Best plan - suggestions
 

I am joining a tour but I think with flights, I might have to arrive a day or two earlier. The tour does the Gold Museum and the National theater. I am looking for the following:

1. a good shuttle from the airport
2. a tour company with a tour close to the city (or private guide if there is a suggestion of something else to do in the city)
3. Is it safe to walk around alone (I am getting conflicting stories).

Appreciate the suggestions

San Jose isn't the most attractive city - congested, traffic, lots of razor wire. You might think about visiting the La Paz Waterfall Garden about an hour away or doing the Doka Coffee Estate tour. There's also Poas Volcano, but it's had some volcanic activity lately so may be closed. I think it depends on the area, but I'd definitely take a taxi at night vs. walking around the city. You can get taxis at the airport. There's a popular shuttle service called Interbus; I believe they pick up close to the airport vs. at the actual airport itself. They have a website if you want to get more details.

Thanks! Could you recommend any tour companies?

We like Desafio but I'm not sure that they go to the areas you're interested in. They have a good website if you'd like to explore it. You can also get good recommendations from your hotel. We never spend much time in San Jose since the real beauty of CR lies outside the city for us. Grano de Oro is a good city hotel if you need one.

I second La Paz Watefall Garden and staying out of the city.

Thanks for the suggestions. Now to decide if I should get there a day or two earlier or not. How did you all get from the airport? Did you take a private shuttle?

We had a private driver pick us up. You can book them through your hotels when you reserve them.

I think I might stay around the airport and take a day tour from there. Can anyone recommend a clean, safe establishment? Also a driver to get me to San Jose to meet up with the tour?

Have not stayed but Adventure Inn is popular.

Hello again- if I could top this up and ask another question. Anyone ever do a one day tour and who would you recommend?

> Anyone ever do a one day tour and who would you recommend?

Last week I did one-day tours to
(1) Irazu Volcano* & Orosi Hot Springs; and
(2) Manuel Antonio National Park.

Went with
http://www.costaricaguides.com/one-day-tours/
and was completely satisfied with the drivers, guides, and customer service. They also do one-day tours to La Paz Waterfall Park, that place being highly recommended.


* Note that, as of late June, Pao Volcano is still closed.

Thanks for the information. Did you feel rushed?

> Did you feel rushed?

Define "rushed."
We were given four hours to explore Manuel Antonio NP. I could have spent a whole day there, but that's just me. Most of the visitors, who came to spend the day at the beach, seemed to do just fine.

Isn't you main tour going to Manuel Antonio? I wouldn't go there on a day tour.

There are official taxis (orange) from the airport. Downtown San Jose is not especially interesting and not a place that I would stay nor is really recommended for wandering around.

Where is your tour meeting?

If they can meet at the airport or are spending the first night neare the airport, you could stay here, or one of the other airport hotels.

http://www.puravidahotel.com/

You can see the outline of Poas from the hotel, although really doesn't look like much.

They can set up a half day tour.

@ I have since that post, found a few day tours. I am going to tack a day onto the end and have a list. I thought about the day tour to Tortuguero. It is about a 12 hour tour. There is the tour to La Paz too.

I came as a senior female traveler last September. Booked my first two nights at Xandari, about 20 minutes from airport. Although I rented a car, they will also pick you up from airport. I wanted to see Gold and Jade Museum. Xandari booked me a private tour ( just me and the guide). We saw all of downtown San Jose, toured the market, the National Theater,the museums, etc. I felt 100% safe the entire time, price was reasonable. I recommend Xandari and their guides..

I think Tortuguero is best as an overnight tour.

I agree with Michelle - Tortuguero as a day tour would make for a very long day. We spent two nights there, and that was about right.

I had hoped it might be doable. Might have to save that for another trip.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I ended up having a very negative experience with one tour company in the hotel. I tried to reach them through their website and through a phone call. Long story short, they got back to me a week later! On a positive note, I found a private driver who picked me up at the hotel and I had a nice day at La Paz Waterfall garden.

I loved Costa Rica. I can't wait to go back.