Hi Everyone,

I am new here and this is my first post. This will also be the first trip to CR for my husband and I.

We will be at BDC 4/16 thru 4/21 Congo cabina then plan to stay at Lost Iguana
for 3-4 nights.

What activities would you suggest at BDC? The hike with Philip seems to be a must.
How is the horseback riding or kayaking?

Also does BDC have books? I love to read while relaxing, but there is a weight limit on NatureAir, so I was hoping to read whatever BDC has laying around.

Plans at Lost Iguana are Sky Trek and Hot Springs any other suggestions?

Okay I'll stop now

Thanks so much for any input!

If you have 3 - 4 nights in Arenal, go on the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge boat tour down the Rio Frio. It is where you will see more wildlife than anywhere else in the Arenal area. We loved Eco-Termales for the hot springs, Baldi and Tabacon do not have great reviews here - noisy, overpriced. We also enjoyed the Hanging Bridges, saw howler monkeys, white faced capuchins and many different birds. Make sure you have a guide or you'll miss a lot.

Thanks!

How did you book Eco Thermales?

You can book it through www.arenal.net or through some of the tour agencies such as Sunset Tours. Eco-Termales doesn't have their own website and limits the number of people to 100 per session. We both had the chicken dinner and enjoyed it. Drinks are on a honor system and you just tell them how many you had when you pay. Some hotels will book it for you also. Enjoy - I think it is a must for the Arenal area!

Definitely do Cano Negro. We've already done it twice and have plans to do it again. Sunset Tours is a great outfit. We saw howlers, capuchins, sloths, bats, caimans, birds, all kinds of great things. I'll third the recommendation for Eco Termales and the chicken! The Hanging Bridges is a very pretty hike and located right next to the Lost Iguana. We didn't see much wildlife there, but LI sells discounted tickets at their front desk. Some people also like to hike to the waterfall, but we haven't done it yet. We did Eco T as a combo with the volcano hike, so we booked it through Sunset Tours.

At BdC, the Primary Forest Tour with Phillip is great for learning about how the forest interacts. We also loved going to the animal sanctuary. A baby monkey ran right into my husband's arms, and I got to hold a sloth. We saw dolphins on the boat ride over. We also did early morning birding with Carlos and enjoyed it.

BDC has a big library with books left behind by travellers (including me). I always travel with a paperback that easily fits into my backback.

Sounds like you've gotten great suggestions for activities, just wanted to mention, I just read that the LI was giving a 20% discount off their rooms from now - Dec. 15, aren't you lucky!

Yep, BdC has a whole library area at the top of the stairs in the dining room. We brought our own books, so I can't vouch for what they have. I carried a paperback and some magazines on with me, and they didn't say a word about it.

owl, where did you read that about LI? That is great news!

It was in a local free paper called AM NY that I p/u every morning- here's the web-site:
http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/

Yes we are getting 20% off- debating deluxe or standard room.
Has the food improved at LI?

Where is the animal sanctuary?

I am perusing the forums for info on both places and am especially excited about BDC! Congo cabina looks nice.

How is the weather in either place during mid-late April?

Anyone going to be at either place during that time?

Thanks for your replies.

You are going to be very pleased in Congo - try to tear yourself away from that deck overlooking the ocean! Pretty much my fave cabina for the view alone. I agree the tour with Philip is a good one, and the pre-dinner night hike as well. The Refuge is across the Golfo Dulce from PJ. Takes about 20 minutes or so to get their by boat. Good thing would be to talk to your fellow travelers at happy hour & dinner and see if others are going, it helps keep the cost down. The horsebackriding down the road with miguel is excellent as well. You can also do the Reguge from Iguana as well, probably be a tad cheaper but then there is still the boat cost.

Of course plenty of trails to hike on your own as well. The Golfo Dulce is one of my faves and the Titi is always popular. In fact just last week 2 more pumas were spotted near the entry of the trail around 5pm (on different days)!! So obviously have your camera with you at all times.

Think your schedule looks great, nice split.

tully, I think dogdaze is talking about the Lost Iguana in Arenal. That would be a long trip to the refuge! Awesome news about the pumas. I wish they would bring back the trip cam, so we could see some pics. We're counting on you girls to bring back puma pics!

dd, we had dinner at the Lost Iguana, and the food wasn't very good. I love that hotel, but to me their dinner is bland and overpriced. They seem like they try to get too fancy with the sauces, etc. We had lunch there, and it was pretty good - very good homemade guacamole and chips. Breakfasts were good. I'd just avoid the pricey dinners unless you want the pure convenience of it.

oops I do that several times a year don't I? Iguana Lodge Lost Iguana ....makes me cross-eyed Well, that's a nice split too then, lol!

Hit reply too soon! And yes, we do plan on getting puma pics, come hell or high water, or mosquitos, or darkness, or scary noises

Yeah very cool about the recent pumas and the time surprised me, I wouldn't expect 5pm - but then they don't really care about the time do they?

You guys should all get those night vision goggles for the Titi trail, maybe you should just bring sleeping bags so you can get the best shot!

owl, thanks very much for posting that link. I'm trying to watch expenses a little bit, but 20% is enough to lure me back.

Tully and VG

Yes. The Lost Iguana in Arenal. We thought those 2 areas of the country would be a great way to start to become familar with CR.

Too bad about the food. That is a consistent complaint on these and other boards!

What do others do for dinner while at LI?

Do we need raingear for mid-late april?

I am so glad you think we have made some good choices!

You have picked two of my favorite spots in CR. I think it's funny about the Lost Iguana. We went there a few years ago, and the dinners were pretty bad and overpriced. For our last trip, our driver told us that they got a new chef, so we were optimistic, but to us, it was the same old same old. We took the free shuttle into town and ate at places like El Novillo, La Choza de Laurel, and Eco Termales. I wouldn't expect much rain in April. Usually June-November is rainy. We like to travel during rainy season though because things get so lush and you can save some $ on rates.

I hope that one (or even a dozen) person's comments about the food at Iguana Lodge will not become a "fact" to be repeated over and over. My wife and I loved the food at Iguana Lodge, both evening meals and lunches at the Perle. Food is a matter of taste, not fact. We would happily return there because of the food, not in spite of it. (I would create a riot if I said what popular resort we thought it was [often] better than.)

Kink, really? I never heard anyone say that they had a good dinner there. Like I said, breakfast and lunch were good and reasonably priced. I'm glad you had a different experience than we did. What did you eat so we'll know for next time?

I think their rep for bad food is pretty widespread. Our driver even commented on it before we brought it up.

Kinkazote - I think the comments about the lousy food is regarding Lost Iguana in Arenal, while it sounds like you are recommending great food at Iguana Lodge in PJ, right? It can get confusing!

Yes, Kink, we're talking about the Lost Iguana.