9 Days in CR in Jan
 

Just purchased flights to Costa Rica (SJO) for January!! So excited for my first visit. 4 single, active, 30ish ladies so any itineray suggestions to fit are much appreciated.
A very preliminary itinerary:
Day 1 (Sat) arrive San Jose at noon - Drive to Arenal – Volcano Night tour
Day 2 Arenal – Trip to Cano Negro, Tabacon Hot Springs
Day 3 Arenal to Monteverde
Day 4 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – Canopy Tour
Day 5 Drive or Fly? to Quepos / Manuel Antonio
Day 6 MA – Hiking Tour / Beach
Day 7 MA - Beach
Day 8 MA to San Jose
Day 9 (Sun) depart SJO @ 1:20pm

Should we add a day at Arenal and lessen our stay at MA?

Also, any thoughts on Tamarindo?

Also, like everyone else, trying to tackle the drive/fly/bus issue. So any help there would be great as well.

For me personally, I would like more time in Arenal than that. I'm so glad you're going to Cano Negro; we did that tour with Sunset Tours and loved it. We did a similar trip for our first trip to CR and decided to skip Monteverde so we wouldn't be so rushed. We loved Arenal.

We hired private drivers through our hotels and really liked that option; if you fly on Sansa or Nature Air, you're really limited in terms of luggage. Checked bags for Sansa can be a maximum weight of only 22 pounds. Even then sometimes your bag may not make it on the plane. Interbus is another popular option you might want to check into. Have a great trip!

You have essentially 1/2 day at Arenal.

I would eliminate Monteverde [and go to San Gerardo de Dota on your next visit to CR.......]

Jerry

Well, I think we'll add a full day to Avenal and shorten our stay at MA. Have you been to Los Angeles Cloud Forest? Would that be closer to Avenal. I would really like to experience that if possible.

Los Angeles would be more easy to get to from San Jose, possibly on your way to Arenal. Here's a link with brief descrip of cloud forests that may help.

http://www.costaricaexperts.com/d3.htm

La Paz is really wonderful. :)

hip, I was just about to post the same thing! We loved the La Paz Waterfall Gardens - 5 gorgeous falls that you can hike to and Poas Volcano nearby. The Peace Lodge would make a very fun, indulgent place to stay for one night.

I'd skip Monteverde on this trip personally and enjoy your other stops a bit more. If you do fly, there is no airport there, you will have to drive to MA, will take 4-5 hours.