This will be our 2nd trip to Costa Rica. We are: me, husband and two 20-something sons. We stayed at BdC for 4 nights and 3 nights at Arenal Ob Lodge on our first trip. We rented a car and driving was/is no problem. Loved it all! We have another 8 nights in March. Flying in to San Jose. We love being in the jungles, BdC-ish places. Love animals, birds, reptiles, easy hiking, guided hikes (to get more out of it) and forests. Thinking of MA, Monteverde, or cloud forest somewhere...? Would like to stay in two, or maybe three places to limit car time, no more. IDEAS???
Have to make fast plans!!! thanks!

www.monteverdeinfo.com

www.fondavela.com www.hotelbelmar.net

www.ruralcostarica.com Rio Celeste Tenorio Lodge awesome

www.rincondelavieja.net La Anita Rainforest Ranch.

Guancaste beaches like www.reservaconchal.com

Have fun,

Sarapiqui is a little under 2 hours away from San Jose, lots of nice lodgings like Selva Verde and good hiking around the area. La Selva OTS is a nice place for good guided hikes also.

San Gerardo de Dota Savegre Mountain Hotel with guiding by Marino Chacon?

http://www.savegre.co.cr/indexeng.html

I definitely think you'd enjoy Monteverde. Take a look at Fonda Vela; they have new junior suites with two big beds, a small frig, tub, and nice garden views. It's also one of the hotels closest to the reserve. Hopefully you'll get a chance to see a quetzal. You could also do a night hike at Hidden Valley; those are fun. Do you have any interest in Tortuguero? If you'd enjoy getting out on the canals and seeing wildlife, you might like it.

Could round out mlgb's suggestion (San Gerardo de Dota Savegre Mountain Hotel with guiding by Marino Chacon) with Cloudbridge and either of Orosi (hot springs) or Hacienda Baru (lowlands/beach but otherwise seems up your alley).

I also had a good experience at HB, they have some easy hikes and some more strenuous, and I thought excellent Tico guides. They have a small turtle hatchery there although don't know about timing.

Thank you Qwo for your links. They are always helpful. I appreciate everyone's posts as it really is a wealth of information as I lurk to plan our trips.