Tips
You can find recommendations for restaurants, accomodation, etc. here or other things that turned out to be good to know.
Peru, Huanchaco
Surfboard Shaper Yenth Ccora:
Apart from being a really nice guy, Yenth custom-shapes great surfboards at reasonable prices (starting at 300 US$). We both bought boards and love them! He really knows what he’s doing having shaped round about 1000 boards already. Yenth will dispatch boards to any part in the world, sending one to Germany costs 40 US$. Check out his website: http://yenthccorasurf.com or email him in English or Spanish: ycc_mar@hotmail.com
Hostal Huankarute (http://www.hostalhuankarute.com/home.html). A very friendly, safe and clean place with a pool and a nice terrace. It’s just across from the main surf spot. We spent almost a month here and payed appr. 20 US$ for a double room per night including delicious breakfast.
Peru, Lobitos
Hostal Nachos. Definitely the best place in Lobitos! The night costs appr. 10 US$ per person. If you happen to stop at Lobitos, check it out.
Argentina, Buenos Aires
Hotel Ayres de San Telmo (http://www.ayresdesantelmo.com.ar). A very nice and secure little place in San Telmo with a sunny roof terrace and a huge asado. Excellent breakfast is served in the little Café downstairs. A double-room with AC and breakfast costs 60 US$.
Argentina, Azul
If you happen to pass Azul on Ruta 3 on your way down to Patagonia or on your way up to Buenos Aires, you must stop at this unique place (www.laposta-azul.com). See our blog and video for more details.
Chile, Punta Arenas
Hostel Independencia (http://www.hostalindependencia.es.tl/Home.htm) is a nice place at good value with a great atmosphere (24 US$ per night for a double with breakfast). You can also put up your tent in the garden.
Chile, Valparaíso
Hostal Armando (http://www.hostalarmando.cl/ingles/bienvenidos_hostal_armando.html) is a great place in Valpo with a very nice landlady Patricia. Book the appartment on the second floor with an incredible view over Valpo’s bay (30$ per night for two).
Costa Rica, Dominical (Southern Pacific)
The Hostel “Posada del Sol” is really clean and very close to the beach. There is a nice appartment in the first floor that sleeps 4 persons and has a big kitchen (50$ per night).
Panama, Isla Bastimentos (Bocas del Toro)
The chocolate farm “Up in the Hill” (http://www.upinthehill.com) is a must see on the island of Bastimentos. It is only a 15 min hike from the centre of Old Banks. The owners are great people, views are stunning and the chocolate truffles are delicious. The Argentinian owner came to Bastimentos because of his passion for surfing. He created his own little paradise in the middle of nowhere. You can also rent a cabin with great views over “Silverbacks”, often described as “Secret Caribbean Big Wave Spot” (55$ per night).
Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo (Southern Caribic Coast):
Hostel Pagalú is a great Hostel in the centre of Puerto Viejo: www.pagalu.com (double with private bathroom $28, shared bathroom $22 per night). Beautiful building, very clean, with big communal kitchen.
The restaurant Flip Flop has the best value and quality if you want to eat out in Puerto Viejo. At lunch time you can choose different dishes for only 5 US$ each and on Friday nights the owner Sabine offers a delicious “all you can eat buffet” (11 US$).
Costa Rica, Sámara (Pacific Coast, Nicoya-Peninsula):
Very nice hostel: www.ticoadventurelodge.com. (Double with bathroom $30 per night)
Costa Rica, Tamarindo (Pacific Coast, Nicoya-Peninsula):
www.tamarindosurfhotel.com offers good value (low season price: 20$ per night for a fully equipped appartment). The place is located somewhat outside of the centre of Tamarindo (still only 10 minutes walk to the beach) and has a little pool. The owner Curt is a passionate surfer himself and very helpful when it comes to renting out surfing equipment or organizing trips.
Best surfspot around for us was Playa Avellana.
Speakers:
X-MINI is a must have for travellers. Robin’s brother is into music and gave us those speakers before we left. They are really small and the integrated battery lasts for ages and can easily be charged via USB. The sound is incredible taking the size of the speakers into account.
http://www.x-mini.com/de/mono-speakers/x-mini-ii
Ear drops:
Surfing in warm water (lots of bacteria) often leads to ear problems. Robin’s ENT doctor is a surfer himself and developed special ear drops which we took along. So far we didn’t have any problems. Take them once a week.
http://www.hno-herrsching.de/index2.htm
Short movie about Panama from Roman Königshofer:
