Let me first say that I have enjoyed reading your posts – really is nice of you to take the time to offer your thoughts.

I was hoping to get some feedback on a Honeymoon-type itinerary and some recommended hotels. We’d like a balance of nature and beach (and a balance of quality hotels and luxury). My wife is willing to rough it moderately (1-2 nature hikes and a zip line) but would like to beach it for most of our 12 days.

Here's what I have put together so far:
Day 1: Arrive in San Jose at noon – stay at Hotel Gran Oro (thanks to your posts, this seems like a nice value) – tour the city and get a nice dinner somewhere.
Day 2-3: Monteverde: Hire a car early from San Jose (or take Interbus) and stay at the Trapp Family Lodge (seems close to hiking and clean). Only have two nights so plan to take a hike in the afternoon and a zipline on our second day.
Day 4-5: Arenal: Taxi-boat-taxi to Volcano. Planning to stay at Little Iguana or Arenal Vista Lodge. Have considered the Tabacan Springs Resort – but now realize it offers no views of the lava.
Day 6-9: Punta Islita: Fly from Arenal to Punta Islita (Hotel Punta Islita) – it's about $130 each, but seems a better option given the distance and road quality. Hotel seems fantastic.
Day 9-12: Boat from Tambor to Manual Antonio – heard of Hotel California and La Mansion Inn. Would love to hear some feedback on any others for a high quality hotel.
Day 12: Car to SJO

OK, so I know I am asking a lot of questions so feel free to answer to any part of this if you have some time. My major questions are: 1) whether Manuel Antonio is worth it on this trip. 2) Should I suck it up and rent a car (have just been put off by what I've heard as the conditions of the roads in the cities I want to visit).

Thank you kindly for your insight.

Hi, yes Manuel Antonio is worth it!. We stayed at "Si Como No" and we were very happy with our selection. They have a minibar inside the room totally full, but they will charge you dearly for everything in it (there was a small store nearby where you can buy chocolates, a bottle of wine, some cans of coke and rum already mixed for a lot, a lot less!!). Their spa and their open-air restaurant overlooking the Pacific(I don't remember the name of it)are outstanding. A nice way to see some countryside is the Finca Valmy (sp)for a horseback riding tour. The national park is another must do while in this area, with its nice white-sand beach.
Hotel "La Mariposa" in Manuel Antonio, is recommended in the "1000 places to see before you die" book, but I did not stayed there since I had bought the book afterwards.
Manuel Antonio is on a mountain with hotels and restaurants on both sides with the national park at the end or top? of the mountain.
I do think that renting a car it's a much better and less expensive way to see the country. We used Tricolor, as it was recommended in this website, and had a good experience with them. Have fun planning, that's when your vacation really begins!!!.

We like renting a car as well and even the road to Monteverde, while rough, wasn't that big of a deal. You'll bump along for an hour or so each way. . .part of the adventure!

I do think you would enjoy yourselves more with fewer locations. For example, 2 nights at Monteverde is not enough and 2 nights at Arenal is REALLY not enough with all the things there are to do there. My suggestion would be to choose one (my preference is Arenal for first timers to the country) and stay the entire time. Take your time seeing and doing all the area has to offer. For example, the Cano Negro tour is a full day, but it's a "don't miss"! Tabacon Hot Springs has a wonderful spa that would be fun for honeymoon luxury. That would be a GREAT way to spend a morning together.

By the way, it would be nice to have a car at Arenal, as the area is pretty strung out. If you want to transfer up there by Interbus, that will work; but you may want to rent once your arrive. Taxis will cost you $8 every time you get in one. The car is a nice convenience for you to be able to go and do as you please. By the way, if you want to drive to Arenal, the road is very decent, not bad at all.

Punta Islita a great idea. . .and we like Si Como No in MA as well. It's a beautiful little hotel with very nice restaurants. I'm just curious about how you will get from Punta Islita to Tambor? Be aware that the transfer from one to the other will probably be pretty time consuming, although it doesn't appear as such on the map! In the dry season, you could make your way down along the Pacific coast, although the road is reportedly pretty rough. It is still considered impassable during the green season (May-Nov) due to river crossings. So during that time, you generally have to cross the peninsula and come down the east side.

Hope this helps. Certainly 2 nights at MV and 2 at Arenal is do-able, but I do think you'd enjoy your time more by focusing on Arenal. You could even add a night in San Jose, raft the Rio Pacuare one day, then spend 3 nights at Arenal before heading to Punta Islita. That would throw in an extra little bit of adventure for you as well as show you a different part of the country. . .very beautiful area.

In Manuel Antonio, I would suggest Buena Vista Villas. Beautiful views, excellent concierge, private beach (with towels, cool beverages, etc.) and several pools with great service. We loved this place.

We rented a car from Elegante, worked out well and gave us total freedom.

A restaurant recommendation while in the San Jose area, taxi over to Heredia and try L'Antica Roma, a very nice Italian restaurant. Better than Italy in some ways, such a shock to find great Italian in CR.

Not romantic but worth the visit, try the Marilyn Monroe bar at the Hotel Orquideas in Alajuela, also in the San Jose area, for drinks.

This has all been so helpful. Am now adjusting by spending 3 nights in Arenal - renting a car to drive up - then driving to Tamarindo on our 4th day. Decided to cut Monteverde out of it, although not so happy about that.

Not sure yet of the hotels in Tamarindo, but plan to stay there 3 nights then take a plane down to Punta Islita from Liberia airport. Looks like Manuel Antonio is becoming too difficult to reach.

Any other thoughts would be helpful, but thanks so much for what you've offered so far.
Regards.

Actually, you could do Manuel Antonio instead of Tamarindo. From Arenal, you could get to Manuel Antonio in close to 5 hours. Arenal to Tamarindo will take you 4 hours, approximately. So not really much difference to speak of. Can you fly from Quepos to Punta Islita?

Just wanted you to be aware that MA could still be an option for you if you'd like--very easily. It isn't difficult to get to.