Activities & Restaurants in Costa Rica
 

I am trying to fine-tune some plans before we leave for our 1st CR trip in 10 days!! I want to maximize our time & see/do as much as possible (as well as make sure we relax)! There are 2 of us couples going (early 30's) & I am the only one researching this trip so I'd like to be able to be "in the know"! Looking for any suggestions of must-sees you might have...I have included what I THINK we'll try to do...

1 NIGHT - PEACE LODGE
-Dinner - at hotel
-Waterfall Trails - want to do this when we first check in but is it SO crowded from tours that we should go the next a.m before they open?
-Poas Volcano - would it make sense to drive down here early on our 1st a.m. & then go back to Peace Lodge to have breakfast, check out & head on to Arenal? We'll be arriving too late in the afternoon the 1st day to see it & we'll have luggage in the car.

2 NIGHTS - ARENAL PARAISO -
-Dinners - El Novillo & Luigi's...good choices?
-Tabacon Hot Springs - after 7pm 1st night
-Horseback trip to Fortuna Falls: Arenal Paraiso charges $30pp - worth it? Is there a better one out there?
-Arenal Paraiso Canopy: $45pp - is there a better one out there?
-Last morning - any other tour we should do here before heading out to Tamarindo by 1pm at the latest? Or should we leave after breakfast to maximize out Tamarindo time?
-Where to eat lunches?

4 NIGHTS - EL JARDIN DEL EDEN
-Dinners - Lazy Wave, Geckos, others?
-May try a surf lesson through Iguana Surf (is this about $35pp?) any BEGINNERS try this before?
-May explore to some other nearby beaches, rent bikes, relax, may do day trip to Rincon....but probably not.
-Any recommendations for horseback riding trips here? Or sunset sails? Costs - any great ones to do?
-What night is the bonfire party? We are 2 couples in our early 30s - not looking for a big party scene - but like to hang out & have some drinks, etc. Is that beach bonfire too much of a younger crowd or too wild?!?!

LAST NIGHT - MELIA CARIARI
-Any place within an easy drive or quick taxi ride for a memorable last dinner in the country?
-Any coffee plantation tours you recommend? Costs? Do you think we could fit one in our last morning before heading to the airport around noon? If not here, maybe our first morning at Peace Lodge?

Any other suggestions on anything will be much appreciated! Sorry this is so long!

Hi there,
I can speak to your time at Arenal Paraiso. We stayed there for 2 nights (had 1 full day) this past April and we liked it. Great volcano views, breakfast was pretty good, too.

Some answers to your questions:

1. Tabacon is $29 per person to get in. Just an FYI as you plan to not arrive until 7pm. Honestly, we arrived around 6 or 7 and we had plenty of time there, but it was very crowded while we were there.

2. We did the horseback ride to the volcano from Arenal Paraiso ($30 or $35, I forget) I would recommend you spend your money on that, and go visit Fortuna Waterfall on your own. (Waterfall has a $6 charge to get in - well worth it, absolutely gorgeous)Waterfall is easy to find with a car or hire a taxi. Then it's a steep hike down to it, but worth every step (and you can swim there).

The volcano horseback ride goes through the jungle and around the farm land near the volcano. We had some great views on that early morning ride. The trip to the waterfall is mostly dirt road and the cars going by kick up a lot of dirt.

Can't comment on your restaurant choices, but there are so many in town. We ate at two that were very good, can't remember the name.

Don't know if the canopy tour is worth it. We heard it was a little boring, but again, not first hand experience, and we did the one in Manuel Antonio.

If you and your group enjoy hiking, Arenal Paraiso has some hiking trails on the property. They looked like they would be pretty good, unfortunately we didn't have enough time to hike them! They go through the jungle, though, and we could hear the howler monkeys at the trail head.

Have fun!
Stacey

Regarding 1st night at Peace Lodge. What time do you think you'll arrive? Maybe you can do the waterfalls when the park is closing, say between 5 and 6pm? There shouldn't be busloads left down there then.

For Poas what about an early breakfast, check out, and then to Poas. That way you will not have to backtrack what may amount to about an hours drive. Except for the luggage thing. Maybe someone else can chime in to say if they think that's a risk.

Be prepared for weather to call the shots at times also. The best plans can quickly get changed for you by Mother Nature! Not always though... you will have a great trip!

Thanks for the ideas so far...

April0404 - I had been told somewhere along the way that the Tabacon price dropped to $19 after 7pm. Is this no longer accurate?

seh2397 - we arrive into SJO at 1050am so I expect we will be getting to Peace Lodge around 1pm. Are the trails lit after dark? I thought it got dark around that time. Also, I thought Poas would be going the opposite direction of Arenal so I wanted to avoid making that journey - but just make Poas a side trip if it is definitely a highlight.

I'm just trying to make sure all the other info I got was accurate. And, I do realize I need to be open to "go with the flow". On our trip to Rio last year I had a lot of plans - many of which fell through because we found other things we preferred to do! But - it is hard to let go for those of us control freaks! :)

One of the best steaks I've ever had was at El Novillo. They hand rub all their meats with oil, spices and herbs before grilling. Delicious! Keep it on your list.

Thanks for the ideas...keep em coming! Has anyone tried the canopy tour at Witches Rock?

sclubb,

You should maybe contact Peace Lodge to ask them, but I am pretty sure the route you would take to Arenal is closer from Poas then from La Paz and that you would have to go by Poas on the way there from La Paz. Definetely double check this becuase there may be a different way to go that I don't know about.

It gets dark at six, but right up until six there should be enough daylight. Since you will be there early, maybe you should head down to the trails at 3pm or so. Again, ask at the desk what they think a good time with less of the bus tours going on. Do the trails first and then the butterfly garden at dusk. Sunrise and dusk is when the big bright blue (Owl) butterflies are most active.

Hi,
I don't remember what the discounted price was. I just remember thinking it wasn't much of a discount! But we went late (like you) and ended up doing the combo hot springs/buffet dinner, so the cost was a bit higher. Many people might tell you it's not worth it, but for the price we're glad we went! we considered it an "excursion"...

Stacey