| Monteverde |
Re: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Mon June 28, 2004 03:16 AM UTC
Do Both! Different things to see in both places and both are beautiful and have different activities to do. In Monteverde, you can go to the cloud forest and the weather is a bit cooler....In Manuel Antonio its a bit warmer but beautiful beaches and great snorkeling in the Manuel Antonio National Park, as well as seeing the friendly white face monkeys everywhere. I suggest doing the zip line in Monteverde if you're planning to go on one than the one in Manuel Antonio, it is more exciting there! they have the highest and longest cable system in the country! Enjoy!
Jean
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| Monteverde |
Re: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Mon June 28, 2004 03:22 AM UTC
Costa Rica has about 14 different kinds of rain forest. Monteverde is a cloud forest in the mountains, and Manuel Antonio is a Pacific side beach forest.
I would skip Monteverde. The difficulty with Monteverde in the rainy season is going to be getting there. The roads are unpaved and unimproved on purpose and there is (or used to be) a great danger of breaking an axle by going into a pothole that's full of water and deeper than you think.
I personally would stick to the parks on the Pacific coast if you have only 6 days. I think it tends to rain less on the west coast - afternoon showers instead of an all day downpour.
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| Monteverde |
Re: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Mon June 28, 2004 12:53 PM UTC
As was mentioned the road to Monteverde is bad enough in the dry season but in the green season (particularly the further you get into it) it can get even dicier.
Another option would be to stay in one of the outlying hotels near the airport (not as bad as it sounds there are nice places for every budget) for a day or two to see some of the central valley and possibly get over to the Caribbean slope. There are great packaged day tours as well as the possibilty of just hiring a driver for the day and making up your own tour. This would give you a little more of CR than just one place would offer.
Manuel Antonio is only about 3-3 1/2hrs from the airport or you can fly there in about 20min.
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| Monteverde |
Re: Re: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Mon June 28, 2004 01:28 PM UTC
Actually I would recommend for 6 days to do some kind of package to Corcovado for 4 days from San Jose and then go to Tortuguero or Arenal or explore the central area for the other 2 days.
I **TOTALLY** do not recommend going to Monteverde in the green season.
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| Monteverde |
Re: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Mon June 28, 2004 03:24 PM UTC
The Osa Peninsula (Corcovado) is my favorite place and I spend at least 1-1 1/2 weeks there every year, mostly on the southern part.
I have been considering going down to help with the turtle project at a place on the Gulfo Dulce that I go to frequently. The time frame I am looking at are the last two weeks in August. The people who own the lodge that I would be helping through warned me that it could be very rainy that time of year.
Drake Bay is a little more northerly but will most likely still be pretty damp. It is very humid there even during the dry season. Lots of neat things to do there but be prepared to not have any a/c. We actually tried to buy property here because it is so pretty. Ran into title problems.
Both places are great and I highly recommend them to anyone.
If you do end up in MA look up RioSPAraiso.
Tabacon Hot Springs can be seen as a long day trip from the San Jose area. This could be decided upon when you get there and see what the weather is going to be like.
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| Monteverde |
Re: Re: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Mon June 28, 2004 03:34 PM UTC
The amount of time you will have actually seeing CR will depend a lot on what time you get into the country and what time you leave. If you get in early you will have time to get out of the city and on your way to either Arenal or MA.
Orquideas Inn is a decent enough place not far from the airport if you need to stay overnight. The bar is fun and the food good. They also have a private tour company right there. If you get in early enough they could take you out for a little tour that afternoon if you let them know ahead of time. I rarely stay in the city but just for thuds decided to this last year and had fun at Orquideas. Went out for the day with Luis on self designed tour. Orquideas will pick you up at the airport for about $8. They are about 10-15 mins from the airport.
For more budget travel, Vida Tropical is good and they pick you up for free from the airport. They are just about 5 mins from SJO.
There are lots of other really nice places in that area if you need ideas.
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| Monteverde |
Re: Re: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Mon June 28, 2004 04:23 PM UTC
One other option that is fairly new so I don't think about it as quickly as other things and would give you a little option between SJ and MA is to visit Turubari. It is getting very good reviews. Not far from Jaco.
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| Monteverde |
RE: RE: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Tue April 5, 2005 10:30 PM UTC
If I could only go to one place in Costa Rica it would be Monteverde! But....you cannot be a wimp! The road is kept in poor condition on purpose. If you want to go someplace off the beaten path and really have an adventure it is wonderful. There are some very nice resorts in the area but I would suggest staying at one of the smaller hotels. Buy cheese at the cheese factory and bread at Stellas. Eat at Cocina Flor Mar just over the bridge on the right and talk to one of the Quaker founders, Marvin Rockwell. Sophia's is an excellent resturant and Johnny has great pizza!
I have driven the roads at all times of the year. You just have to take it slow. The views going up cannot be matched. Take a ride at Sabines Smiling Horses or just set out on foot. The food is excellent and taxis are easy to find if you get too far away. This is a wonderful area! If want to see a working coffee farm come to my place! Kim
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| Monteverde |
RE: RE: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Wed April 6, 2005 12:43 AM UTC
It's true that Monteverde is wonderful. But if I had only 6 days, I wouldn't go there. I'd want to see a bit more of Costa Rica than that.
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| Monteverde |
RE: Sabine's Smiling Horses Posted: Mon August 8, 2005 12:22 PM UTC
About horseback riding in Monteverde, I read a negative report about Sabine's Smiling Horses here: http://www.monteverdeinfo.com/sabine-smiling-horse.htm
Did someone ride with her?
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| Monteverde |
RE: RE: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Fri September 2, 2005 11:36 PM UTC
that web page is a sick, untrue, attack by Sabine's former partner Jacque...it's part of his attack on her over custody of their child. Jacque owns and operates www.monteverdeinfo.com
btw I drive up and down the mountain regularly. I've never broken an axle...but I did have to get my front fenders welded on again this spring
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| Monteverde |
RE: RE: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Sat September 3, 2005 12:19 PM UTC
Unfortunately, I have heard the same thing from other sources regarding the problems between Jack and Sabine. I contacted Jacques to find out what was going on and was told she had no insurance, etc. I just feel sorry for their little girl who must be miserable with her parents fighting so much. What a shame that he feels he has to air their dirty laundry on the web.
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| Monteverde |
RE: RE: Monteverde or Manuel Antonio Posted: Sat September 17, 2005 03:06 AM UTC
Well I know how I would feel if I could not see my 3 year old for 6 months! Would I recommend my ex? Hell no.
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| Monteverde |
RE: Sabine's stable & alternative Posted: Fri October 14, 2005 07:09 AM UTC
I am an experienced rider and that was one of the reasons I decided to visit Monteverde. My first ride was with Sabine's stable and while the horses were in
good shape, it was a disappointing tour as half the time we were riding on public roads and the other half was in pastures with no trees in sight.
I did not meet the owner, only her guide Jimmy. Since my Spanish was so poor, we had a hard time to communicate. I don't know about the family feud the other posts are talking about (not very ethical in my opinion to do so) but the point for me was riding and the property was simply too small.
The next day I went riding with Emiliano, a local farmer. The property was huge with more than 200 acres with mountains, cliffs, forests & coffee plantations, and open fields great for galloping. I saw many birds on the property including several toucans & green parrots and a family of white face monkeys. The horses were great and the people friendly.
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