We've got most of our itinerary figured out for our anniversary trip in October. We knew it was the rainy season, so we're focusing on the Caribbean side and Bocas del Toro in Panama. Comments welcome!

Oct 17 - Fly from DC to San Jose (Gran del Oro)
Oct 18 - Pickup San Jose for All day rafting trip on Pacaure, drop off Puerto Viejo, Banana Azul (3 nights)
Oct 19 - Puerto Viejo, Banana Azul -- morning Canopy/Zipline adventure
Oct 20 - Puerto Viejo, Banana Azul
Oct 21 - Pickup at Banana Azul for transfer to Bocas del Toro
Oct 22 - Bocas day 2
Oct 23 - Transfer to Cahuita, El Encanto
Oct 24 - Day in Cahuita, Cahuita National Park
Oct 25 - Back to San Jose (Gran del Oro)
Oct. 26 - back to DC

Sounds like a nice trip. Happy anniversary...the Howler Suite at Banana Azul is very nice if you haven't chosen your room yet.

I'd just spend my entire time at Banana Azul - I've never been to bocas Del Toro but from what others have told me it's really not worth the full day hassle of getting there to only spend a day or two. Friends who have been there have complained of lots of trash in the water.

Also, Chauita Natioal Park is nice but the town tiself seemed pretty dead the 4 times I've been there. it's definately worth a day trip and you can catch the bus there for $1 and it stops just down the road from Banana Azul

zinders, please take time to read the warning for women I posted on another thread. There's absolutely no need to avoid Puerto Viejo but please don't visit the beaches on your own, day or night. It's much more romantic to be on the beach with your husband anyway on your anniversary trip.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35137823

Thanks for the warning, Moolyn. I've been reading your posts on it, and checked out the local news reports. My husband and I will be together most of the time - he's a big guy - and we'll stay aware. I hope they catch this guy!

We chose to go to Cahuita because the B & B there sounds nice and has a pool. We also want to go to the sloth sanctuary up that way. That part of our trip is flexible, though - we might just go back to Banana Azul. (our first choice had been Pachamama on Punta Uva, but it was booked already!)

We had friends who went to Bocas del Toro two years ago and they really liked it - said it had a laid-back Key West feel. I'll definitely post after the trip and let people know what it's like!

We stayed at El Encanto in Cahuita for New Years and it was beautiful. Very quiet and great breakfast. The resident cat adopted us and spent a lot of time with us in our room. Cahuita the town has some nice restaurants that close early. It was fairly lively on New Year's eve. El Encanto is about a 15-20 minute walk from the National Park.

Our trip....we ended up skipping Bocas del Toro and went to Tortuguero instead. We really enjoyed it...for the right traveler, it's a great place to explore.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/desti...aribbean_N.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/desti...rica/flash.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/desti...-turtles_N.htm

Oh, and we LOVED Grano del Oro in San Jose. Our bags ended up being delayed a day, and they were great about it. In San Jose, we went to the Central Market and enjoyed a great lunch of ceviche and rice/beans. We had several meals in the hotel's dining room - it was an excellent upscale beginning and end to our more rustic trip! We would definitely stay here again if (when!) we return to CR.