Pat_Rick

We are sending our granddaughter (19 years old) to Costa Rica for four to five weeks to a Spanish Language school (Institute of Spanish Language Studies) in Tamarindo in June. We would like to go at the end of her stay and tour round Costa Rica for a week.

We would like to go to Tamarindo to see the school, her lodging, and meet the teachers, so we will probably fly into Libreria. Any recommendations on the must sees near there? We would like to use Marriott Guanacaste as a base as we will be using Marriott points.

Do we need a car? Do we need to hire a car and a driver? We heard that the road in Costa Rica is difficult to negotiate.

July is the raining season in Costa Rica, is that something to worry about?

I coundn't find any reviews on the school, if anyone can provide anything information about that school would be appreciated.

We have never been to Costa Rica, so we are quite excited about the propect of going there. We are getting older (in our 60's), can't take a aggresive itinerary anymore.

Pat and Rick

suzyeq

Hi Pat and Rick...see my trip report for advice on car rental and or drivers. We just got back from six nights in Tamarindo. It is beautiful. You will love it. We had a low key stay on the beach with just getting massages and surf lessons and eating at great restaurants. Did most of our activies in the Arenal region but this is a good 4 hours away from where you will be...I recommend a car if you are independent. We did both as your will see by my trip repoort. Leo ([email protected]) is a great resource if you do want a driver and if you are flying into Liberia as his company is located near Liberia. Let me know if I can be of any more help! Good luck!

Pat_Rick

Thank you SuzyEq, read your travel report, your itinerary looked exactly like what we want to do except in reverse order. We will probably fly in and out of Liberia, spend 5 days in Tamarindo and 4 days in Arenal area.

Pat and Rick

suzyeq

We flew into San Jose and out of Liberia. It is recommended by other Fodors to spend threw nights in the Adrenalin region as so much to do but we were anxious to get to gge sun and beach so we packed it in in two nights.Both areas are so nice yet so different! ENJOY!

Redbeard52

In July you will get some rain periodically but typically the sun will shine each day also. The primary concern with the rain is if you drive on dirt roads which can become rutted due to the rain. If you rent a car, a 4WD SUV would be recommended during rainy season. However, the roads from Liberia to Tamarindo are all paved. (I haven't driven to Arenal.) Flying to Liberia seems best.

I recommend renting a car for maximum flexibility in getting around. It will make it easier to get to Tamarindo as well as to explore other areas. Main roads are two-lane paved roads. I'm 60 and have driven around the area for several years without problems. You just need to be alert about people and animals near the sides of the road.

Redbeard52

You may want to plan a day trip or overnight trip to the Rincon de La Vieja National Park (e.g., mudpits, thermal area, hiking) - a bit northeast of Liberia. Check what days the park is open before going:

http://www.rincondelavieja.net/

For extra adventure, visit Hotel Guachipelin at the park entrance. They have a one day pass for ziplining, horseback riding, whitewater tubing, and mud bath/ hot springs. (We stayed overnight at the end of the day to rest before returning to Tamarindo.)

http://www.guachipelin.com/

In Tamarindo, you may want to try the estuary tour (tour boats near where you enter the town.)

Have fun!

Pat_Rick

Thanks RedBeard and Suzy, we are thinking of flying in and out of San Jose because there is a direct flight on Delta between LAX to SJO. Rent a car with Dollar, drive to Tamarindo, spend 4 nights at the Marriott there, then drive to La Fortana and spend 4 nights there.

Rincon de La Vieja National Park looks amazing.. will check it out. Do you know how far a drive it is from Tamarindo?

Will definitely do the Estuary Tour too.. unless we read somewhere down the line that the mosquitos are a big problem there.

Pat and Rick

Redbeard52

I believe it took us 1-1/2 to 2 hours from Tamarindo to Rincon - an hour to Liberia, then north a bit on the Pan American highway and then east on paved and dirt roads. (There are signs for the National Park from the highway turnoff.)

The drive between San Jose and Tamarindo is 4-5 hours. There are certain days of the week that you cannot drive in San Jose based on the last digit of the car's license plate - make sure you work that out with the rental car company based on the days you will be in San Jose.

suzyeq

The drive from Tamarindo to Arenal is 4 hours. The drive from Arenal to San Jose airport took us 3 1/2 hours. I think I would rent a car the whole time as well now that we have been to CR. We did both while there and the roads between Arenal and Tamarindo were paved but curvy. I know that next time we go to CR we will rent a car the whole time.