacy is garanteed. Everything is very good organized and Harry, the owner, is always around when you needed help.
But most importantly for me, Harry has not just been the host of resort, but was there for a little chat. I have learned a lot about Tamarindo, its history and about Costa Rica in general. Moreover, Harry was always ready to join me on a evening out on the beach where we enjoyed a few happy hour drinks. On those occations he introduced me to a couple of friends, who invited me to join them what ever they were up to. All in all, Harry played an important role that I enjoyed Tamarindo so much.
But most importantly for me, Harry has not just been the host of resort, but was there for a little chat. I have learned a lot about Tamarindo, its history and about Costa Rica in general. Moreover, Harry was always ready to join me on a evening out on the beach where we enjoyed a few happy hour drinks. On those occations he introduced me to a couple of friends, who invited me to join them what ever they were up to. All in all, Harry played an important role that I enjoyed Tamarindo so much.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
With Harry, you get what you get..... He is an awesome host, his cabinas are well taken care of and the property is in well repair, each cabinas (cabin) has a kitchenette and bathroom, air conditioning and a cold refrigerator. Locally centered to town and many stores to fill that refrigerator. Down the street is city centre.. (literally a 5 minute walk) where there are dozens of restaurants and shops.. harry's has safety and security on premises both a state of the are camera system but ga awesome gate.. I would list harry's as a super host, laundry on site along with bikes, surf boards and a refreshing pool... 10' deep..
A recommendation... Grab a golf cart or 4 wheeler to scoot around town.
At the end of the street.. food store, atm (us dollars) and restaurants.
No children. Adults only.
A recommendation... Grab a golf cart or 4 wheeler to scoot around town.
At the end of the street.. food store, atm (us dollars) and restaurants.
No children. Adults only.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry is an incredible host as you can see by the other reviews. He is super responsive and went out of his way to make sure I enjoyed my stay.
The cabinas have everything you need to enjoy Tamarindo and it's a 10 minute walk into town. A grocery store is even closer.
The shared outdoor space is great for relaxing. Take a dip in the pool and lay on a water hammock before going to the top deck for sunbathing.
Every once in awhile I heard construction noise and music from other properties but it wasn't loud and didn't last long.
Harry is an incredible host and I loved his place so much that I booked a return trip before I left.
The cabinas have everything you need to enjoy Tamarindo and it's a 10 minute walk into town. A grocery store is even closer.
The shared outdoor space is great for relaxing. Take a dip in the pool and lay on a water hammock before going to the top deck for sunbathing.
Every once in awhile I heard construction noise and music from other properties but it wasn't loud and didn't last long.
Harry is an incredible host and I loved his place so much that I booked a return trip before I left.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: There are 3 different "cabinas" so check the pictures. They all have the same...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Unfortunately our experience at Harrys was disappointing to say the least. The photos do not reveal the true picture as the place was dirty and unclean. The bathroom smelled and had not been cleaned to which Harry confessed. Stayed one night in the green room and decided to look for a cleaner place. We lost out on the $200 deposit fee but that's life...live and learn! Thankfully we found another place very close to town,very clean and only $25 extra a night.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked the place for 3 nights, because of the amazing reviews. Was I ever wrong. The guy tries to pull off the hippie vibes being cool but isn't too chill. He likes to join gatherings that our friends are having. Direct quotes from Harry include:
-"do you know what the circle is or are you pretending to know"
-"it's low season so you will have a hard time finding a place to stay"
-"I don't want to sound facetious but you ask very stupid questions"
Would not recommend the place.
-"do you know what the circle is or are you pretending to know"
-"it's low season so you will have a hard time finding a place to stay"
-"I don't want to sound facetious but you ask very stupid questions"
Would not recommend the place.
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Date of stay: May 2015Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from EsconditeTamarindo, Owner at Harry's, El Escondite
Responded May 29, 2015
Thank you for your insightful description of me. It was not my intention to intrude on your friends that were staying at the cabinas. I was the host and just wanted to say hi to everyone that was staying here or just visiting them. My intention was to see if everything was alright and if I could be of any help. I believe I was trying to help one of you to find a place. ‘The Circle” is a landmark for giving directions. If you did not know where that was I would have choosen another landmark that you might already know since we have no street addresses here nor are the streets laid out in a neat grid. Some in your large group did not have a place to stay yet. I meant to say that "it's low season so you will NOT have a hard time finding a place to stay”. I did declare my statement might seem to be facetious so that you would know that I wasn’t going to be flippant. Sorry that you took it seriously. I hope you enjoyed visiting Tamarindo anyways.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Harry has all your needs covered when you visit Tamarindo. His Cabinas are neat, tidy and tucked away on a dead end road. He has a large collection of Surfboards to match users surfing skills and conditions. Harry is very helpful with information in the area. Meeting Harry was like having one of my Buddies living in the area with all the local knowledge. I look forward to staying with him again.
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Date of stay: August 2014Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you’re reading this review, you are probably already looking for a place to chill, to cool off, to feel safe and secure as you put your head down at night in a comfy bed, to have coffee in the morning while you let your friends know where you are, to pick a lime off a tree beside your pool while watching a troop of Howler monkeys lounge in the trees above you. You also probably want a place where you can walk to the beach (take a surfboard with you if you want) or into town (ride a bike if you choose) in 10 minutes or less. Maybe you just want to read a book and have a cold drink (remember that lime you picked) while lounging beside the pool or lying in your hammock in front of your cabina. If staying in touch is important, Wi-Fi is strong, reliable, and you have access to an incredible library of music, books and movies off the NAS. All of these things happen at Harry’s. The other thing that happens at Harry’s is Harry. Always smiling. Always ready to answer your questions: where to eat, what beach to visit, who to talk to, how to get the most out of your tech devices, where Happy Hour is on any given day. Harry is always there when you need him and not there when you don’t. Speaking of Don’t. What a treat. Greets you when you first show up; checks on you once in a while to make sure everything is ok (maybe to get a scratch behind the ears), lets Harry know when something is happening on the property; provides 24/7 security. Don’t is there and not there just like Harry. My wife and I spent 2 incredible weeks here. We met incredible people (shout out to Kathy and Alex). We went to amazing places (do go to Playa Conchal). We saw spectacular sunsets every day (sail on the Antares if you get a chance). We spent wonderful time with Harry and Don’t and we consider them our friends! We’ll be back Harry. Each and every day here, we had a moment. You know that moment….! We’ve all had them. We look around us, we smile, we breathe deeply, we count our blessings, and some of us say to the universe “hey Ma, look at me now!”
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Cleanliness
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry’s El Escondite may not be a 5-Star Luxury Resort but it’s big on 5-Star service including “Don’t”, Harry’s awesome "man's best friend" (the best trained dog I’ve ever met!), who is always there to greet you and ensure you arrived home to the property when you go out, especially during the evening. Harry is accessible to help with whatever you need, or have any questions about anything…seriously, anything. The accommodations can be described as a little rustic. We stayed in the Green Cabina which is the smallest of the 3 cabins, but it was very comfortable and most doable. The Blue Cabina and the Orange Cabina were bigger, but we loved how dark and quiet the Green Cabina was at night. (I'm sure the other two cabins were the same.) The bed was excellently comfortable (best sleeps I had in forever), the AC was the perfect temperature, the bathroom was most adequate. I can be a “little (very) picky” about accommodations, but I soon learned the rustic atmosphere is what contributed to the most laid-back vacation of my life, and I’ve been extremely fortunate to experience many very comfortable and laid-back holidays. The shower was a little tricky to maintain a decent temperature, but it did the trick and I chalked it up to the “rusticness” of Costa Rica. The pool was the perfect size for cooling off after a few hours walking Playa Tamarindo or Playa Langosta or Playa Grande, where there was always a nice breeze. It’s only about a 12-minute walk to the beach from Harry’s. I’ve been used to being right on the water for most all of my vacations, but I have to admit that I didn’t miss being on the water because Harry’s was a welcome quiet reprieve after being on the water or at the beach. Harry’s has bicycles and surfboards should you like to take advantage of using them. It was a blessing to have access to wi-fi, and also to movies and e-books that Harry provides. Harry is a wizard at anything internet-related, which came in handy for us. Upon arriving in Tamarindo, it was windy and the dustiness really caught us off guard. Harry’s El Escondite didn’t experience the wind and dust, and after a couple of days the wind subsided and we fell in love with Tamarindo and of course, Harry’s. I cried as I was leaving, so you know how much we enjoyed ourselves, and did not want to leave. We have every intention of going back. We definitely miss Harry, Don’t and Tamarindo. You probably have figured out that we highly recommend Harry’s!
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We only spent 3 days at Harry's, and regretted every day that we spent in Costa Rica at places OTHER than Harry's.
We are already anticipating our next visit to Tamarindo, and Harry's is the only place for us!
Keywords for Harry's: Clean. Simple. Quiet. Fun. Easy. Pura Vida.
Kevin and Jenine.
See you next time Harry! give Don't (the name of Harry's dog) a scratch behind the ears for us!
We are already anticipating our next visit to Tamarindo, and Harry's is the only place for us!
Keywords for Harry's: Clean. Simple. Quiet. Fun. Easy. Pura Vida.
Kevin and Jenine.
See you next time Harry! give Don't (the name of Harry's dog) a scratch behind the ears for us!
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DAVISALO asked a question Feb 2018
Sainte Catherine de la Jacques Cartier, Canada12 contributions7 helpful votesHey everyone, I read a couple of reviews that mention TARANTULAS!? My daughter and I are absolutely terrified of spiders....did you see them in the room itself? OMG I won't sleep!! LOL
Never saw a tarantula in the cabina, but have seen them around. Have seen other spiders indoors. It’s the tropics and Harry’s place is surrounded by jungle, there will be spiders!
"There are 3 different "cabinas" so check the pictures. They all have the same amenities but are differently sized."Read full review
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacasteTamarindo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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Frequently Asked Questions about Harry's, El Escondite
Which popular attractions are close to Harry's, El Escondite?
Nearby attractions include Papaya Con Leche (0.2 miles), Tama Market (0.2 miles), and Sharky's (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Harry's, El Escondite?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Harry's, El Escondite?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
Is parking available at Harry's, El Escondite?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Harry's, El Escondite?
Conveniently located restaurants include Falafel Bar, La Oveja Surf House, and The Bake Yard.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Harry's, El Escondite?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.