Costa Rica

Old Feb 19th, 2005, 02:03 PM
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Costa Rica

Hola! We are a Canadian family of 5 planning a 2 week trip to Costa Rica. Kids are 13, 11 and 8.(Mar19 to Apr2 so right over Easter break-very busy season) I was reading lots of great info on this forum so decided I should log on and ask away.
Our tentative plan is to arrive at airport in Alajuela at 2:30pm, rent a car and drive to the Arenal area for 3 nights---plan to do hotsprings, volcano watching and possibly day trip to Cano Negro--any comments? Then we plan to drive to Playa Samara(anyone know how long to get from Arenal to Samara?) and spend 4 nights--here we'll relax, swim, snorkel, maybe do a turtle tour--any comments? Then to Monteverde for 2 nights, see the cloud forest and definitely do a canopy tour here---I'm feeling a little scared but can probably handle it---will my 8 year old be alright(he's not particularly squimish)? Then it's off for 3 nights at Playa Matapala to see Antonio Manuel and possibly some other local points of interest---any suggestions? We chose Matapala just because it was a little quieter and less touristy. Want nice beaches and some food variety but aren't particularly interested in night life. Then it's back for one night at Alajuela so we can fly out at 10am the next morning.
Is 2 nights, so only 1 full day, in Monteverde enough?
Is 3 nights, 2 full days too much in Matapala?
Are we trying to squeeze too much into the 2 weeks? We don't want to be completely exhaused at the end of our holiday! Any input or advise would be greatly appreciated.
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Old Feb 19th, 2005, 03:37 PM
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You are going to have a problem with getting beach reservations over Semana Santa (Mar 19-28). The ticos head for the beaches during this time and most places are already booked.
You might try working with a local travel firm to help you book your trip. I've used www.allcostaricatravel.com when friends and family visit and have never been disappointed.
I'd cut time from Arenal and add it to Monteverde.
Snorkeling is better on the caribbean side, because it has better reef structure and the surf isn't so strong.
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Old Feb 19th, 2005, 07:31 PM
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Ordinarily, I would agree to cut time from Arenal and add to Monteverde, but not if you are going to do Cano Negro, which I understand is excellent. You are not allowing enough time for Monteverde, though, considering that a good portion of your time will be spent getting there from Samara. Considering the effort it takes to get there, it doesn't seem worth it if you don't stay 2 full days.

My suggestion would be not to move around so much--perhaps just choose 1 beach location rather than 2. Definitely agree the Caribbean side might be a good option for you. Samara is going to be PACKED with Costa Rican families. It is popular with the Ticos anyway, let alone during a high holiday!

Consider: 3 days Arenal, 3 days Monteverde, 5-6 days Caribbean.

On the Caribbean side, you could do both Tortuguero and then south to the beaches to end your trip with some nice relax time. Or just head south to Puerto Viejo/Manzanillo and relax there for 5 full days.

Another thought: Spend about 4 nights on the Caribbean (or at any beach where you can find lodging), then return to the central area a couple of days early and take the kids to Zoo Ave in Alajuela, or up to Poas (totally different from Arenal), or to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, or for a jungle cruise on the Rio Sarapiqui--all very nice day trips.

You have such a lovely amount of time--the choices are practically endless with the exception of the difficulty you will run into obtaining accomodations in some of the areas you have mentioned.
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Old Feb 19th, 2005, 10:44 PM
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Thanks for the advice "spin" and "shillmac". We are now going to do 3 nights at Monteverde on your advice and cut the Matapala part down to 2 nights. We can spend an extra 1/2 day or more there before we head back to Ajajuela as it is a major road and we won't mind driving it in the dark (any comments on that?)All the rest of our driving we plan to head out in the morning. We've been to the Caribbean coast of Mexico several times so that's why we picked Nicoya Peninsula. We've got our hearts set on Samara and actually managed to get rooms there plus I think the tico families on vacation will actually add to the cultural experience for our children. We've experienced the awesome snorkelling in the Mayan Riviera and know that it will be a disappointment here but that's not our main draw. If we leave out Manuel Antonio National Park, my monkey loving 8 year old will freak!
Any idea how long it will take to get from La Fortuna to Samara?
Any idea what time it gets dark there in March?
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Old Feb 19th, 2005, 11:36 PM
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Glad you got rooms at Playa Samara! Stroke of luck! I didn't mean that the Tico families there would be undesirable, only that rooms might already be unavailable! Absolutely it will add to the cultural experience for all of you, not just your children. Costa Ricans are a warm and friendly people who love children and are kind to visitors from the north and elsewhere!

From Arenal to Samara, you have a couple of options. You can choose which one sounds best to you.

Arenal west around the lake to Las Canas. South on the Interamerican to the Highway 18 junction. Turn west, cross the Friendship Bridge, continue to Nicoya, then Samara. This drive will take you about 5 hours. The road around the lake is notoriously bad, but there are a lot of coatamundis by the side of the road in places, and your kids would love seeing them.

It will take you 6-7 hours to get to Samara from Arenal if you drive to La Fortuna and south, but the road is much smoother and easier to navigate. It breaks down like this:

La Fortuna-San Ramon, 2 hours
San Ramon-Puntarenas, 1.5 hour
Puntarenas-Nicoya
(via the Friendship Bridge) 2 hours
Nicoya-Samara 1.5 hour

My estimates may be exaggerated by about 20 minutes each, but probably not. It ALWAYS takes longer than you think it will. If you make it in less time, then hurray! During this time of year, the 2 lane highways will be extremely crowded with tourists rental cars, tourist buses, public buses, and trucks, trucks, trucks. Certainly a couple of stops to stretch, have snacks or meals will add to the time whichever route you choose.

Manuel Antonio is a good place for seeing monkeys, of course. Cahuita Parque Nacional on the Caribbean side has excellent wildlife viewing as well. There are monkeys all over the place! There is a rehab place for baby sloths over there called Aviarias (sp?) del Caribe that is a wonderful place for children to visit. This side is unlike the Mexican Caribbean totally. I mentioned it because it tends to be less crowded than the Nicoya Peninsula (the concern for your reservations again) during holdays.

When you haven't been, it is not easy to visualize the extreme amounts of time it takes to transfer from one location to another. What looks like a short distance on the map (and is) takes way longer than most people imagine. I still think you are going to be using a great deal of your vacation time moving from one place to another, but that is certainly your choice! The good thing is, the drives are very beautiful and interesting. I'm not sure how much your children, at their ages, will appreciate all the riding--ours would have preferred to be out of the car, but perhaps your children are more interested in scenery along the way than ours were! My husband and I, on the other hand, appreciate the scenic driving very much and don't mind "going the distance" every few days! We just don't like long distance change of locations too frequently! The driving itself is extremely tiring. Driving in Costa Rica is something that we both enjoy (I've done as much or more as he has), but you have to be a very agressive driver. THEY are, and if you are not, you'll be at the back of the line always! So you are never relaxed, but constantly edging to the left, craning your neck to see what your passing possibilities are. When one presents itself, you try to get around as many vehicles as you can before meeting a car or truck and hope someone will let you back in! They usually do . Truly, that is how it is done and it is, as I said, very exhausting.

You are going to have a fairly long drive down to Matapalo for just 2 days. But we have done the same thing twice--gone to Manuel Antonio for just a couple of days. Be aware that the park is closed on Mondays. Would absolutely not advise driving back to San Jose after dark. Our experience has been that not only is it considerably less safe at night, but when you can't look out the window and see anything, it seems like it takes twice as long--particularly when stuck behind a huge truck (or 10 huge trucks) going 5 mph for 20 minutes! The driving experience that I mentioned above becomes quite a bit more stressful at night. And there is always the danger of someone or something on the road or very close to the edge of the road--people, children, dogs, horses, bicycles, etc. Maybe our experience won't be your experience! Again, I'm wondering about your children and how much that is going to appeal to them. Certainly not trying to argue every point of your plan just for the sake of argument! Costa Rica is a fabulous country to visit and explore--I just wanted you to have a realistic idea about what your planned itinerary might involve. The bottom line is, though, that if you are comfortable with it, then go for it! And have a great time!
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Old Feb 19th, 2005, 11:39 PM
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Sorry, forgot to say that every day of the year, darkness falls between 5:30 and 6:00. Sunrise 12 hours later. Tropics. . .
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Old Feb 20th, 2005, 06:31 AM
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Thanks very much again! We'll keep pondering our itinerary. I'm very curious to know where you're from; you know so much about this area!
So, do you basically think we'll see plenty of monkeys without going to Manuel Antonio National Park? If we skip that leg of the trip it will save alot of driving.
When you say "busy" at the beaches of Nicoya Peninsula, are we talking "Waikiki busy" or "Costa Rica busy"? (like in Waikiki you can't find a large enough spot to lay your towel!)
I agree, we will love the scenery while driving but the kids might get annoying (and by annoying,I mean fighting) We're thinking we can handle 5 hours with one long rest stop breaking it up.
Thanks again for your input.
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Old Feb 20th, 2005, 11:53 AM
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No, not Waikiki busy. Busy for Costa Rica. But I've never seen a packed beach in Costa Rica. Isn't that great?! The howler monkeys are at all the beach areas and can easily be seen. It's just that, at Manuel Antonio, with a guided walk through the park, you do see more wildlife than you see on your own anywhere. Same with the national park at Cahuita, Caribbean side. That's why these areas have been set aside as national parks--preserving forest and wildlife. Consider cutting a day at Samara--you'll enjoy MA more anyway, IMO! Okay, let's see. . .2 weeks.

Day 1 (March 19): Arrive, transfer to Arenal, arrive about dark. Overnight.

Day 2: Full day Arenal, overnight.

Day 3: Cano Negro tour with overnight at Arenal OR transfer to Samara.

Day 4: First full day at Samara OR transfer to Samara (depends on Day 3)
Overnight Samara.

Day 5: Overnight Samara.

Day 6: Overnight Samara

Day 7: Transfer to Monteverde. Overnight

Day 8: Full day Monteverde. Overnight.

Day 9: Full day Monteverde. Overnight

Day 10: Transfer to Manuel Antonio. Overnight

Day 11: Full day MA--overnight.

Day 12: Full day MA--overnight.

Day 13: Return to airport area.

Day 14 (April 1): Departure.

See, I even came up with an extra day. I don't think I messed up?! You'll have plenty of time for your 4 locations--go for it! If you like the looks of the above itinerary, then go ahead and return to central valley a day early and take your kids to Poas, Zoo Ave, etc. Both are very close and easy to get to from Las Orquideas.

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Old Feb 20th, 2005, 01:46 PM
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Hola Abbyo!
We are a family of 4 from Minnesota. You must be as thrilled to leave the cold as we are. We will be in the same area over Semana Santa. Arenal March 16-17. Then we are driving back to San Jose, flying on Sansa to Quepos. Driving to Matapalo. If you end up in Matapalo, look us up. We have rented a beach house and will be there March 18-25. Look for a very untan family with a five year old and a 17 year old. The house has a porch area with a large table and hammocks. You're welcome to join us for happy hour!
Buenos Suerte!(spelling?)
Chuckie
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Old Feb 22nd, 2005, 09:30 PM
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Hi Chuckster. Thanks for the invite but we are going to be at Matapala on Mar. 30 and 31.
Thanks again Shillmac. The decisions have been mind boggling and securing rooms has been even worse. Your advice has been very helpful. We are pretty much doing exactly what's on your last intinerary except you somehow added an extra day so we only have 2 nights, therefore only 1 full day, at Manuel Antonio. We know it's a long drive just for 2 nights but it's the best we could do. We discussed it with the kids and they didn't want to cut that part out of the itinerary. Rooms have been very hard to come by so we couldn't just shift our days anyway at this point. I think we've secured rooms at all locations now although they aren't our first choices, luckily we're not that fussy. We're actually saving money this way---the expensive ones seem to fill up the fastest. We will definitely take your advice and not do any of the driving at night---it's sure not worth the risk.
So, a couple of last questions:
do you think we need to book our tours of Cano Negro and Monteverde Canopy tour from home over the internet, or should we wait until we get there?
We're from Canada---do you know much about travel insurance, health insurance, rental car insurance??
Thanks
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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 07:07 PM
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Abbyo, we've never booked day trips ahead, but it is so much busier there now than it was even in the recent past, it probably wouldn't hurt. I don't think you'd have a problem, but it is possible.

We've never done travel/extra health insurance, but there was a recent discussion about it. Try doing a search of "travel insurance" and see what you come up with. I think it discussed health packages as well (including med evac, etc). The car insurance is pretty simple. You have to have it! We use our credit card which covers a portion of the insurance. Check with your card company--several of the cards have that perk. To use the insurance provided by our credit card, we only have to decline the same insurance offered by the rental company with by initialing the contract.

We have had very good luck with Tricolor and Dollar. We always know ahead of time exactly what our rental will cost, and it has never wavered from that unless we've unexpectedly added another driver at the last minute. Tricolor has always quoted us an all-inclusive price and that's been that. They offer the lowest rates we have found. You'll need something large, so am guessing it will run you about $1000 for two weeks.

Sorry about the extra day I gave you--sounded like a good idea to me!
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Old Feb 23rd, 2005, 10:28 PM
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Thanks again Shillmac. Things are really falling into place now and your advice has been great!
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Old Feb 25th, 2005, 02:22 PM
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Abbyo, where did you finally secure a room in Samara? I've used insuremytrip.com (Travelex) for Travel Insure at a good price. You just never know about an accident.
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Old Feb 26th, 2005, 04:07 PM
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Hi CRMike. We got a room at Casa del Mar. Thanks for the insurance tip!
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Old Feb 28th, 2005, 07:36 PM
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Great, it's right next to the Samara Super mini and across from pathway beach entrance. If you get a chance, chow down at Las Brasas which is right near the soccer field. As you get onto the beach right across from your hotel, there's a fellow that sells some pretty interesting necklaces and earrings for cheap, cheap prices. Pura Vida!
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