5 nights at Lookout Inn on Osa

Old Nov 3rd, 2003, 09:06 AM
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5 nights at Lookout Inn on Osa

Hi,
My husband, teenage daughter and I have just booked 5 nights at the Lookout Inn on the Osa Peninsula for Christmas week. Aside from rest and relaxation, any recommendations as to what activities you would schedule in advance and with whom. Thanks in advance.
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Old Nov 3rd, 2003, 10:54 AM
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Lookout Inn is a lovely place right across the street from the ocean. You will enjoy watching the Scarlet Macaws in the Almond trees.
Regarding your activities. There really isn't much to do. The canopy tour is at the Costa Rica Expeditions tent camp just up the beach. You can take a hiking tour into Corcovado. The La Leona entrance is about a 1hr hike up the beach. I would highly recommend you do this with a guide. From Lookout you can hike back along the Carate river to Luna Lodge where they will show you how to get to the waterfalls. Stop for a cold drink while at the lodge. Lana is a great gal. You will most likely even see some locals panning for gold. Body surfing, boogie boarding is good at the beach. There is horseback riding. Cabo Matapalo is about an hours ride down the coast towards Puerto Jimenez. Surfing, kayaking, and rapelling down a waterfall are activities there. You can hire an expensive taxi to take you there or ask Terry what time the Colectivo arrives with the workers and ride into town with the empty truck for just a couple of dollars apiece. It is a 2hr trip to Pto Jimenez but it is kind of fun and there will be monkeys along the way. I would check to be sure you know what time the truck heads back to Carate so you can get back to the hotel without having to hire a taxi or to save a little money you could take the colectivo into town and then hire a taxi to get you back. Keep in mind that it gets dark around 5:30-6pm. In Pto Jimenez you could possibly go kayaking in the mangroves or take a horseback ride. The town is very small and you could see most of it in about 1/2hr or so. Most of the activities available you can set up sometimes the same day or the day before. Fishing and hiking with a guide in the park might take a little longer. You could arrange most of what you might want to do after you get there.
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Old Nov 3rd, 2003, 11:10 AM
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Suzie,

Thank you so much for your insights (and any more you might have to offer). We are flying in to San Jose, and from San Jose to Pta Jimenez. From there, a 4 x 4 taxi. While we do want a calm vacation, perhaps 5 nights is too much there? Also, while my husband and daughter are prepared for vigorous hikes, I am rapidly recovering from a broken leg (5 months ago)- but a long hike to get to a hike might be too much (I could stay behind). How expensive is an expensive taxi? How far the hike to Luna Lodge. Thanks again.
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Old Nov 3rd, 2003, 06:34 PM
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I believe the cost of the taxi is about $60. This is per trip not per person.
The length of time you spend there can only be decided by you. Just keep in mind that it is an isolated place but I am sure there will be other people around because it is a beautiful area. It can be hot and humid but there is always a nice breeze off the ocean.
As far as Luna Lodge is concerned..it is a pretty long hike back to it. A good bit of the hike is on the dry river bed and is fairly level (good chance you will end up wading through a little water but not too much - I always thought it felt good because of the heat there). After a fairly long stretch on the river you then have to go up hill for quite aways. It is a little tricky getting to the waterfalls from the main rancho at luna lodge so with your leg in mind you might not want to do the hike to it. You can rest and have a drink at the bar.
When we stayed at Luna Lodge they offered rides in their pick up truck for $5 each way. We would generally take a slow walk down to the beach while bird watching and then after a dip and a cold beer at the pulpuria would call them to come get us. Maybe Terry could contact them by radio for a ride up there for you if you wanted to see the Lodge. Lana suffered greatly to see her dream built when she started out a few years ago. it is now a beautiful place. She had people who could guide you up into some of the trails back there which were not nearly as long as hiking to Corcovado and back but it is attached to the same piece of land so you could see good wildlife there. There are no fences and the wildlife doesn't know where the park boundries are.
You might even be able to take a horseback ride back to the waterfall area from Lookout Inn.
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Old Nov 4th, 2003, 04:27 AM
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It's so nice to have someone who has been there help brainstorm. We'll follow up on your ideas - and I'll bring plenty of books just in case.

Thanks again. Ideas from anyone else who has been there, of course, also very welcome.
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