We are going on our honeymoon to Costa Rica in November. We are spending 7 nights at Bosque Del Cabo, then flying back to Alajuela. Our current plans are to rent a car and drive up to La Fortuna and stay at Montana De Fuego (at the base of the volcano) for either 2 or 3 nights. If we stay 3 nights, we will be rushing back to catch our flight the same day at 2pm. If we stay 2 nights we are thinking about staying the last night at Vista Del Valle (need to check availability). <BR> <BR>My big question is, would we be missing out on much by skipping the Arenal trip altogether and simply staying those last 3 nights at Vista Del Valle instead? It sounds really nice, but we are kinda excited about the prospect of seeing an actual volcano. The big headace about going to arenal is having to either rent a car or take a bus. <BR> <BR>Any advice? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR>Mitch

Don't skip Arenal - it's one of the best places to go in Costa Rica. There is not only the volcano; don't miss Tabacon - one of the nicest hot springs I've ever seen and you also shouldn't miss the drive around the Lake Arenal. It's a number one destination for windsurfers, but even if you don't surf you'll like the landscape.

I went to Arenal last year and ended up leaving after only one day because it was absolutely pouring rain with no signs of stopping. You couldn't even see the base of the volcano, and I was staying at the Observatory Lodge. My friend and I left early the next morning and went to the beach and had a great time with gorgeous weather. <BR> <BR>Obviously my experience at Arenal had everything to do with weather which can't be controlled or really predicted, but from what I have heard, it rains there more often than not (rainforest!) and if you see the active volcano on your first trip there you are lucky. <BR> <BR>If you don't want to chance it and only have 2 or 3 days, I would say skip it.

Vista del Valle is wonderful. Arenal is interesting and the Tabacon hot springs are nice, but I would only spend one or two nights at Arenal at most (have heard good things about Montana del Fuego, drove by the cabins many times and stopped at their very nice gift shop), NOT three nights. We stayed 3 nights at Arenal and while we were glad we saw the volcano, I just did not like that part of CR nearly as much as I did the Pacific coastal areas. On the other hand, 3 nights at Vista del Valle might be a bit much also -- but I would definitely spend at least one or two nights there. Like the other poster said, weather at Arenal is unpredictable, and if you happen to be there at the wrong time, you may not even get to see the volcano. So to some people it is worth it to stay 2 nights there just to double your odds of seeing it erupt. It's up to you. Split up those 3 nights -- either 2 at Arenal & 1 at Vista del Valle (which is probably what I would recommend), or 1 at Arenal & 2 at Vista del Valle. Renting a car really isn't that much of a pain, so I would not let that be the deciding factor. We rented with Dollar, and they met us at Pavas airport with the vehicle and we drove up to La Fortuna in about 4 hours. If you do go to Arenal, definitely make sure you go to the hot springs.

Rainy season usually ends in early October and it gets dryer Nov.-Apr. So the later you go the dryer it can be. Of course your up high in an area that creates its own weather. <BR> <BR>adios! <BR> <BR>[email protected] <BR>www.choice1.com/villamontana.htm

We were in Costa Rica this summer for 2 weeks, we did go to Arenal and it was a great place, however if you only have time to see one other location besides the Osa, I would recommend going to Tortuguero. Excellent place to see wildlife. Most of the lodges offer either a 2 or 3 night package and you can fly or boat in/out.

Mitch, I was in the same boat your in! My wife and I went to Costa Rica in July/August and had hesitated about the time we would spend in La Fortuna. I have some advice...GO THERE!!...STAY AT MONTANA DEL FUEGO...RIDE HORSES TO THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN!!! <BR> <BR>The hospitality we received at Montana Del Fuego was amazing...In fact we even sent Carlos the Manager a thank you note. <BR> <BR>I don't know how much time you have, but you should consider driving more on your trip. We were there for 12 days, rented a Pathfinder, and traveled from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, to Dominical, to Cabo Matapalo (YES,WE DROVE AND IT WAS FUN AND EASY!) up to San General De Dota to San Jose. Driving in Costa Rica is the ONLY way to see the country and the people. Only the wimps will tell you driving is too hard!!!

YES! Do spend time at Arenal and Tabacon...This was our favorite part of our trip. We spent 3 nights there in November 97 and wish we could have prolonged our stay in the rainforest, less time at the beach. There are so many neat things to do up there. Tabacon springs is truly a great hot springs area, very romantic, too. Also, do a canopy tour to see more wildlife up in the trees themselves. We alo took a river safari out of la fortuna and had our own guide, saw monkeys, sloths, birds, crocs, caymens, marguay (which are really rare small leopard-like cats). We had cloud cover until our last night when we saw it in its entirety....awesome! But, you really can't predict the weather there, we did get very little rain...just some mist once in a while. Also, if you are in to adventure...hick down to la fortuna waterfall...its very pretty and scenic but not an easy hike!

...my favorite memory of Costa Rica is hiking around Arenal: the beautiful blue lake and lush green jungle against the stark blackness of lava. I was in awe.

Mitch, sent you a note to your e-mail address. I'd wholly recommend going to Arenal if you can see the volcano. It is amazing.

I would definitely not skip Arenal, the termal waters at Tabacon were excellent. We also enjoyed the Tabacon Resort a lot, but you don't need to stay here in order to go to the hot springs.

Hello, <BR>Don't skip Arenal! Trus you have to be lucky with the weather, but if you are, it is really worth going there for at least two nights. You can walk very close to the lava, you can go on a horseback trip ( we enjoyed a lot)to the volcano, you can see- and hear - de lava erupting in the evening. <BR>

I would skip Arenal because you are going during the end of the rainy season. In the area of Arenal the rainy season also hangs on a little longer than it does in the rest of the country. The rainy season does not truly stop until January in that part of the country. While there is a slim chance that you will see the cone, your valuable time is better spent somewhere else.

Hi Mitch:<BR><BR>I would recommend not skipping Arenal. I was on a girls trip in October and we stayed at the Vista del Valle for a week. One of our day trips was to Arenal and the hot springs. We lucked out and saw the volcano erupt. Although the top of the volcano became cloud covered not long after it erupted, but it was well worth it.