Costa Rica Travel Forum

Anyone done the drive from Rincon to Drake Bay in late December? We have a 4x4 - is it driveable at that time of year and how long does it take? Also, how long of a drive from San Jose to Rincon? Thanks.

We're two guys in our late thirties and like to do adventure travel, hiking, boating, etc. We're doing three days up in Arenal. Any other suggestions for things to do and places to see?

Hi VTs,
I'm looking for flight from Germany\Switzerland to Costa Rica at moment I'm searching http://www.swoodoo.com/ch/ and http://www.skyscanner.ne doesn't anyone know better sites?
So far I've found out that booking the flight separately and spend a night in the u.s. for a stop over, most likely new york, would be much cheaper, what do you think?

thx

stefan

I had a hard time looking for flights from San Jose to Puerto Plata of Dominican Republic. All those I could find go to one or more US cities first and they take a whole day or even more. Are there local airlines that fly between these two cities or a nearby place? How do I find them and book my tickets?
Thanks!

Need help!!
Any hotels, B&B or hostel in the area that's not on the radar??
I've gone onto some of the tour sites for Mal Pais and Nicoya but I can't find anything with vacancies! I'm good with anything that doesn't look like a jail cell which is all I'm finding now.

Thank you!

hi all

i intend to spend both 3 days in tamarindo and samara, however, will be travelling without a rental car. is there a good connection between these two destinations, i.e. a direct bus (public or with a particular company)? if yes, please let me know about the company providing this kind of service.

thanks and save travels ...

I am thinking of moving to san rafael from fl. What is the elevation? How is the climate? Are there many american's,canadan, or europeans living in the area.

My family and I will be going from Manuel Antonio to Corcovado but because it's such a long journey we want to stay overnight somewhere along the way. What is a good stopping point between the two national parks? Dominical looks nice but it's not really a halfway point.

We are arriving in San Jose at the Pavas airport on a Nature Air flight from Nosara at 11:30 am on January 9. We would like to get a Mepe bus to Puerto Viejo from the Terminal Gran Caribe mid-afternoon. How much time should we allow between these two parts of our trip? We would like to take the earliest bus possible because it is a long trip. I've heard the buses often sell out, especially on a weekend. Is it possible to arrange for a taxi driver to purchase our bus tickets in advance and then meet us at the Pavas airport to take us to the bus terminal?

We're planning a 6 night trip to Costa Rica in February 2010. We've been through all the guide books, forums, online companies, etc. We are thinking that we will fly into San Jose, then go directly to Manuel Antonio and stay 5 nights, returning to San Jose to stay one night to catch our flight out early the next morning.

We are wanting to spend a lot of time at Manuel Antonio National Park, do a coffee tour, maybe a pineapple tour, eat at local restaurants and then whatever local gems we can find.

Have any of you found luck in sticking to one place instead of spending all your time getting to the next destination? We won't be renting a car, but are willing to pay taxis/transportation.

We've also looked at Hotel Verde Mar - sent to us by a tour company pitching a trip to us. Has anyone stayed there?

Any other tips for Manuel Antonio/Quepos would be greatly appreciated! Gracias!

Hello
I need some informations about national Parcs on Costa Rica .
To work on photography wich is the best there for animals views and flora thanks for help.
Alberto

Costa Rica Residents:

My wife and I plan to visit your country in February for 4 weeks. We would love to stay in two places during our visit. Which two places would be charming for a couple that enjoys nature, local traditions and customs and lpves to hike?

Our preference would be to stay with a local family that may rent out an apartment, condo or cottage.

It seems that airfares from the US are lowest when flying into San Jose but we don't mind taking a local bus to our final destinations.

All helpful tips are much apprecitated.

George

At the end of january 2010 I will be in the southwestern part of Costa Rica. I am thinking about also visiting PN Corcovado but also read some comments about high expenses compared to what you get/see. What do you think, is it worth visiting also if I seen places like Tortuguero, Monteverde, Cano Negro, PN Chirripo and Uvita/surroudings before and also will go to Panama (and if the main reason is spotting wildlife)?
If yes, what is the best place to base, is Drake Bay better than the eastern part?
Whats the best way to get into the park, how expensive will this be? Any other advice?
I am travelling as a backpacker on a budget but don’t mind paying more if it’s a real unique experience.

Thanks answering,

Harry.

Hi, Im a fifteen year old girl from New Zealand and Im going to Costa Rica for a year long exchange. Im super excited but my exchange coordinator has been very careful to warn me in no uncertain terms of how I will be harassed in the streets. I have red hair, Im pale with blue eyes. Basically I couldnt look less Costa Rican. Everything Ive read says that normal New Zealand/American summer wear is fine in resort towns but as I'll be living with a family and going to school I assume it will be different. My coordinator has warned me that I will definately get a hard time. Is she just exagerating so Im not shocked by it (guys whistling in the street is not common in New Zealand)? And does anyone know what I should take? And will my being younger change what I should wear ( I look quite old for fifteen)? If anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it, Thanks

We try to send them a message for reservation. They have 3 different email adresses. Two of them do not work and from the third we wait for more than a week now to get an answer. Which is the correct adress?
Who did recently stay there and is it a good place? On Tripadvisor there is a lot of negative written about it, but the location must be great. Is it worth the money?

Anyone have experience with this Inn in Alajuela?

We will be staying in Alajuela and want to drive a rental car to Manuel Antonio for a few days. Is the route difficult to find? What are the chances of getting on the wrong route?

ok got 6 days next week during a stop-over visit, want to fit in as much as i possibly can cos unlikely to return in near future. love wildlife, hiking and adventure & using public transport to get around. My Itinery as below:

day 1 possibly rafting trip or kayaking in tortuguero park
(looking at possibilities en route to puerto limon, whatever is manageable)

day 2 planning to see carnival in Puerto limon

day 3+4 Arenal volcano and possibly zip line tour (la fortuna or el castillo?)
Seeing volcano erupt sounds amazing!

day 5 & 6 too much to choose from, please help me!!!!

what do people recommend for my last 2 days?

Monteverde seems obvious choice but dont want too much overlap with arenal and worried by doing both might miss one of Costa Ricas must sees!

any help/advice appreciated

My husband and I will be in CR for 10 days in January. Can anyone recommend good diving sites and perhaps good diving guides? We have our PADI licenses already.

Hi
I have booked flights to costa rica for xmas and new year, and am now planning an itinerary. I have 14 days and wanted to know if anyone had any good tips, I was thinking maybe
San Jose
dominical
Quepos
Montezuma for new year - 4-5
Tamarindo
Arenal
Monteverde

Maybe thats too much, any ideas on what to cut out? And do you think that it will be a good scene in montezuma for new year?

Hi,

I will be travelling in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama for about 11-12 weeks starting on dec. 5th in San José where I will arrive by plane. Because it is about those 3 countries but also about best connections/route between them I will post this on all 3 forum lists. This is roughly my itinirary:

Costa Rica (about 1 week): San José (or better to stay in Alajuela, will go to San José later?) – Liberia/Rincon de la Vieja – Playa Tamarindo – to Nicaragua

Nicaragua (about 4 weeks, including Xmas): San Juan del Sur – Isla Ometepe – Granada – Masaya – Leon – Chinandega/Cosiguina – Matagalpa – Esteli – Managua – flight to/back Corn Islands (or will I have to skip this while also visiting San Blas Islands?, see later) – bus to San Carlos – will it be worth visiting Laguna de Las Perlas? – Rio San Juan – to Costa Rica

Costa Rica (about 3 weeks, january): Los Chiles/Cano Negro – Arenal – Monte Verde – San José – Tortuguero - San José – San Gerardo de Rivas/Chirripo – Domical – Corcovado – to Panama

Panama (about 3 weeks, february): Boquete – or better/also go to Cerro Punta/La Amistad? – Bocas del Toro – Santa Catalina/Isla de Coiba – Azuero Peninsula – visiting El Valle? – Panama City/Canal-Sobernia NP – boat via San Blas to Colombia – Are there places worth visiting during carnaval in Panama eg where they celebrate this?

General advice about this itinerary, places I have to skip/add?, will I have to make reservations somewhere (Xmas)? someone can answer the questions in between?

Thanx in advance,

Harry

I am planning to go to CR with my GF the last week of October. I was planning on spending a few days in Arenal then driving to Puerto Vieja area to stay at www.costaricatreehouse.com

Can anyone tell me how far the drive is from Arenal to Puerto Vieja and if it is a bad idea to try and hit both these cities?

Any other advice welcome. Thanks in advance!

Can anyone gimme some advice on places to stay and transport going to Rincon de la Vieja?

For example, is Liberia a good place to base yourself in? how long does it take to get to Rincon from Liberia? how do I go about arranging transport or tours? etc.

any info is useful info

Ok, anybody know how to get to Liberia from Monteverde/Santa Elena? cos I heard there's no direct buses to there.

Also, if anybody knows of some hostels you'd recommend and where to book tours to Rincon de la Vieja that be much appreciated.

Does any one know the status of Club Hotel Talolinga? Has it been completed? Please give me any information you have on this. It's supposed to be located in San Jose, Costa Rica--Playa Flamingo.

I'm staying at Tilawa resort Oct 15th-21st. I know its rainy season & yes I'm there to kiteboard and my timing isn't so good. I'm trying to figure out the best places to wander from there especially on windless days. Fishing(fresh or salt water), surfing (west coast), + other great ideas really appreciated. I'll have a rental car. Its my 1st time in CR

Also recommendations on the best weather sites for checking wind/weather conditions for Arenal just prior to my departure.

Many thanks for input
Dave

Gonna be in Costa Rica for short visit from 10th to 16th Oct this year, heard there may be carnival celebrations in Puerto limon but cant find any specific details, can anyone advise me when excatly it is on? if there is one big day? and if it is worth seeing considering i only havesucah ashort amount of time!

My husband and I would like to spend 2 weeks in Costa Rica during Christmas. We have never been there. We want to fly into San Jose, rent a car and drive the country on our own. Questions: are hotels difficult to find without booking in advance? Any suggestions anyone can offer for first time visitors would be appreciated. Thanks,

I'm a little bit confused about the two areas...Monteverde cloud forest and Arenal volcano area. We plan on staying at Arenal observatory lodge (haven't confirmed yet though), and would like to do some hiking around there, etc. But we'd also like to hike, zip line maybe in Monteverde. We have our own car, so is that close, or should we stay in Monteverede somewhere that night? THANKS!

How far are the "MUD" Baths, hot springs from Tamarindo and also would there be a tour from Tamarindo?

Where would be a good place to start looking for tours from Tamarindo. We do not plan on renting a vehicle