Hello,
We are planning trip to Costa Rica (4 adults) for 2 weeks in early December. I contacted Costa Rica Transfers Company and they suggested the following itinerary. I would appreciate your advise/suggestions, especial regarding the hotels and number of days spend in each location:
Day1
Pick up at the airport and transfer to Hotel Presidente in San Jose.
Day2
Tortuguero 3 days 2 nights adventure.
Tour to the canals by boat
Visit to Tortuguero National Park
Day 3
drive by Braulio Carrillo National Park,
Tortuguero Canals.
PACHIRA LODGE.
Day 4
OPTIONAL MORNING TOUR:
hike Tortuguero Hill or travel along the
Tortuguero Canals.
Day 5
transfer the Arenal area.
Arenal Paraiso hotel
Day 6
white water rafting trip to the Sarapiqui river.
Day 7
transfer to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Belmar hotel
Day 8
cloud forest
Day 9
Transfer to Tamarindo Beach area (North Pacific Side )
Tamarindo Diria Hotel
free time to relax and enjoy the beach.
Day 10, 11
Central Pacific Coast. At Jaco
Club del Mar hotel
Day 12, 13
transfer further down the
Coast to Manuel Antonio National Beach and Park.
Hike to the national park.
Day 14
transferred to the airport to take flight back home.
Thank you,
Maria

If you haven't booked yet, you may want to consider the package offered on this website: www.costaricapackage.com

You really get to see a lot of great sights and for an incredibly great rate. I know a few of the hotels mentioned there and they're fine places to stay.

The package is coordinated by the couple that owns and runs La Finca Que Ama, one of the hotels on the itinerary.

My husband and I stayed at their place this past May. Meeting them was a real treat and a half, and their beautiful inn is set in the most wonderful mountain setting I have ever seen in my life.

Since that trip only runs 10 days, I'm sure you could supplement a foray into Tortuguero or the Osa Peninsula to fill up the rest of your two weeks, which would round out your Costa Rican adventure by giving you a taste of the rainforest.

MonaManuel, how are you? Not be be a bother, but we were hoping to hear about your trip! I go in a couple wks and look forward to staying at La Finca Que Ama...Joyce

Hey, yeah, where is that report?? Aren't you doing a web site or something like that? I'd love to see it before we leave, but we're leaving on Saturday, so I guess I may have to wait until I get back. I know how hard it can be to find the time to post a full trip report when trying to catch up on daily life when you return.

Oy vey, I know, I know! I started to write something a while ago and even sent in some reviews of the places we stayed to a few of the travel guide publishers.

But, I was recently hired to write a book for an organization in the city and I have a very short deadline so much of my time is being consumed by that.

We do have some wonderful photos, but I think I will wait to show them to you until you get home so I don't ruin any of the surprises.

I will write below the list of hotels we stayed at and their accompanying cities and if either of you have specific questions, let me know and I'll respond. Hopefully this post won't become too popular, couched as it is in someone else's post, as I really need to concentrate on this book. But you too were so wonderful in my planning and I would love to return the favour. Feel free to ask away:

Vista del Valle - central valley (you know, I'm still not really sure of the exact town because it wasn't where I thought it was going to be!)

Bosque del Cabo - Cabo Matopalo (Osa)

Arenal Paraiso - La Fortuna or thereabout

Tango Mar - near Tambor, Nicoya peninsula

La Finca Que Ama - near San Pablo de Turrubares and Santiago de Purriscal (I hope I got those right, Neta)

Makanda - Manuel Antonio

Xandari - Alajuela

MariaX
You are going to arrive at Tamarindo in the early afternoon I assume? And leave the next morning? It hardly seems worth your time. Traveling in Costa Rica, although always interesting, is quite a hassle for a one nighter anywhere.

Thank all for the suggestions.
We would like to spend last 2-3 day of the trip in a nice hotel right on the beach where we can go swimming.
Any recommendations?

MariaX