Hotel Casa Blanca is a family-owned hotel. It is small and quiet, as the junction of the estuary and the ocean in Tamarindo. Though it looks out on the ocean, you have to walk about 2 minutes around the corner to get in the water [chance of crocodiles in the river mouth]--or, for a $1, take a very short boat ride across the river to the peaceful Playa Grande. Around the corner from the hotel, the chaos of Tamarindo beach awaits, in contrast to the serenity of the hotel. The garden is beautiful--full of iguana. We had a morning with a pack of howler monkeys in the trees, fun for us tourists. Each morning, Alexia bakes fresh breads--English muffins, croissants, brioche, baguette. She even made special treats for my children--bread with chocolate and hot chocolate, which they loved. She and Olivier also gave us restaurant recommendations and tips about handling vendors. The restaurant Pangas right next door is also a lovely perk--a beautiful spot for watching the sunset during drinks and/or dinner. This is a great location to serve as a base for your adventures.