We are taking our two teenage daughters to Costa Rica in June for a family trip and I will be posting several questions on here over the next few weeks. Any assistance you experts can give me would be very much appreciated.

Our first destination is Santa Teresa. We will be staying at Gumbo Limbo.

I attempted to get driving directions online, using a number of sources. Google maps and yourtravelmap.com seem to be the best.

We are driving from San Jose to Santa Teresa. How much time does taking the ferry save? Google maps (which I don't trust) shows it being a 4 hour drive taking the bridge up north whereas it says the ferry is an hour and 15 minutes away from San Jose and Santa Teresa is 45 minutes away from Paquera. Do these times seems accurate?

I have found conflicting information on-line about the ferry schedules. Does anyone have any information on the 2012 ferry schedules?

After reading on different activities for the Southern Nicoya region my daughters are dying to take the snorkeling trip to Tortuga island. Is this something you would recommend? Is it something that needs to be reserved ahead of time? Are their different outfits you would recommend?

Any other activities/sights you would suggest other than enjoying the beach and people? Any restaurants we shouldn't miss?

Thanks for all of your help!