NancyFine

If I am planning my Costa Rica trip, and the last 2 days I want to go to a beach area from Monteverde, where would be a good place to go. I am flyinging out of San Jose. I will be with my husband and three children(17, 20, and 22).

RAC

What time is your flight out of SJO?

sylvia3

About 2 hours away from Monteverdes (and from SJO on the return) would be Jaco (http://www.anywherecostarica.com/des...a-costa-rica); up and down the coast there you'll find nice beaches.
Allow lots of time for your flight.

http://www.govisitcostarica.com/trav...velTime.asp#69

NancyFine

We are leaving Monte verde on December 25th, and our flight is leaving on the moprning of the 27th

RAC

I hate to say this, but you probably should scrap the idea of hitting the beach. You'll need to stay in the San Jose area the night of the 26th. That leaves you with effectively 24, maybe 30, hours for your beach destination (morning of the 25th through early afternoon on the 26th). It's a fairly long haul from Monteverde to any decent beach area (maybe La Leona). Jaco beach is a surfer beach and not good for swimming (also not a great town to begin with).

It's possible to squeeze in some beach time, but it would be at the expense of time spent enjoying your vacation--instead you'd lose several hours each day driving, packing, unpacking, checking in, checking out, etc. Given the lack of great beach options within a reasonable distance from both Monteverde and San Jose, I'd add a day onto Monteverde or spend two nights near San Jose and spend the 26th exploring Poas or Irazu volcanos, the towns of Grecia and Sarchi, coffee plantations, or even a Pacuare rafting trip.

NancyFine

So far my itinerary is as follows:2 nights in Sarapiqui, 3 nights fortuna, and 2 nights Monteverde. The place I am staying in Monteverde isn't avaialable on the 25th. I was thinking I would be seeing some of the things you mentioned earlier in the trip.

RAC

None of the things I mentioned are things you would hit given your current itinerary. Well, maybe Poas between Sarapiqui and Arenal, but that would require getting up very, very early and make for a long day's drive, since it's not on the way between the two destinations.

sylvia3

You could scrap Monteverde (there are hanging bridge hikes and ziplines in La Fortuna; the cloud forest isn't all that different from the rain forest in a brief stay). If you crave beach, you could just take those nights and go south to Hermosa-Dominical-Uvita.

volcanogirl

To me, that's too many locations in that time frame. I'd lean towards just going to three places or you'll end up spending a lot of time on the road.

NancyFine

Thanks for the advice. Any nice/reasonable places to stay near San Jose.

Kinkazote

Do you want to be nearer San Jose or nearer the airport?

JeanH

I completely disagree that the cloud forest isn't that different from a rain forest. I found Monteverde magical, I've never seen so many shades of green. Absolutely incredible.

I like rain forests too, but, they're different.

sylvia3

If you read the post, you'll see "in a brief stay" (and IMO, zipping through one is much the same as zipping through another; hiking, of course, is a different story).
I understand completely wanting to unwind on the beach for a couple of days at the end of a family vacation!
I was disappointed after my first visit (one beach day) and forced the issue on my second, and was glad I did. Now I know to make sure I get that beach time, wherever in CR we go.

RAC

Near SJO, there's good value at the Orquideas Inn ($99 for a large room with king bed, views of volcanoes, good food, lovely grounds, swimming pool and jacuzzi, right on the road to Poas/La Paz), or for higher end you can look at Xandari.

volcanogirl

We also like Grano de Oro - it's a neat little historical hotel and has a great restaurant on site. Xandari is awesome if you can swing the cost.

NancyFine

Thanks for all the advice. I think we are set for Sarapiqui and Monteverde. Still looking for a decent/reasonable place to stay in la Fortuna for my family of 5. I will probably follow the advice of RAC bystaying the last 2 nights by San Jose and making a day trip exploring Poas or Irazu volcanos.

volcanogirl

Maybe Silencio del Campo or Los Lagos?

NancyFine

Has anyone stayed at Princessa de luna eco lodge in la fortuna? It looked interesting from the reviews on trip advisor.

mlgb

North of the Airport (in Tuetal) is Pura Vida Hotel with excellent breakfasts, pooches and casita lodging (they have one room that sleeps 6). Dinners are amazing.

http://www.puravidahotel.com/

If you stay at Arenal Observatory Lodge there are some family units and lots of trails and wildlife, you might be able to skip Monteverde and go to the beach afterwards. AOL is popular with birdwatchers altho you won't see Quetzals.