The Osa and What ... ?

Old Aug 2nd, 2010, 02:59 PM
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The Osa and What ... ?

After reading this board for many months we finally booked our trip to Costa Rica. The trip we originally thought we would be taking (it included using Marriott points) has changed dramatically - we decided to save those points for some other trip and really try to experience Costa Rica. Having said that, we have nine nights for next June (booked early due to frequent flyer points). Our very main prioity is seeing wildlife. Next is adventure (zip line,etc) and beaches. We are a family of four (parents and 18 and 12 year olds). We can't afford to fly to the Osa so we want to rent a car from San Jose.

Our main question is what other area makes sense to combine with this? I have looked at Manuel Antonio or Dominical. They both look great but is there a non-beach area that makes logistical sense? I can't see complaining about a few nights at one of these and then four or five nights in the Osa but I just want to make sure I am thinking through everything!

By the way, we are very much leaning towards Casa Bambu in Matapalo - any input there?
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Old Aug 2nd, 2010, 05:07 PM
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Manuel Antonio will give you lots of wildlife and beaches. They also have ziplining, waterfalls repelling, fishing, and the National Park. You will love it. I haven't been to Dominical, so can't compare.
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Old Aug 3rd, 2010, 08:18 AM
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I haven't stayed at Casa Bambu but have walked by it and it's in a great spot. I wouldn't hesitate staying there. If you want to balance that area with a place that offers dining options and is a bit more touristy/busy then MA, if you want stay low key Dominical/Uvita area. Both areas are worth visiting. If you stay in Dominical/Uvita you should still take a day trip up to MA from there, the beaches are gorgeous and swimming great.
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Old Aug 3rd, 2010, 08:47 AM
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Arenal is wonderful, with the volcano, waterfall, hiking, awesome ziplines, hotsprings... Driving between there and the Osa is possible, but many would consider it to be a pain logistically. Have you checked the domestic airfare prices for Sansa and NatureAir? Sometimes NatureAir offers loco sale fares that are quite reasonable.

Combining MA and/or Dominical with the Osa would certainly make for a nice trip; it just wouldn't have as wide a variety of landscape and ecosystems as other destination combos might provide.

You could always even plan to spend a few days in the Central Valley (see Poas, La Paz, some of the cute little towns, tour a coffee plantation, maybe do some whitewater rafting, etc). Then head south to the Osa. You could break the long drive up with an overnight in Dominical or thereabouts. That would give you a broader overview of the country's terrain than just focusing on the coastal Rain Forests (not that there's anything wrong with that! ;-) ).
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Old Aug 3rd, 2010, 09:16 AM
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We really love the Arenal area; it's a great spot for seeing the active volcano and doing adventure activities. It has the Cano Negro tour to see wildlife, the Hanging Bridges, the waterfall that c mentioned, natural hot springs like Eco Termales and Tabacon, and Sky Trek zipline. We've also done white water rafting there. Lots of good restaurant choices too. I think the Osa and Arenal are a great mix. If you can get your beach time on the Osa, it would be a good pick for you.
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Old Aug 3rd, 2010, 01:08 PM
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Thank you all very much for the assistance! We will frequently check for deals with Nature Air and Sansa to see if Arenal can be an option. I also like the idea of the Central Valley. Any lodging options there you would recommend? Again, thank you so much!
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Old Aug 4th, 2010, 09:44 AM
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For Central Valley hotels, there's a recent thread here entitled 'Great Hotels near San Jose Airport' that should offer some suggestions. It kind of depends on your budget, but I'm sort of assuming that you're looking to keep costs down a bit since you weren't wanting to fly to the Osa...

I tend to prefer staying in Alajuela rather than in San Jose proper. I've stayed at Orchideas Inn a few times and found that to be a good jumping off point for many of the activities I listed in my other response above. It's located on the outer fringe of town and is a good, comfortable place. Not high end or fancy, but the staff is nice, the grounds are pretty, and a very good breakfast is included in the room price. There are lots of other accommodation options in the area as well.

One note: if you decide to look into white water rafting, you'll probably want to spend the night before in San Jose as the rafting companies only pick up at certain locations.
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Old Aug 4th, 2010, 10:17 AM
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Great choice to go to the osa in costa rica.

There are two ways to drive to the Osa peninsula. One is through the mountain range (through the center of the country). The other is driving by the west coast past jaco and uvita, etc. I have done both and I love both. If you want a great trip with amazing scenery of the ocean you can drive by the coast and enjoy little surf towns along the way. The road was recently redone so it is in good shape.

The other option of driving through the mountains I also love because you're driving through the mountain jungle. The road is completely paved and drivable through the mountains.

It is amazing in some of the areas because the jungle is so thick you wonder if anyone has ever entered. The temperature is different there also. It actually gets a little chilly. It is a great experience. If you choose to go through the mountain range, I have stayed at Trogon lodge and I thought it was great. That's the only place I've ever seen a quetzal in costa rica. Here is a page of the hotel with a map:
http://www.costaricabeauty.com/viewp...n=Trogon-Lodge

It's a little hidden in the mountain, but the view along the way is amazing jungle and mountain ranges. Either route you take is great.
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Old Aug 4th, 2010, 03:56 PM
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With kids that age, I'd do the Osa and raft the Pacuare River. It's a fantastic experience. It's an exciting rafting trip through beautiful canyons. For that combination, it's one of the top rafting rivers in the world. It's a day trip out of San Jose, so you won't have to spend a lot more time on the road.
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