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Expat Family Considering Tamarindo or Nosara area for 10 months...

8 years ago
Hello!
Hoping I can get some guidance on a great spot for a small family for a 10-12 month stay.
We are currently in Samara (going on 1 month) While I love it here and see the allure of calm waters and beachside dining, we are not seeing a visible community of families gathering at the beach etc... (other than those we have met a Spanish camp, and they are just visiting.)
Is there a place near Tamarindo where families with kids are abundant? I am considering a long stay with my two young kids, age 2 and 7. Obviously, schools for the 7 year old are important and he is not bilingual (english only). Alternately, I could homeschool if I found a community where he could make friends of similar age that enjoy being active and outside. (I have been told by a couple locals here in Samara that all the kids stay inside to watch TV or play video games That's pretty much the same in the current US city we live in and part of my desire to change things up a bit!)

Requirements:
Safe location, both in terms of crime and waves/rip tides
near beach (10 minute walk)
Walkable town with cafes, groceries, and a decent school (bus okay for school, but reasonable amount of time, 15 minutes)
Lots of kids, international backgrounds would be ideal!
Ideally a non traditional school that does not require children to sit for hours (my son can't do that, he goes bonkers, but is super bright when he is allowed to move while learning. I have read about some expectations at some Costa Rican private schools, and taking away his recess time as discipline sounds bad!)

Any ideas? Tamarindo? Langosta? Playa Del Coco? Brasilito? Potrero?

Samara seems to have an expat community somewhere, but the local private school is one room with little outside time...

Also, ideas on how to secure a long term rental (we will go home for the high season/holidays so that might be appealing to owners so as to not lose out on the big money months!)

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