Hoiya

Hi everyone,

I am just beginning to plan our family's first trip to CR next March. We will be arriving in San Jose on a Monday and leaving the following Monday. We are a family of 4 with 2 teen daughters (12 and 14).

I was thinking of the following itinerary, but had heard that Monteverde may not be worth the effort and wanted to get your feedback on whether this is too much:

Day 1: Arrive SJO and transfer to Arenal
Day 2: Arenal
Day 3: Arenal
Day 4: Morning Activity in Arenal and then transfer to Monteverde
Day 5: Activity in Monteverde and then Transfer to Manuel Antonio
Day 6: Manuel Antonio
Day 7: Manuel Antonio
Day 8: Transfer back to SJO in the morning for our afternoon flight.

Again, I'm just starting this so any thoughts/insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Hoiya

volcanogirl

I would skip Monteverde this trip since you don't have much time and just do a split between the Arenal area and Manuel Antonio. Those are both great areas for a first trip and very family friendly with lots of hotel and restaurant choices. Monteverde is a bit of a pain to get to, and you don't really have time for 3 locations when you factor in all the travel time. Arenal and MA have plenty to keep you busy.

Hoiya

Thanks, that is kind of what I figured. I guess the next question is whether to spend 4nights in Arenal or in MA?

Also, which area has the better zip lining? I would assume Arenal, but I read somewhere that a park in MA has the longest single line in the country.

Thanks for all the help.

Hoiya

volcanogirl

Sky Trek in the Arenal area is the most popular place to go. They have some of the longest, highest lines in the country and I like it because you get nice views of the volcano and lake when you do it.

sunbum1944

I did a similar trip with daughter when she was in college and I know she preferred the beach time in MA over Arenal area - although she loved all of it.

We were staying in a little motel close to Arenal - woke up in the middle of the night and her bed was moving across the room - volcano was erupting and lots of rumbling and shaking going on- that was pretty exciting.

We spent our first night in San Jose and went river rafting the next day- fun!