Is it best to arrange with one of the recommended guides ahead of time, or just get a guide at the MA park entrance? We are driving ourselves to the park. My only concern with getting one at the entrance would be how to know if they were any good, or even legit. Also, any idea how much a guide generally charges? I've seen $20 to $25 per person but that would put us at $160 to $200 for 8 of us, is that right?

Also is it true as I just read in a post on TA, that the park entrance has been moved and is now where the exit was, changing the way you go thru the park?

We used Juan Brenes - [email protected] as our MA Park Guide a few weeks ago (he was the one who posted the thread On TA about the park entrance moving). He was excellent, I highly recommend.

Lisa

We didn't want to risk our luck at the park, so we asked our hotel for a recommendation, and they put us in contact with a guide. You might check with your hotel to see if they could recommend someone.

As you get close to the entrance to the park you will find uniformed official guides hanging around the parking lot and entrance.

We have a party of 7, so I feel your pain with the price tag! If you decide to get a guide, it will be expensive for your group no matter what. I think this becomes a choice of getting a guide, or not getting a guide. If you decide to spend the money, then definitely book ahead with one of the guides that's recommended on these boards (i.e. Juan Brenes) or book with your hotel (although they'll likely tack on an extra %). People have reported very mixed results when hiring a guide once at the park.

We've actually been given a quote of $37/pp, but that does include the admission fee into the park (believe it's $10/pp), snacks while on the hike, and transportation from our hotel.

Hola!
My family and I just got back from a 12 day trip to Costa Rica.It was amazing,I'll post a travel log soon! As for MA park, be sure to hire a guide. Don't be intimidated by the price as they will have a spotting scope and you'll see SO MUCH more wildlife than you would ever have seen on your own. Without our guide Danny's expertise we would have missed a great deal of the parks abundant wildlife.
We went to the park by taxi from our hotel for about $6. the guide cost us $70 for a family of five(negotiated down from $100). He sought us out at the entrance and had his Aguila ID badge. From the hotel it would have cost us about $40 each so we did save a bundle.He spent about 3 hours with us. The guides all have walkie talkies and communicate with each other when they spot something.
Don't forget to go early in the morning when the animals are most active. Happy Travels!


At any rate, have a wonderful trip

Thanks everybody, we will definitely use a guide. I'll probably try to contact one of the recommended ones first, and if not we'll choose carefully from the available ones. I speak pretty good Spanish so that may help. Leaving July 2, so it is getting to the exciting time worrying about little details instead of big ones!