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Hola Gloria, 

Thank you so much for your email. I have been meaning to write you to thank you, and Pia, for the beautiful stay at Blue Surf.  I'm sure Andy will agree that we had an absolutely amazing time.  Blue Surf is charming and comfortable and was the perfect place for us during our ten days in Santa Teresa.  I really can not think of anything to improve -- everything was absolutely perfect during our stay.  

Special thanks to Pia for being such a FANTASTIC host, surf instructor (for me, my first time!) and friend to us during our stay.  She, Sophia, Mimi and all of the others at Blue Surf were welcoming, fun and made us feel like part of the family. (Bella too, how could I forget!) We felt so at home during our stay that it was incredibly hard to leave!  

Santa Teresa is an unbelievable place, very magical indeed.  I really think it's hard to match it's beauty and spirit.  I am sure that we will be back some day soon and we will be counting the days until then.  We will keep it in our hearts in the meantime.  

Please know, if you ever need a reference for anyone considering a stay, I would be more than happy to help!  
 
Thank you again,
Meghan
P.S. Attached two pics of us with our Blue Surf Amigos.  Please tell Mimi that her pinto is missed :)

Hola Gloria,
  Sorry it took me so long to answer.......it's been crazy here since i'm back
  Your place is simply "HEAVEN" and yes it's magical.   The beach is awesome and not crowded. The waves are.......well.....big et tough for me  LOL. Warm water, no rocks, no jellyfish......just perfect.   BSS is amazing and seriously, it's probably the best place for lodging in Santa Teresa. Beauty bungalows, good mattress, AC and very clean.
Pia do a wonderful job out there and she gives energy to the place. Surf's teachers are good and very patient. And it's fun to have à late dinner with everyone. It's exactly what i was dreaming........calm and relax in a small place... not crowded....surfing.
You get my five stars  
Sincerely hope to be back soon
 
Many blessings,
Steve Bourassa

Hi Gloria
Thank you for your mail. We had an absolutely wonderful time at Blue Surf!! Sta Teresa is an amazing place, with equally amazing people and we had a fabulous time. It was just what we needed - a perfect balance of surfing, spirituality, rest ..... We are already planning our return visit and were sorry that we could not stay longer! Pia and the staff and friends you have down there are just great. We definitely regard them as friends and felt extremely welcome and "at home". Toro and Esteban are great instructors and we enjoyed every lesson, even though I have never hurt so much all over at the same time in my life! Pia and Sofia were just wonderful as hostesses - we feel blessed to have been able to spend time with them all. The only suggestion that I have is that it would be great to have hammocks on the balconys.... maybe even a little one that's more like a seat rather than the big ones as I'm not sure they would fit. We are definitely trying to hold on to the 'pura vida' for as long as possible :-)
Best wishes
Tamsin

The Blue Surf Sanctuary/ Surf School was one of best 'specialized' travel experiences of my life. In short, both the hotel and surf school based on site; (The Surf School), captures the true essence of the sport.

Long before I even arrived on the grounds I had numerous conversations with both Gloria Armond (owner of the hotel) and Tim Marsh. Both of them were incredibly hospitable, helpful and warm. They accurately described the experience, property and location and when I arrived I was not disappointed.

For people interested in the experience, I really encourage you to spend some time talking to either of them. They are both terrific and honest people and will answer any questions you might have about their product, a rarity when it comes to this sort of thing.

Upon arrival at the hotel I was instantly struck by the warmth of the place and the people staying there. It might sound cheesy, but as there are so few guests (7 total during my stay) everyone becomes instant friends and u end up spending a lot of time chilling with each other. Although I am a very friendly guy who doesn't have problems meeting people, i never really expect to hang with strangers on vacation. At this place, its not only inevitable, its actually one of the perks of your stay.

Blue Surf Sanctuary does an amazing job creating a great overall 'vibe'. Its hard to explain, but you will feel it the moment u arrive. So much of the appeal of surfing to me is not just the activity itself (which is completely transforming and addictive) but the lifestyle that accompanies it. This hotel completely fosters that feel with the Balinese style 'cabinas', the flora, the open air kitchen, and the staff they employ. I felt completely at home and completely relaxed.

A typical day begins with a 6:30 AM wake up call (some dude starts knocking on your door) to get you up in time for a quick and tasty costa rican coffee before u take the short walk down to the beach for your first lesson of the day. Although at first one might be surprised by the forced wake up, you will be totally grateful for it when u hit the empty beach and see the pristine waves at high tide. Each morning a light offshore breeze had groomed the surface to perfection and we enjoyed crisply defined 4-6 ft waves.

Your lesson lasts just over an hour (i usually kept my board and surfed for an hour more on my own) at which point you walk back to the hotel for breakfast which is included in your package. Breakfast is simple but really good, especially after a few hours in the water. We were usually served fresh eggs, yogurt, fresh tropical fruits, granola, etc. It was exactly what you wanted after an early morning in the water.

The rest of the day (depending on tides you will be due back sometime between 3-4:30) you spend doing what you want. There is no shortage of things to do. We rented Quads (the 4 wheeled ATVs) for the duration of our stay and they were a total blast to ride around. We took them on the beach, through the mountains, into the jungle, etc. It was so much fun. I really do recommend that anyone going to the hotel do invest in an ATV rental as the 1/2 mile walk to town does get a little tedious if you are surfing 2x/day. Don't be scared to drive them, if u can drive a car u can ride a quad.

Activities between surfing can include yoga, pilates, hiking, zip line tours, the nature preserve, eating at the many excellent and affordable restaurants in santa teresa or just chilling at the hotel by the small but attractive pool. We engaged in a combination of all of the aforementioned activities.

A few word about the instruction and staff: uniformly excellent! Pia who manages the place runs a very tight ship and is a terrific host (and surfer). She knows everything and everyone in santa teresa and can help you with whatever you need. She handled our ATV rental and also booked by transfers, had advice for restaurants, etc. She was also my favorite surf instructor as she possessed the best technical skills in my opinion. This is not to say the rest of them were not great too, as I did learn something different from each. That has largely been my experience with surfing instruction: every one has a different style of riding, thus every teacher has something different to offer.

Another excellent feature of the hotel is Maureen, their resident massage therapist. INcluded in your package are 2 massages (Which are completely necessary as just about anyone who surfs will take their lumps regardless of skill level). 'Mau' as they call her had magic hands. A highly experienced and skilled surfer herself, Mau knew exactly how to help you heal and unwind after 4 hours in the surf. I usually feel asleep for a moment or two during my massages and felt so relaxed afterwards it was otherworldly!

We really loved all the restaurants too. They are so inexpensive, (dinner is usually around $10 including a few beers) and while simple: grilled chix, fresh fish, etc., the food is delicious and very healthy.

I don't think you can have a bad time at this hotel. I have stayed at many 5 star hotels around the world (I usually travel at the Four Seasons level when on vacation) and to be honest this was as wonderful an experience as any I have stayed at--for 1/5th the price. I am an avid surfer, but even if you have never touched a board, I think your experience could be equivalently great.

The Blue Surf Sanctuary/Safari Surf school are proof that you do not have to spend a lot of money or stay at some contrived corporate name brand hotel to experience true hospitality and the best a tourist region has to offer. I recommend this hotel unreservedly and I encourage anyone who is interested to feel free to reach out to me with questions. I look forward to my return!!

This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked — The gorgeous scenery and wonderful staff
Disliked — No complaints really

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Hi Gloria,

Sorry it has been awhile since our trip to your awesome hotel but I just wanted to send you a quick note thanking you for our stay. Your staff is awesome. We mostly dealt with Pia and Eric but everyone was wonderful from the ladies making the breakfast to the night security guard.

Pia sent us to some of the most wonderful restaurants in Costa Rica. Her suggestions were never wrong. She also sent us to Mar Azul to surf on our first day and that is a spot we will never forget. The surf was so large that day my friends were having a tough time getting out past the break. Mar Azul was very nice because you could paddle out in smooth water. She also sent us to the little restaurant steps from that break and I had some of the best shrimp casados I have ever had.

Eric was a fun person to have around as well. We saw him everywhere. We would usually see him out in the surf, or bar to watch the NBA playoffs and then of course at Blue Surf until he had his homemade rain gear contructed that he would ride home in.

Anyway, your hotel is perfect. I loved that is was away (but not too far) from the main town. And all the bungalows are super comfotable with A/C and all the comforts of home. I really liked the locking safes in the rooms so I never once worried about my passport.

I have a couple of videos posted on YouTube. It has some shots of Pia. It has a clip of Eric surfing on a shortboard. And a couple of shots of Cheebs surfing. He is a very nice local who made us feel very welcome out in the water.

If you could please forward this letter and links to them. Thanks again!

Costa Rica Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=197UHunL9Z4
Costa Rica Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uub7ADO0mX8

-Benjamin

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Hi Gloria!

I'm so sorry it took so long to reply - I've been wanting to get in touch since I got back, but it's amazing how quickly you get snapped back into reality and work and the craziness of life...I already can't wait for my next trip back to beautiful Santa Teresa!

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that our stay was truly amazing!! Santa Teresa is absolutely spectacular, as are the surrounding areas we got to see - Malpais & Montezuma & especially Tortuga Island! And all of your staff were so kind and helpful - Pia & Noel (sp?) and everyone else there who helped make our stay so enjoyable and easy. (And by the way - Moe was amazing - best massage Rebecca & I have ever had!) Blue Surf Sanctuary was the perfect place for us & really became our home during our time in Costa Rica - and I want to thank you so much for that!! ~ I've already been telling people about it! I can see why so many people come to that area on vacation and never leave.

In regards to feedback & suggestions - there is really nothing I would change about Blue Surf Sanctuary - we were commenting about the amazing view of the stars and how we wished we had a telescope! that might be a cool addition - or maybe some portable beach chairs (for those of us who don't surf!) But again, these are just extras and certainly not necessities to make anyone's stay there exceptional.

Thank you so much again for putting up with all our back & forth emails and endless questions, and for helping to make our trip as magical and memorable as it was! I know we're all already thinking about planning the next trip down!!

I hope if you're ever in New York you'll get in touch so we can all meet you in person!

Many thanks again & I hope to be in touch in the future to plan the next trip to your amazing Sanctuary!

Kind Regards,
Heather

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I was one of the large group members that was at the Blue Surf last week with Heather, Pete, Rebecca etc. I just wanted to say thank you for such a fantastic time. Your place was absolutely wonderful. I didn't even mind the fact that there was no water the first night because I was so happy to be in Costa Rica. I appreciate the discount though. Just wanted to pass along my many thanks to Pia, Noel, Estaban, Mirian, Victor, and Janet. They were all wonderful and made the trip so much fun. I have such a strong desire to return at some point in the next year. I will be passing along the information to everyone I know.

Andrew
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Hello Gloria,
First let me start off by saying that we had such a hard time leaving!
Pia, Victory, Jenny, Noel and the rest of the staff were wonderful. We had a slight language barrier but I think we understood each other nonetheless. They were very accommodating and always pleasant to have around. We definitely like to have fun and let loose...so I hope we were not too much trouble for them. Also, it was neat to meet the different people that we there for the surf school.
The property was phenomenal. It was always very well maintained by everyone. You did such a great job on every aspect from the decorating of the rooms to the wonderful hammock and swinging beds, that I believe we all sleep on at one time or another. I would definitely return, hopefully sooner than later.
I have to say that we all feel like something is missing since we returned from Santa Teresa. We have all spoke about moving there...but then we remember we already have one mortgage. : } Everyone that we met was so nice. It is really neat to hang out with all the same people at a different bar each night! D&N was great on reggae night!
Thank you for such a great place with such a wonderful atmosphere. I have found it very hard to describe to people the feeling of content that comes over you once you arrive. I would definitely recommend Blue Surf Sanctuary to anyone looking to travel to Costa Rica and embrace the surfer community.
Thanks so much Gloria. I wish you all the best and look forward to staying in touch.
Best Regards,
Ashlee

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Gloria,
thanks for writing. I had a wonderful time at Blue Surf. I will live on those memories for a long time. It was exactly the place I need to be at just the right time. You should be pleased with what you have there, and Pia is your best asset.
I will send an email to my internet guy to link my site to yours. That is a great idea. Do let me know when you might be interested in coming to the Caribbean.
my best to you, Rich

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Gloria!
I could NOT have had pictured a better vacation.Pia, Victor and the rest of the gang were incredibly nice, helpful, kind, and overall amazing! I will sort out my pics and send you a few gems asap. In the meantime, I would like to reiterate how grateful we all are for such an unbelievable vacation - MUCHAS GRACIAS!

Thanks again Gloria!!!!

Alejandro

"Gloria has created a magical paradise on a very secluded and gorgeous beach in Costa Rica. Blue Surf Sanctuary is an eco tourism destination that is in harmony with the surrounding rain forest and pristine surfing beaches of Santa Theresa. Gloria has surrounding her property with a staff of people that have the Pura Vida spirit in their soul which translates into a warm and friendly place to have your vacation. Pia is a wonderful manager who can set you up with your own private chef, yoga instructor, zip line tour, horseback riding on the beach or personal surf instructor. Gloria clearly has a vision and passion for design and building boutique resorts with responsible sustainable building materials and I personally recommend staying at her mini resort or working with Gloria to design and build one for you."

"The best!"

Blue Surf Sanctuary

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Hi Gloria!

Thanks so much for your email. I'm so sorry it's taken me all week to get back to you!

We had an absolutely fabulous time at Blue Surf. I can't thank you enough for everything. If anything, the photos on your website don't do the place justice! We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the property and the attention to detail and style. Pia is wonderful as were the girls who worked so hard for us every day, and the surf instructors were amazing.

We loved Santa Teresa even though I know we were seeing it at it's busiest, since we were there during Semana Santa, so it was a little bit dusty and crowded. But it's a great town and we were really surprised by the quality and variety of the food in the local restaurants - we expected to be eating gallo pinto the whole time!

I posted a review on Trip Advisor, if you haven't seen it yet, and if there are any other sites that I can post a review on that would be helpful to you, please let me know! I'm happy to help in any way that I can - you have a great place and it deserves to be promoted. Thank you so much for being so helpful with planning our trip, and we wish you all the best in the future. We hope to stay at Blue Surf again someday.. maybe next year!

Pura vida,
Amy

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acav7121
New York
Sep 18, 2008

Truly a sanctuary! Blue Surf is an amazing place to stay. The bungalows are beautiful, clean and above all relaxing. I traveled there solo and I never felt more welcomed, taken care of and safe. Gloria, the owner and her amazing staff promote a welcoming and low key atmosphere while providing top notch accommodations. There is an open air kitchen for all to share and you become quick friends with everyone who is staying there. The beach is literally steps away and there is a pool if you feel like going for a dip! The surf school is great and Ben is an awesome instructor! I highly recommend this place and I will be going back very soon. I've stayed at many places in Costa Rica and this by far THE BEST and you can not beat the price.

Thank you Blue Surf for an experience of a lifetime! See you soon!

This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked — The atmosphere and my room.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
acav7121's Summary
Date of Stay: July 2008
Traveled with: Solo traveler
Visit was for: Hobbies / interest / culture
Age group: 35-49
Member since: February 13, 2008

My ratings for this hotel are:
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check in / front desk
Service

Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:

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Hi, Gloria-

We had an amazing time!!! This was my second time to Costa Rica and each trip have been memorable. I live my life with the pura vida vibe and finding a place where the entire culture follows the same vibe is truly amazing.
Everyone we've encountered have been nothing but kind and warm. Your staff were sweet and helpful in so many ways. I'll never forget either one of them.

I've already suggested your place to a couple who are planning on visiting Mal Pais during the winter holidays. :)

I doubt this will be my last trip so maybe we'll meet again.

Take care and thank you for a wonderful stay!!

Attached are pictures of our group. Please tell Esteban to check his email as I've sent him pics too!

-Kori

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Hi Pia & Gloria,

The Blue Surf Sanctuary is a slice of heaven! You and your staff have done an amazing job at assembling and maintaining a relaxing, lovely space, and our 8-person crew could not have been happier with our choice to stay there. We all talked about trying to return there for another similar trip sometime.

Thank you for your attention to detail, effective surf lessons, nourishing food, restaurant suggestions, nighttime candle-lighting, daytime room-cleaning, concierge services, yoga class recommendations, and all-around willingness to share this special spot. The beds are comfy, the rooms are spacious and safe, the pool is wonderful, the hanging beds are ridiculously perfect. The big communal teak table was usually the heart of our on-site activities, playing host to meals, conversation, cards, backgammon, and retreat from the rain. Our crew loved being so close to the beach and fun surf. We will strongly recommend Blue Surf Sanctuary!

In the spirit of always having space to improve or grow, we thought of a couple suggestions that might enhance the stay for future guests:
- Since airlines are now charging exorbitant rates for checking surfboards, it would be great to have a couple of short boards for rent on site in addition to the longer boards you already have.
- Hooks in the showers for wet swim suits & rain jackets would help prevent the floors from becoming wet and slippery inside the bungalows.

Thank you again. Buena unda!

Namaste,
Allison

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Hi Gloria

Thank you for your mail. We had an absolutely wonderful time at Blue
Surf!! Sta Teresa is an amazing place, with equally amazing people and
we had a fabulous time. It was just what we needed - a perfect balance
of surfing, spirituality, rest ..... We are already planning our
return visit and were sorry that we could not stay longer!

Pia and the staff and friends you have down there are just great. We
definitely regard them as friends and felt extremely welcome and "at
home". Toro and Esteban are great instructors and we enjoyed every
lesson, even though I have never hurt so much all over at the same
time in my life! Pia and Sofia were just wonderful as hostesses - we
feel blessed to have been able to spend time with them all.

The only suggestion that I have is that it would be great to have
hammocks on the balconys.... maybe even a little one that's more like
a seat rather than the big ones as I'm not sure they would fit.

We are definitely trying to hold on to the 'pura vida' for as long as
possible :-)

Best wishes

Tamsin

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Pia and Gloria,

Thanks so much for the hospitality at the Blue Surf Sanctuary last week. We enjoyed our time there, and were thankful for the extra work both of you put in to help our travels go more smoothly.

Pia - we both hope to see you on a future visit to Costa Rica!

Cheers, Joe & Megan