Lore06

SO SO Excited... 5 days til the trip!! Got to see what I need to buy (or buy there, i.e. bug spray!) lol. So here's my itinerary (and restaurant ideas) weather permitting - am I missing anything?? Any last minute suggestions? Thanks all for the help!

May 11 – Wednesday SJO to Los Suenos
• Stop @ Orotina (Fruit Town)
• Stop for groceries/liquor
• Dinner @ Hicaco Restaurant – all u can eat/drink on Wednesdays

May 12 - Thursday
• Jaco Beach Surfing School – Lunch in Jaco
• Drive to Playa Hermosa 10 minutes from Jaco Beach
• Dinner/Sunset at Villa Caletas in Jaco Beach

May 13 - Friday
• Manuel Antonio Park & White Water Rafting
• Dinner Juanita’s or Pelicano? or in the Marriott

May 14- Saturday
• Playa Blanca
• Dinner: Backyard Bar 4pm surf competition and live music

May 15 - Sunday
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens
• Bijuajual Waterfall
• Purevidagarden.com/

May 16- Monday Los Suenos to Arenal Volcano Area
• Zip Line Eco Glide
• Hot Springs @ The Springs Hotel
• Dinner @ Don Rufinos in La Fortuna

May 17 –Tuesday
• Hanging Bridges (on our own)
* Canyoning
• La Fortuna Waterfall (if time permits)
• Dinner: Gingerbread House, Soda La Parada?

May 18 - Wednesday– Leave Arenal to SJO

hsmithcr

For me, this is way too much planning - obsessive compulsive type planning.

Part of being in Costa Rica is just to relax, spend some time in the hammock, watch the clouds go by, catch the butterflies or hummingbirds feeding on flowers. Watch the little puffs of steam that come our of Arenal Volcano. Yes, you want to participate in some activities - but - Wow!

I am assuming you will be renting a car for all this traveling around?

Comments:

1. Orotina is a fruit town? There are fruits everywhere, all over Costa Rica at little roadside stands and produce shops and supermarkets. I wouldn't bother stopping in Orotina if that is your only reason.

2. You are staying at Los Suenos but shopping for groceries?

3. Are you staying at The Springs in the Arenal area?

4. Do you know how much time it takes to get from place to place? www.yourtravelmap.com

5. What time is your flight out of SJO?

Andrea_loves_travel

wow your trip is jam packed. I don't think you'll be able to do Manuel Antonio and white water rafting in one day?! You may want to take your day in Playa Blanca and spend it in Manuel Antonio instead.
Also canyoning, hanging bridges and waterfalls in one day?! wow. I agree your itinerary is packed. I also like planning, but after 2 trips to Costa Rica and a much more relaxed husband (he doesn't like to plan ahead) I now realize that I can have a much nicer vacation if I have a list of things I want to do, but not to plan every minute, including 1-2 "must do" per destination. You will want to change your activities based on the weather or based on things you see or people you meet. Have a good trip!

SiteC_er

That's a lot of travel time, but fun places to see. Enjoy!

volcanogirl

I like everything you're doing, but it does seem like a lot crammed into a short time frame.

Deb15July

I agree with all the posts about the jam packed itinerary. I am also an OCD planner (like alt's hubby, mine would just like to go somewhere with no set plan). I'm always afraid that if I have no plan, time will be wasted deciding what to do!

I went to CR with very similar detailed plans outlined in a table in a word document. Well....many things did not happen. hsmithcr and alt both have good points. A map can be very deceiving due to road conditions. I was originally naive enough to think we could go to Monteverde from Arenal as a day trip. BIG WRONG! The weather will also need to be considered and could cause you to rearrange excursions. As mentioned, I think the best idea is to make a list of all the things you want to do in each location (and record all details about how to get there, how long the activity will take), and then make decisions based on what is happening at the time.

Lore06

LOL Funny to be called OCD i'm usually a trip disaster totally unprepared haha.. but for this trip was told I should be so I don't miss any fun stuff. I'd usually end up in a bar clueless passing the time haha. Anyhow, re: Orotina was told by someone it was a fruit town? Maybe not worth stopping then? Regarding groceries yeah we are staying on the Los Suenos property in a vaca rental so wanted to take advantage of kitchen for snacks/drinks.

Regarding packed itinerary, good points I'm sure the rain will affect alot of it - just want to have various options - not necessarily a "MUST DO ALL THIS IN ONE DAY" just put various options and see where we can make it to.

Deb - thanks for the tip just saw the rafting tour is an all day thing and thought for some reason it was in MA? - boo! MA on another day it is. Taking your tip on just making a list so it's easier and just seeing how it goes.

Thanks everyone!

hipvirgochick

I think researching and planning is fine, but this is a little too much. May 15th and May 17th look especially crammed so keep in mind that if you feel like ditching something, or everything ;-), once you get there that's ok too. One activity or tour a day is fine in most cases but once you include a lot of driving it can be more tiring than it's worth.