We really liked visiting Poas. If you go, bring jackets because it can get chilly. We wore fleece when we went. We also liked the Doka Coffee Estate tour - very pretty, but might not interest little ones so much. Between Arenal and SJO is about threeish hours. We stayed at VdV; that area wasn't my favorite. Did you rule out an Arenal and Monteverde combo?

Well, our flight now departs SJO at 1230 and everyone is saying we now need to be there 3 hours prior. Is that really the latest? If thats the case, we wanted to be closer which is why we would have selected a place closer to the airport.

We always get there three hours before just in case. The area around VDV seemed drier to me and not as lush as some of the other places we've stayed. We did see a toucan there though and thought that was cool. Have you considered just spending the last night near the airport?

Wildlife and hiking and ecotours at Selva Verde will blow anything at Vista del Valle out of the water--there's simply no comparison between the Central Valleu area and Sarapiqui in that regard. Convenience, views, general aesthetics, etc are separate considerations of course.

If you have a 12:30 PM flight, leave by 6:30 am and you should be at the airport in plenty of time, especially if you do a web check in.

Yes - we want to be blown away!

So, maybe Playa Negra 7 nights (because that is already booked and non refundable) - Arenal 4 nights - Selva Verde 3 nights with a really long final travel day!

RAC - any input into the issue of having my young kids at Selva Verde? We want lush, green, rainforest experience for the kids....thought we could have had a little of that with some tours in Arenal. No? Or, not the same as Arenal?

Other option it seems right now is Playa Negra - Arenal 5 nights - VDV area 2 nights so we can be close to the airport....and don't want to just go for 1 night.

Oh, and as for just spending the last night by the airport....I kind of want to end on an awesome note and want to avoid an airport hotel - or even a cool hotel nearby - where we would all 6 be in one room.

I would hands down pick Selva Verde over the VdV area if you think you'll be able to relax and enjoy it. The Arenal area is very lush and green and beautiful. I think four nights there is about right. Selva Verde has that more humid rainforest feeling. Our cabin didn't have windows; it had screens to let the air circulate.

We spent one night at Casa Rio Blanco, outside of Guapiles. It was wonderful and wish we had spent more time there. It is about an hour from the airport as the owners gave us a shortcut around SJ. Just another option.

http://www.casarioblanco.com/

Arenal area is lush, but I wouldn't call it authentic rainforest the way the Selva Verde area is. Part of the magic is unexpected wildlife sightings while you're just walking around. You don't get that at Arenal except for a small handful of places that are far outside of town. Selva Verde we would see woolly possums, raccoons, monkeys, something different every time we left our room. And lots of toucans.

Selva Verde has a pizzeria now, so that will help with the kids.

In terms of poisonous critters, how much do you trust them to never put their hands and feet where they can't see them? It was in the Sarapiqui area that I almost stepped on a terciopelo, but that was at night. During the day should not be a problem. Poison frogs are not terribly poisonous as long as you don't swallow them whole.
Personally I think Arenal is a 4 night max destination.

We saw both the coral snake and terciopelo during the day, so I would still be vigilant then. We didn't have mammal sightings on our own at Selva Verde, but we did see toucans, aracaris, iguanas, and lots of poison dart frogs.

Michelle, that place looks wonderful.