joycer

My husband and I are flying into San Jose then busing it up to Monteverde and the Arenal and La Fortuna area. After that we plan to head to the coast (playa Hermosa) for a week then to Manuel Antonio and back to San Jose. My question is , is it better to see Arenal first or Monteverde first before heading to the coast.
I am also wondering if anyone has taken the night tours to see the nesting turtles? Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for our trip? They would be most appreciated.

CRSURF

Whether to go to Arenal/Monteverde first or on your way back toward San Jose depends mostly on when your flight comes in. If it's in the morning, the 4 ride bus ride (~3 hrs. by car) is nice, but generally by the late afternoon it will be raining (October is the rainiest month of the year on the Pacific). Conversely, if you have an early morning flight you'll lose a day having to get back toward San Jose early. But if it's a late flight, you can wake up near Arenal and ride back to the airport.

As for sea turtle watching, the best places to do it is are Ostional and Tortuguero (plus Playa Grande to see the leatherback but sadly the sightings are more rare). None of these beaches are close to where you are going, but Playa Hermosa (south of Jaco) has a turtle watching program at the far south end of the beach, so there may be a tour. Be careful at night as turtle egg poachers have been agressive.

If you are in Manuel Antonio for a week, you should take a ride south to Uvita and do a dolphin/whale watching boat tour and walk out on the Whale's Tail beach at low tide. The marine park entrance is only $6/person and the views are amazing since you can swim out in calm, waist deep water almost 1/4 mile offshore.

Finally since you are going to popular beaches, you may consider getting a 2 week pass via Grayline on their shared shuttles since the buses can be crowded and longer trips.

MichelleY

How much time for this trip total? And what time of year. Most people do Arenal first, then Monteverde,

joycer

Thanks very much for your reply. I was planning to do Arenal first but because we are going on to Playa Hermosa next thought it might matter which place would be more convenient for the onward trip (because of the bus route).

joycer

Thanks CR surf for info on turtle watching. Guess we will have to go to Tamarindo for a tour.
Regarding going to Arenal or Monteverde first, we are not going back to San Jose after Monteverte/Arenal but continuing on to playa Hermosa Guanacaste.