Since there is so much info here, I've got to jump in and ask a few questions...

For our honeymoon, my wife and I have 16 nights (18 days including arrival and departure days) in CR scheduled in late December. We intend to get to Arenal and Monteverde for a week or so, then go to the Pacific coast for a week or so.

1) Can anyone recommend quiet beach areas where a novice surfer can rent a board and have fun while my wife gets some spa treatment (or at least some good rest and relaxation)? We would like to split our time between a couple of locations and would like to avoid the biggest crowds during this busy time of year. Also, we're talking mid-range budget.

2) Am I crazy to think we can comfortably enjoy the Arenal/Mont area then proceed to enjoy the Playa Grande AND Carate area? Can you suggest a more reasonable combo of beach coastal areas?

3) Would you suggest the coast for the first (ie. pre-Christmas) week, then rainforest for the second week? or vice versa?

We're flexible and all suggestions are welcome. I'm trying to fit in as much as I can, without wearing us out. Also, my wife left the trip planning up to me so any hidden gems that I can use to impress her would be great.

Thanks for all the help.

Hi there. My husband and I were just there for a few weeks last summer and had a similar itinerary to what you're planning. Here are some suggestions...

Arenal is amazing but don't leave any valuables in your room. My purse was stolen from our room while we were on an excursion.

Don't believe the hype - avoid Playa Jaco - the city is very touristy, hotels over-priced and the beach is the least beautiful of all we saw there.

We also attempted to drive from Arenal to Carate in a day down the Pacific coast. It could be done but it will take an entire day. Incidentally, we never made it to Carate, once we hit Uvita/Ojochal we were in love and spent the rest of our trip there. (Check out the Villas de Bosque - we got a studio room with kitchen for $75/ day) *Beware - this drive includes a 2 hour stint on the worst pot-holed road on earth - it is quite painful!

Playa Tortuga (near Ojochal) is breathtaking. I took a surf lesson (first time ever) from a local named Tito and it was great (got up the several times)! I don't know if they have a spa there but just sitting on your patio looking at the rainforest feels better than a day at the spa! And the food is amazing!

Sorry to be so long-winded. Hope that helps.

I hate to be a poop, but if you are talking about late December of this year, you're a little late (actually a lot late.) The week between Christmas and New Years is the second busiest vacation week of the year in Costa Rica. Costa Ricans have booked their vacations months ago. If you haven't already booked your hotels, you might not have much to choose from during that week. I think that the Nicoya Peninsula, Arenal and Monteverde would be pretty full by now. You might be better off in the south or on the Caribbean side. Good luck.

First of all, congratulations!

I agree with rbrazill--hotel picking will be very slim. Not only have Costa Ricans booked their stays months ago, so have people from all over the world. And I do mean months ago. One hotel told me back in March that they were starting to book for December of 2007! Think about that--20 months advance! Some people start that early on the places they really want to guarantee.

The Caribbean side would worry me a bit that time of year--lots of rain is very typical, and I do mean lots. Could be a problem more than a nuisance.

If I were you, I'd contact Pat Hewitt at www.lovecostarica.com RIGHT NOW and ask him to try to arrange something for you. If anyone can find you some availability, he can.

As for not leaving your belongings in your room at Arenal, uh, you wouldn't want to do that anywhere--without the benefit of a very good room safe. I wouldn't do that here in the states!

On a brighter note, there isn't anyplace you could choose to go that you won't enjoy to the utmost. There are hidden gems around every corner. Get yourself some direct help---someone like Pat who has the "inside" into every hotel and destination in the country. Good luck and happy honeymooning!

as shillimac says i think uve left it too late.
try the el sueno tropival in playa carrillo, one of the nicest beaches in CR!

http://costa-rica.typepad.com/playa_...ome/index.html

i'd skip monteverde, weathers awful all the good hotels are long booked up and the rest will overcharge you.
you've got a cahance of a hotel in la fortuna because they've added 400 rooms this year, but HURRY!!