macboo

Its our second trip to Costa Rica in February. We'll have 10 or 11 days. A few years ago we went to Arenal, Monte Verde, Playa Montezuma and Poas. This time top priority is Osa, but we'd also like to see cloud forest near Cerro de La Muerte, Manuel Antonito and Uvita. We're trying to figure out the logistics of putting it all together. We'd like to end the trip in Osa )at BDC) and fly back to San Jose. Would you rent a car and drop it off in Puerto Jimenez; combine car-shuttle-planes? Any part of this plan you'd drop or replace with something else? We're up for adventure but would like to limit time on "stressful" roads. How would you string it all together? Thank you.

qwovadis

Have done this prefer RT sort of a round robin

Rented with service car rental under $200 for me.

solid car rental has most Osa offices for 1 way

but was more expensive by far and funner

to do a round Robin www.mapcr.com

My route

mybeaconescazu.com

eltoucanet.com

then went to San Isidro hung a right for Dominical

www.cunadelangel.com Uvita

bosquedelcabo.com

nice drive back up the coast to

www.hotelvillacaletas.com an hour or so from the airport

on the coast north of Jaco...

Driving was fine Cerro de la Muerte can get a little hairy

lots of switchbacks take frequent breaks you will be fine...

Avoid San Isidro and remember GO slow through any small

towns you see lots of speed traps speed limit is 40 KPH

(like 28 MPH) police will try to shake you down for tickets

bribes up to $500. Almost happened to me in Palmar Norte

but I talked my way out of it...

ShuttleOsa good shuttle if you do not want to drive.

Happy Planning!

macboo

Thank you for the great suggestions -- and yes I realize it's Manuel Antonio

RAC

I would skip Manuel Antonio if you're doing Uvita and the Osa. Honestly, Cerro de la Muerte and Osa together make a fine trip by themselves. If it were me, I'd do the highlands and then head straight to the Osa.

I'd probably hire a driver to get to Cerro de la Muerte--that drive is too scary for this gringo. YMMV

One thing to figure out is which side of the Osa you want to see--the Sierpe/Drake Bay side or the Puerto Jimenez/Carate side. We had an amazing time in Drake+Corcovado, but the other side is amazing as well, by all accounts.

xelas

Just did a similar trip in car. Driving from San Jose to Cerro is really not scarry, just drive slowly. Check Paraiso de Quetzal at KM70. Driving from Cerro to Osa is a long one. Plan A head to San Vito, stay one night, visit the Wilson Botanical Garden (do not fear San Isidro, it is a simple drive through affair), then to Osa and return to San Jose via Uvita (and Manuel Antonio). Plan B stop in Uvita thus avoiding San Isidro completely, drop the car in PJ and fly to San Jose from Osa, skipping Manuel Antonio completely.

Cattail

I, like RAC, would prefer to let someone else do the driving.

To maximize time and stress, I'd hire a driver to get me to and from Cerro de la Muerte. I know that Savagre Lodge offered transportation a few years ago, Then, instead of making the long, hot drive to the Osa, I'd drive back to San Jose and catch a plane there. So, depending on your time frame, a night or two in or near San Jose on either end, 3 nights in Cerro de la Muerte and the rest at the amazing BdC.

mlgb

I found the road on the north/west side of Lake Arenal far worse than the Cerro de la Muerte road which is fairly wide and well paved. It's just the trucks. One would hope the $500 fines for passing on the centerline would discourage them, but maybe that is just reserved for gringo speed traps.

I wasn't able to reach El Toucanet but enjoyed touring with Marino Chacon at Savegre Mountain Hotel in San Gerardo de Dota.

I agree with the others that you might want to drop Manuel Antonio.

macboo

Thank you everybody for your comments and ideas. We may just pare it down to a few days in and around Cerro de la Muerte -- back to SJO and then, spend more time in Osa.

Blizzardcpl

The drive from cerro de la muerte to San Isidro is one of the most beautiful routes we have ever seen if you like mountains and valleys. The highway is great and near division, the scenery will take your breath away. Much more direct route to Osa than backtracking thru San Jose etc. San Isidro is like a smaller cleaner version of San Jose.

macboo

Here is what we ended up doing and it was great for us.Had Savegre Mountain Lodge pick us up at the airport (no car rental hassle, no driving through San Jose, no mountain driving after dark.) Woke first morning in the cloud forest. After 2 nights had driver from Savegre drive us to Dominical picked up rental car at Solid Car Rental (great company!! allows pick up in Dominical and drop off in Puerto Jimenez)Stayed south of Dominical on beach for 3 nights. Drove to Puerto Jimenez and driver from Bosque del Cabo picked us up. Spent 4 nights (the best part of the trip) then flew Sansa to SJO and our flight home.

RAC

Ooh! Trip report?

mlgb

Or at least a bird-watching report?

1bhcrashman

Thanks for your schedule. Sounds like a very do-able one.