spannhoff

We will be in C.R. for 2 weeks in Dec. This will be our 3rd time, but this time we are going with not only our kids (7 and 9) but also our parents (70 and 82). We have planned 4 nights in Puerto Viejo and 10 nights at Punta Leona (near Jaco). I'm thinking this is a little long to stay in one place. Anybody have a suggestion for another place to stay for 4-5 days that will be interesting and not too strenuous for the older folks? We're into nature as well as beach.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

shillmac

I agree that 10 days anyplace is too long. Particularly the Jaco area! Although Punta Leona looks like a nice resort--not for 10 days!

It would help if you would tell us where else you have been. You will like Puerto Viejo. Are you going the 1st part of December? If you plan to be there during Christmas, you are going to run into problems finding a hotel at this point in time. Not trying to sound negative, but it is a fact.

It would be a good time to visit the Osa Peninsula--either the Cabo Matapalo side or the Drake Bay side. You can be as strenuous as you would like (or not at all). Should appeal to everyone.

Also, the Rincon de la Vieja area is nice for a couple of days. You can visit this area from a beach base such as Playa Hermosa (El Velero Hotel is on the beach and might have rooms available. I haven't stayed there, but have heard good things about it).

Southwest of the airport is a nice hotel very near to Turu-bari Park (a good place for all of you to visit). The hotel is La Finca Que Ama. If interested, write to the owner:

[email protected]

The area down around Turrialba is nice as well. I mention that because you could get there easily from Puerto Viejo. There are Pre Columbian ruins that would be interesting to visit. River rafting would be fun for some or all of you to enjoy on the Pacuare (out of Turrialba). Also in that area (or between there and San Jose) is Orosi Valley (spectacularly beautiful), CATIE, a tropical research center with lovely gardens, Lankaster Gardens, Cachi Lake and Dam, the oldest church ruins in Costa Rica (dating back to 1600's) at Ujarras, and of course, Irazu Volcano.

I think it would be fun for you to start at Puerto Viejo, meander back toward San Jose through the area mentioned in the paragraph above, head on over to La Finca Que Ama and Turu-bari Park for a couple of days, then move on to Punta Leona. This would take you from east to west with interesting things along the way, starting and ending with beach.

I tried to think of some areas that you might not have visited before. I also tried to think of areas that might not be so crowded and would possibly have rooms available during the holidays.

shillmac

We too have stayed at the Barcelo Playa Tambor when we first started going to Costa Rica. We liked it there and liked the area. You should know, however, that environmentally this place is on a major blacklist. We knew this at the time, but chose it because we knew a couple of people who worked there and wanted to visit them for a few days. I've yet to look at a single guidebook that didn't mention how the chain destroyed some very valuable ecosystems when they built their huge property, not to mention poor treatment of employees and a whole bucketfull of other allegations. If you are sensitive to that kind of business, you'll probably not want to support them.

Mama

I think that your parents would enjoy staying in Lapa Rios as long as they request cabin #1 or 2.
Shillmac, I enojoy reding most of your suggestions but I do not understand why are you advertising for Neta lately including her e-mail address in so many of your posts? She does not advertise here so why are you? Didn't she decide to not be a part of this forum any more? It would be nice to respect her decission. Wasn't there similar sitauation with Suzie2 as well?
Thank you

tully

I think it's a shame Neta doesn't post here anymore & I don't see anything wrong with mentioning her to people who would benefit from her helpful advice.

shillmac, thanks for bringing up the poor environmental record of the Barcelo, it merits strong mention when one might consider staying there.

shillmac

With all due respect, "advertising" is a strong word. Check out the title of this thread. I also frequently recommend Las Orquideas (whose owner doesn't participate in this forum); Hotel Brasilito (whose website I've also given); Flamingo Beach Resort; Arenal Paraiso; Bosque del Cabo; Savegre; Paradisus Playa Conchal; and the list goes on. Likewise, you've mentioned Lapa Rios.

Although I don't think any of us need to defend why we suggest hotels and resorts (indeed, that is one of the purposes of this forum), I stated in the original post that La Finca Que Ama might be one of a handful of very nice hotels in Costa Rica that would have availability during the holidays (poster didn't say when in December) due to its location (convenient, but not highly traveled by tourists). Furthermore, its location is on the path the poster is taking from Puerto Viejo to Punta Leona.

I could have said a little more--about the beauty of La Finca's surroundings, the graciousness of its hosts, the delicious food, the bathtubs with jacuzzis, the very well stocked and complimentary mini bar --non alcholic--in each room, the TV/DVD combination in each room and a nice selection of DVD's to choose from once the sun goes down!

As for giving out websites and e-mail addresses, is that against the rules here? I find it most helpful when someone gives me that information. I do it whenever the site or address is one I can correctly pull from memory quickly! I'm so thankful that after all these years, I can still remember a few things!

shillmac

Thanks, Tully. You are very gracious. I really believe that most Fodor's posters are good and kind hearted people who mean well, and harsh words are seldom spoken. It was exactly that which caused Neta not to want to be a part of the forum any longer.

Molly2

Without being argumentative, I don't see any "advertising" going on here. If you look back at her posts, Shillmac has made a number of recommondations, and clearly has not confined them to Neta. Commendations and contact information from fellow travelers is extremely helpful to those of us trying to narrow down our accommodation choices. Sharing information is what this forum is all about.