Costa Rica 1st time in April - SJO or LIR?
 

Husband and I going on 1st trip sans kids (almost 6 years).. i've been researching hotels and excursions -- pls gv any recommendations on either staying ALL-INCLUSIVE in a hotel (and where? in San Jose or Liberia?) or should we just hotel-hop every few days, depending on our excursion? and just pay daily on food?
not picky on accommodations, but would like to enjoy (not worry about safety etc)..
willing to splurge if worth it..
I looked at location of excursions and they all seem about the same distance from SJO and LIR.. so i'm just trying to figure out where to book my airport destination (and home base) to.

Bear in mind I am willing to scratch all of the below if you have master tour that would be great!! i am open to any/all sugg!!
Trip to CR is 22Apr - 30Apr 2012

would love to do:
-Arenal Hot Springs
-Monteverde Horseback riding
-Canopying
-Canyoneering
-Rio Pascuare White-Water Rafting
-Zip-lining
-El Trapiche Tour?

thanks in advance!

Also forgot to mention that husband and I don't drink (alcohol) -- thus my question as to whether or not all-incl would be a good option.. We love all-incl resorts though for the never ending food choices and the endless virgin frozen drinks!

LIR. San Jose is hell on earth.

Costa Rica is a hotel-hop destination. Lot of activities so you do not stay much inside resort. Eating outside is affordable if using local restaurants ("soda"). For Arenal and Monteverde better to fly to SJO. You could start with white water rafting on Rio Pacuare then be transported to Arenal for 3-4 days and then to Monteverde for 2-3 days.

SJO always works better for me cheap flights

mapcr.com central hub located 2-3 hours to Arenal 2-3 to MA

spirit.com jetblue.com aa.com best deals

AAdvantage CC FREE FF miles flights even FREE sometimes

AIs not good in CR best for me

tabacon.com lava view rooms free best hot springs in Cr

hotelvillacaletas.com on coast around flights 1 hour from SJO

issimosuites.com or arenasdelmar.com at manuelantoniopark.com

tripadvisor.com/members/natureguide bst MA guide

Prefer personally car rental mapache.com servicecarrental.com

interbusonline.com or odysseytourscr.com other options...

Good planners that can help you if needed

lovecostarica.com Pat travelexperta.com Marina

Lots of touts scammers never wire money pay with CC

insuremytrip.com

Happy Planning!

Driving time from Liberia to La Fortuna (Arenal) is 3 hours; the time given on my same chart of driving distances for San Jose to Arenal is 3.l5 hours.
From there to Monteverde.
Then to the coast for beach (MA).
You might want to limit your stay to two places.
(BTW, similar driving times from LIR or SJO to Monteverde, if you started there: here's a link to distances.
http://www.govisitcostarica.com/trav...travelTime.asp

We always fly into SJO.