dfarmer

Well we are less than a month from leaving!!!!!! Hooray!

I have read everything I can find on these to lodges and the areas.

I remember reading something from Jessie about a new boat tour offered by Eduardo - does anyone have any info on this? On the website there is a boat tour out of PJ, but I did not see anything one directly from Bosque. Are they the same tour?

Any last - reminders, suggestions, must do's, don't do's - from either Bosque or Iguana?

By the way - as many of you know I have always relied on a travel professional. Many of you have said that I did not need one. Well this year - I did it by myself! Well, except that your information guided me, all the way! Thanks!!!!

LA_FadeAway

Since you are staying at Iguana Lodge, I would say that the Arenal hanging bridges are a must see. They are at the end of the road past Iguana Lodge (the lodge is on your left on your way up to the bridges). The walk takes about an hour and a half to two hours and the views and foilage are gorgeous. We also got to see a family of howler monkeys really close up. What a great experience!

danmin

If you are staying at the Lost Iguana in Arenal, make sure you go to the hanging bridges a "short Hike" from the hotel. and go to the SkyTram and do the ziplines. You can book both at the hotel and it is cheaper than going w/ your agent or directly w/ the excursion. Also, have dinner at the hotel resturant....the best food in C.R. If you don't have a room w/ the hot tub on the balcony, try too it is worth the extra money. Have fun! you are going to love the Lost Iquana.

superturnip

Is there a weight limit for the zip lines. I am about a 200 lb'er and I was just wondering if there are any restrictions. My wife will be fine and I hope I am not too heavy!

shillmac

Iguana Lodge is on the Osa, isn't it? I dont' think it's the same as The Lost Iguana near Arenal.

dfarmer

Yes, Shillmac, the Iguana Lodge is on the Osa.

Sorry I should have been more clear in my post.

Jessie_

Yes, the boat trip from PJ is the one I was talking about. They were booked up last year-1st year for it. I think they can only take 6 people at a time. I just looked at the description and they may have changed it. Last Feb Eduardo drove everyone and then went out in the boat. I didn't see his name mentioned on the site and they did say a taxi would take you to town. The trip still sounds interesting. We will be staying down on the Rio Tigre for a few days before heading over to Bosque ourselves this year. I may decide I have seen enough of it. I have also kayaked and done a horseback ride through the mangroves so we may decide to skip it this year unless Eduardo is still doing it. A hike with Philip is a must. He is such a sweetheart. They have some very nice people working there. Karen is an animal and runs up and down the Pacific trail. I had to practically drag myself back up. It will be better to do the waterfall rapelling from here rather than Iguana as it is right next door to Bosque. They both offer it.

If you will end up having to take a taxi an alternative might be to wait until you are at Iguana Lodge and do the Sunset kayak trip or just the mangrove tour with Tom down at Escondido Trex. The taxis are pretty high down there. ET is just down the road from Iguana so it would cut the cost down considerably.

Nothing to be sorry about! I think there has just been a lot of talk about the Lost Iguana recently and people just keyed in on the Iguana part.

You will have a great time. I'll be thinking of you and won't be far behind although we will be heading down to Panama before heading back up into CR and to the Osa.

shillmac

Anxious to hear your report on the Iguana Lodge---Buen Viaje and have a great time!

dfarmer

Thanks again! I seem to never run out of questions!

Shillmac, I will definitely post a report once we return.

Jessie, thanks for responding about the boat trip. I love being on the water and thought this sounds like a good excursion for us. Will definitely check into it.
(My husband while watching Travel or Discovery, saw people rappelling down a waterfall - got pretty excited. I personally think he is nuts! I think I will just hike the thing!)

Looking forward to hearing about your Panama adventure!

For anyone else following this thread, we chose the Iguana Lodge in the Osa due to the fact that it is directly on the beach and fairly close to Bosque del Cabo. This seemed to be a good and easy split of 6 nights in the Osa. Providing us with a good mix of jungle and beach time.

sparklegem

Hi dfarmer,
How did your Bosque del Cabo & Iguana Lodge split work out? I would also love to read your trip report if you could post a link on this thread.
Thank You,
Gem

dfarmer

Hi Gem, certainly! I will be happy to post a report. As you have probably already figured, we will be back home mid Feb.

What we are doing is 4 nights at Bosque and 2 at Iguana. Could have probably been happy with a 3/3 split. Bosque is really eating into our budget. What we had originally considered was to visit Bosque and then onto an area up around Tamarindo. However, due to the help of this forum, I feel that this split will give us the perfect split between beach and jungle. By taking my beach time at Iguana this will offset the cost of renting a vehicle and/or additional airfare. I have juggled the numbers and made it work.

Bosque and Iguana have both been easy to work with and have coordinated the transfers.

Anyway I am excited and in the countdown mode!

sparklegem

Thank you, dfarmer. Sounds like a great trip! It is almost here; have a wonderful time!!

knobwab

Quick drying nylon clothing is the BEST, bring insect repellant, and a couple of good flashlights, and a check to cover incurred expenses at Bosque.

dfarmer

Oh, Thanks, that reminded me, I need to put fresh batteries in the flashlights.

One question - I assume you mean travelers checks for the balance? I know they took a personal check for payment of our stay, but would assume they would want cash or travelers checks for the balance.

I know they do charge extra if we use a credit card.

shillmac

We paid the balance in cash. You should check with them about traveler's cheques. Have a wonderful time (how could you not?) You are going to love Bosque, and I am anxious to hear what you think of Iguana--it sounds like a cool place to stay. Be sure and go on both the morning and night hikes with Philip. He is full of fascinating info. And Eduardo does an excellent job with his early a.m. birding hike. I'm excited for you!

dfarmer

Thanks Shillmac, We have always traveled with a mix of cash & travelers checks. And until I read another post, I had assumed that banks receiving travelers checks treated these the same as cash. Actually had never even thought about this. Definitely something to keep in mind and check on before we leave.

Just two weeks to go!

shillmac

dfarmer,
I can't believe what a mess Fodor's is turning out to be. It is definitely in need of some heavy duty repair! Where are you flying out of? And what day are you leaving? When it gets down to the last week or two, it's really hard to tolerate the waiting, huh? And then, zip! Over before we know it and we all find ourselves thinking ahead longingly to that next time. . . .!

dfarmer

Yes shillmac, the waiting is beginning to drive me nuts. I am all consumed at this time. Reading every word I can get my hands on, absorbing all info as best that I can, practicing my very limited spanish like a crazy woman (still know so little it is embarrassing!), already checking the clothing, washing, gathering all my stuff. You would think we were leaving tomorrow.

And then when I think of writing a trip report, it is so depressing, because that means we will be back.

We fly out of Memphis through Atlanta into SJO. I know every one thinks, why does she complain about the cold! Well being from the south, makes a 30 degree day seem like the artics! Thank goodness we have short winters, or else I would freeze to death!

Two weeks from tomorrow - AHHHHH! Pura Vida!

shillmac

LOL! My daughter's fiance flew to Memphis from LA last week--there were storms, and he said EVERYONE on the plane got sick. He got nauseated as well--and he's a sailor! Then he had trouble getting a flight out to Atlanta for the same reasons. Hope it has calmed down a bit for you there.

We are freezing here in OK. It's 16 degrees outside now. Tuesday we should move into the 50's, and Wednesday into the 60's and stay there for a few days. I am looking forward to that! I HATE the cold!

How many trips is this for you to Costa Rica? You know, your espanol is going to improve again this time! Amazing what a difference it makes when you actually get a chance to use it for a few days! I meet with a lady once a week just for conversational espanol so I don't get rusty--I've studied on my own for about 2 years now. Between my studies, Spanish school in CR, returns to CR, and my conversations with her. . .it's coming along. Poco a poco!

I'm jealous! We won't get back there before summer. And the way it is looking, it may be for just a couple of weeks. I try to schedule 4 if possible, but this summer is shaping up a little differently! I so want to do language school again. Have you thought about that? You would love it!

dfarmer

Oh yes, big storms last week, I would not have wanted to be flying.

This is trip #4. I have to say that our first time down, which was Feb 2001, we had no idea that it would keep calling us back.

Someday I know I will enjoy language school, but right now I still have 2 daughters in high school. 10 - 12 days is all we can seem to get away. You may have gathered from previous posts, that our trip in Feb is just my husband and myself. The kids get the rest of the year and between the two of us we have 5!