ktny333

Hi, I'm trying to finalize my trip in December to Costa Rica. Initially, I was going w/ the classic route from SJO-Peace Lodge-Arenal-MA-SJO. After reading many positive reviews about Peace Lodge, I'm thinking to make it my last stop. Logistically, does it make sense to do SJO-Arenal-MA-Peace lodge-SJO? We only have 7 nights and don't want to waste extra time traveling.

hipvirgochick

Are you driving yourself or taking Interbus or private transfer? So you're thinking 3/3/1 nights or do you have to stay in San Jose for 1st or last night because of flight times?

ktny333

I plan to drive. However, if I chose Manuel Antonio as my last stop, then I might fly to SJO. I'm not sure about that part yet. My flight leaves at 3:30 pm.

hipvirgochick

I think your second option, spending your last night at Peace Lodge, sounds great. Do you get in early enough on your 1st day to make it up to Arenal before dark?

ktny333

Thank you for inputs. My flight arrives in SJO at 11:40 AM. I hope to pick up the rental car and hit the road no later than 1 or 2 p.m. We'll probably get to the hotel in Arenal about 5 or 6 pm.

Since Peace Lodge is not really on the way to SJO from MA, I feel like it's a bit of a detour. My dilemma is I can't decide if I should drive 3 hrs from MA to SJO on the last day for flight at 3:45 pm or drive 4 hrs(or more?) from MA to Peace lodge to spend a night, and drive 1 hr. to SJO. Thanks again for your help.

volcanogirl

kt, make sure you get to Peace Lodge early enough in the day to enjoy all the exhibits. Our flight got delayed, and the aviary, etc. all shut down at 5:00, so we had to race around to see everything. Also it starts getting dark early - around 5:30 when we were there, so you have to hike the falls during the daytime as well. Don't miss the night tour of the ranarium (frogs) - it's really fun and interesting.

TheBigCasado

If you want to involve the Peace lodge and Arenal you must do it in sequence, it makes no sense to go to the Peace lodge at the end of your trip. The peace lodge is not that close to Alajuela/San Jose it is about 1:30 minutes.

It makes a lot more sense to go to the Peace Lodge/ La Paz waterfall gardens on your way to Arenal as a day trip or on the first night/morning of your trip should you decide to spend the night. Then you have a 2 hour drive to Arenal and can spend a few days there before going to Manuel Antonio and finally ending in Alajuela.

Since your departure is at 3:30 from Manuel Antonio you have plenty of time either to drive right to the terminal or take a domestic flight directly to SJO with Sansa or to Pavas (about 20 minutes from SJO) with Nature Air.

You are gonna be frustrated by spending any unnecessary time driving once you experience the roads in Costa Rica, and believe me you will regret going past the Peace Lodge on your way to Arenal and then going past the airport only to go again to the Peace Lodge and directly back to the Airport the next day. It does not make sense logistically.

cmerrell

Hi ktny,

I would probably agree with the previous poster that the Peace Lodge makes most sense for your first night. It IS possible to save it for your final night, but you're not going to want to short-change your time there!

You won't have much time to enjoy the grounds on your final morning (keeping in mind that you'll have an hour or so drive to the airport, and you need to be there ~3 hours before your flight). If you left MA early enough to arrive at PL and still have time to explore the grounds, it could probably work okay as a 'final night' location for you.

Either way you decide, you'd better get moving on making those Peace Lodge reservations! December is fast approaching and PL is a popular hotel (and not very large)! It's a beautiful place, so I hope it works out for your itinerary.

ktny333

Thanks alot. You guys really help me with my decision. Now that I'm going to stick w/ my original plan, I'm hoping to make reservation at each hotel by next week. I can't believe I'm leaving in 2 mths .