gailching

I'm thinking of trying to squeeze in this tour the morning before my flight.

My flight leaves at 2pm from SanJose back to Canada.

Is there enough time? Can I somehow book a private tour with a suitable time so we can catch our flight?

Also, if I'm thinking of staying at Orquideas, Buena Vista or Vista Del Valle, which hotel is the most convenient for me to do the coffee tour and then go to the airport?

THANKS!

seawitch1

We stayed at Orchideas and did the Doka tour on our way to Arenal. It didn't take that long to get there from Orchideas. I was told Doka opened at something like 9:30 but we arrived prior to then and were given what I would consider a private tour (3 of us) prior to 9:30. I do not know if it was because we had hired a driver and they make exceptions in that case or not. IMO, you have time to do that tour and get back to the airport by noon. If you would like the name of our driver (he lives in the San Jose area), I would be more than happy to give it to you. Let me know.

Diane

By the way, the tour was nice, the grounds were beautiful and temperature and lack of humidity was wonderful...I could go on.....

gailching

Seawitch, we're thinking of staying at Orquideas too. Did they not have drivers at the hotel that you could hire? Why did you choose a private driver?

I would love to get the contact info for your driver.

Thanks.

seawitch1

gailching - We arrived late into SJ (our plane was two hours late leaving the states) and landed at 10:10 p.m. The hotel did arrange for a driver to pick us up and take us to the Orchideas. The fee was $10 and well worth it. I don't think we could have found it during the day let alone at night.

There is a tour company that has space in the reservations area of the hotel (I don't remember the name) and I think they can make car rental arrangements or transportation arrangements for you if that is what you would prefer to do. We hired a private driver because at first we were planning to stay in a different hotel and then changed our plans and never planned to rent a car. Hubby did not want to drive.

On the advice of Percy and others on this site, I hired the guy Percy uses, Oscar Mora. He is a great guy who speaks excellent English, is very knowledgeable about everything and didn't mind my husband practicing his limited Spanish on him. His email address is [email protected] and his cell phone number is county code (506) 373-2736. If you choose to email him, you may need to wait a day or two for him to respond. I don't think he is on the computer everyday.

gailching

yes, of course, the famous Oscar. I will definitely write him.

I was just thinking it might be easier to hire a private driver from the hotel...like I know Buena Vista and Vista Del Valle have private drivers for hire at $120/day.

Thanks.

Percy

gailching

If you decide to stay at Vista del Valle

Oscar works out of Vista del Valle !!

So if you are at Vista del Valle, then at the end of the day,Oscar just might be helping the waiter serve you one of their great meals.!!!

When I am in the San Jose ,Central Valley area I use Oscar.

Percy