Planning 2 week stay (last 2 weeks in July) and trying to organise trip ourselves!
Fly in to San Jose (first night at Viste del Valle - collectd by their driver). Anyone know this hotel?

Then want to stay 6 nights Manuel Antonio at Makanda by the Sea (is this fairly near MA - want to visit park/mangrove tour, etc).
Then 6 nights Paradisus Playa Conchal, hoping to do some diving, other excursions.

What would be the best resort to go to first and how- would it be better to hire driver/hire car/internal flights? Ay recommendations for driver/guide? Organising this trip bcoming full time job - so grateful for any help!!

If you don't plan to get out and drive around much, you might prefer to hire your transportation. If the first night is at Viste del Valle, it seems as if they should travel on to Makanda first. From there to Playa Conchal is about a 4 hour drive, I believe. These two hotels are certainly nice choices. The Paradisus is quite large, but very nice. They have an independent sports team working there who should be able to arrange your aquatic activities with no problem! At one time, the hotel entertainment staff supervised all the daily activities, but recently this separate group has been hired probably with the intent of expanding the choices and offering more qualified assistance. You can also fly from the MA area (Quepos) to Tamarindo (just a few minutes drive from Playa Conchal). Then back to San Jose. I personally like to have a car to explore in, but that always depends on how much you plan to hang out at the hotel and how much you actually plan to explore! Have fun!

I am assuming that since you want to go diving that you will be bringing some of your own equipment? There are no direct flights from Quepos to Tamarindo unless you want to spend several hundred $$$ on a private charter. The regular flights go out of San Jose and have a 25lb pp weight restriction which is sometimes enforced and sometimes not. Sometimes they just charge for overage. If you have your own equipment and think this might be a problem you might want to think about private transportation or driving yourself. The roads aren't too bad. If you do drive don't go off sight seeing and leave things unattended in the car.
I will give you our driver/guides name and he might be able to help you or at least might be able to find someone to help.
Don't feel that you have to do the arrangements yourself. It can drive you crazy sometimes. Many of us get help. Over the years my husband and I have just figured out what we wanted to do and then had someone make it happen. Orlando is now our friend as well and we look forward to our time with him every year.
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There are lots of tour companies that can make all the arrangements for you also. It is much easier for them down there to contact the different places.

We just returned yesterday from two glorious weeks in Costa Rica.

We stayed at Vista Del Valle our first three nights. After a long flight, a rough airport experience and a tough wait at the rental car office, it was paradise! Our cabin (Ilan Ilan) backed onto a ravine of dense forest that came alive with animals at night and birds in the morning.

There's nothing quite like taking an outdoor shower and seeing your first coati stroll up to a foot of your private balcony (for us, moments after we arrived).

The food, service and attitude are all amazing. Even though it was by far the most expensive place we stayed, I recommend two nights. Every guest that stayed only one night lamented over breakfast that if only they'd have known, they would have stayed the extra night.

ENJOY!

This information really helps - Thanks so much!