2nd visit advice...
 

Ideas for 2nd trip?
Did CR 14 days June05. Can't fatham Not returning! BdC and Oscar, our driver for 10 wonderful days were highlights(splurges!) for kids, then 13&15. Also Arenal put on a show for 4 straight, clear days at Obs Lodge, Eco Termales lovely, quiet, not too commercial. Dominical for 4 days surfing was an experience for sure. Finally 5 days in unbelievable Osa. Is Maureen still cooking/surfing at BdC? Excited to hear the familiar names are still there, daughter loved Gerli and salsa!
So, doubt we can top that trip but willing to try, end Jan 08! Family now big on surfing and low-impact beach activities. BdC a MUST. Question: only time for 1 stop on way to surf Tamarindo area, see turtles...don't like big resort style, want a more CR friendly experience. Do Monteverde? But seems odd to do CR twice & not see MA, but we tend to avoid crowds.

Thoughts from the regulars?

I have the same quest as you (planning 2nd trip). BDC's a must again for us too. MA is high on the list, I think we will go "just" off-peak to avoid the high tourist season. Nice thing about going to MA is you can then fly Nature Air from Quepos to PJ. We are also thinking about 3 nights in Drake Bay, and 3 nights Golfito. All still tenantive ;)

Good luck planning!

We spent a night in Golfito before catching the boat to PJ. Tough town. Not sure I'd stay there 3 days, but maybe I'm not informed on excursions opportunities, etc. Just wanted to mention it.

4explore -- Can you elaborate more on what you mean by Golfito being a tough town? Have been looking into Dolphin Quest and Las Esquinas.

Thanks!

hvc - I've heard golfito can be a little rough, it's an old port town. But I doubt it'd really affect any of the places you stay. I do know it's airstrip makes PJ's airstrip look like a big deal, lol.

To the OP - yes Mo is still at BdC, or was in May at least. Passed her one day on the way to the beach, don't know if she was surfing or not. If you do go to BdC, then I'd skip MA and hit Monteverde or somewhere else. Selva Verde is a nice place, but I was there when it was relatively empty, don't know if I'd feel the same if it was packed.

hvc...sorry, computer was not cooperating for a few days. Yes I thought Golfito was too rough for me but agree with Tully, your sites are out of the town and it won't matter really. Ticos from all over CR travel into G for duty free stuff, acres and acres of booths of stuff. Oscar implied even he was wary, and he's a big guy!
Are you doing a dolphin swim, hence the Dolphin Watch? We took an excursion from BdC, drove into PJ to meet a small boat. Just us, very cool, I think about $250 for 4 incl getting to PJ and back. When I say just us , I mean not another boat on the whole Gulf! Took a little while to locate the dolphins but we found at least 100 up in bay, leaping, racing beside us, feeding. We did not want a captured dolphin swim, passed on them in many other places. Also no baiting or feeding them. Here, they are totally wild and you drag behind the boat holding a plank, tilt the plank down and you go under...the dolphins are swimming around you. Spectacular. Also saw agiant turtle, anchored off the coast and snorkled while dolphins were feeding, drank fresh green coconut juice the boat capt swam to the shore for.

Tully, thx for thoughts about MA vs Monteverde. Saw no Quetzals last time, stopped I believe in Selva Verde area for a few hours of trail walking. Would love to see one...

4explore,

I suggest 2 or 3 nights at Savegre Lodge [San Gerardo de Dota]. Tico owned, friendly, beautiful scenery including oak-bamboo cloud forest....and quetzals as well as other wonderful birds.

cheers

Jerry

4explore -- Thanks for elaborating on Golfito. I was not aware of it! Anyway, I found Dolphin Quest doing eco-lodge searches and it looks good and something different from BDC if we choose to explore a different area of Osa.

We actually did the dolphin watch in May, just as you described, from BDC as well. It was amazing going down under the water and seeing all the dolphins playing and swimming!

gannetmusic- I think I'll check out that lodge as well, sounds wonderful!