HoDale

Lived in CR '79-'81; going back to CR for a short excursion. Rent car vs buses? Want to hit both coasts and Arenal. Staying in SJ. SUggestions????

volcanogirl

You can rent a car, hire a private driver, or use Interbus - all are good options depending on your own personal preference. We stayed at Grano de Oro in SJ for a night, and it was a nice city hotel with a good restaurant on site, nice rooftop garden with hot tubs. Some of the rooms have their own little garden patios. In Arenal, we love the Lost Iguana. In MA, I would stay at Tulemar or Buena Vista Villas, although there are a lot of good choices there.

qwovadis

www.wild-rider.com

best for me for freedom flexibility

both coasts and arenal in 4 days is a tall order

might pare back a bit for better experience

Have fun,

volcanogirl

I took your post to mean you're leaving in 4 days. Do you mean you're only staying for 4 days? If so, I'd pick one location and stick with it or you'll waste too much time traveling.

MarinaKVillatoro

Hi, you'll be in for a grand surprise of how much Costa Rica has changed in all these years. I've been living here for 6 years and can't recognize some areas I've been to 3 years ago.
I highly recommend hiring a car either yourselves or having shuttle service. For a short excursion, public buses will take FOREVER and you'll lose fun time at the actual destination.

Hope this helps,
Marina K. Villatoro
http://travelexperta.com

HoDale

Thanks for all comments. Yes, Marina I am expecting big, BIG changes in CR. During the time I was there I lived in Liberia, Golfito, Guapiles, Los Yoses, & Limon. I am now surprized that these are all tourist destinations.
We will only be there 4 days, I am traveling with my 24 y/o son. This is his graduation present. He wants at least one day at the beach, which would be a good fit for his age?
Our hotel is in SJ all 4 days...doesn't mean we can't stay overnight somewhere.
We leave in 3 weeks.
ANy more suggestions?

hipvirgochick

Having lived in CR I assume you realize that trying to hit both coasts and Arenal means you would be driving the entire time. i.e., 5 hours to Puerto Viejo from SJO, 6 hours from Puerto Viejo to Arenal, 5 1/2 hours from Arenal to MA, 4 hours from MA to San Jose. That's not the way I'd want to spend 4 precious days in CR!

My suggestion is that you choose either Puerto Viejo OR Arenal OR Manuel Antonio (or another beach area depending on what your son wants to do) and stay there instead of in San Jose. That said, Interbus is a good way to get from place to place.

volcanogirl

Do you have to spend your time in San Jose? I would just go to the coast and spend the entire 4 days there. We've been to Manuel Antonio - it has a very pretty beach inside the park, lots of restaurant choices, sunset views, lots of wildlife - pretty tame, not wild like in other spots. Very easy to get around here. I agree with hip that you don't want to spend all your time traveling.

MarinaKVillatoro

Hi, Los Yoses is a huge restaurant area now. It has some of the best restaurants in ALL OF CENTRAL AMERICA if you can believe it Limon, still not that big of a tourist town at all. It's still a port that needs major cleaning up.

You know, if you guys have to stay in San Jose, I've done this with friends that came to visit a few times, I went to Playa Hermosa for the day (by Jaco) and returned. It gave us a great day at the beach and not so far away.

Ciao for now,
Marina K. Villatoro
http://travelexperta.com