Costa Rica in August (Maybe) need advice
 

My friends and I are in our mid 20's and are planning a relaxing get away to Costa Rica in August to celebrate my taking the bar exam. I would like somewhere near a beach, preferably all inclusive, and accessible to the sights. Do you guys have any suggestions of where in the country I should look or do you have any suggestions of hotels?

You should check out the Golfo de Papagayo area, north Pacific. Fishing, surfing, lots of AI's to choose from. . .hiking nearby at Rincon de la Vieja--nice area! It will be outrageously green in August after a few months of the rainy season. AND this area (Guanacaste province) tends to be a little drier than the rest of the country, so rain shouldn't be much of a problem for you as it might be elsewhere. You might expect a brief afternoon shower now and then.

Hi
I would suggest the Osa Peninsula. Nicuesa Lodge is a great place, they offer great packages that include amazing food and many activities. Check out their site. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into them

There are many different areas you can go and a lot to see. IMO Costa Rica is a better trip if you go to a few places. I don't think it makes a great vacation if you just go to an all inclusive. Some of the best things about Costa Rica are it's rugged remoteness and the variety of places to go and things to see.

Look into going to Arenal volcano for a few days and then a beach area. There is an all inclusive in Playa Langosta - Barcelo (it's like a spanish club med). My friends spent part of their honeymoon there and enjoyed it. Shillmac did have a great point about going north b/c of the rain. The Papagayo area sounds very nice, I have not been there myself though.

Another option would be to spend a day or two near San Jose. You could do a white water raft trip for a day, then go see Paos volcano, and La Paz waterfall gardens for a day and then head to a beach area. These are great daytrips and would give you something different then just a beach vacation.

I think if I went to Costa Rica and only did an all inclusive I might be disappointed. I think if you just want to go to an all inclusive you might be better off in the Carribbean. I just think they do the all inclusive thing better. FYI - I'm 31. Just assuming our interests are in the same ballpark at our respective ages. Although you are a lawyer so you might be pretty lame....kidding.

thanks Naplo999. The reason I was leaning towards all inclusive places was because we wanted to know our costs up front. I by no means want to be confined to a resort, if I did I would go to the Caribbean, but at the same time I want some relaxation. Furthermore, we're on a limited schedule I think a week, because my friends have jobs and what not, so the ability to travel all over the county seems out of the question to me. I'll still look into other accommodations, I'm sure there are some great gems out there. Plus from my reading drinks and food isn't that expensive, so I might reconsider.

My brother just went from a Sat to Sun and here was his itinerary.

Flew into San Jose on Saturday saw Paos and La Paz Waterfall gardens in afternoon. Stayed at hotel in Alajuela (near airport).


Day 2 - White water raft Pacuare river (same hotel).

Day 3, 4 - drove to Arenal Volcano - (zip lines, hot springs @ Tabacon, hiking) 2 nights.

Day 5, 6, 7, 8 - Drove to Tamarindo beach

Sunday Day 9 - flew from Tamarindo to San Jose for 11am flight. I think his total price for the trip was under $1,500

Costa rico is great we stay in Tammarendo, Guanaste reccomend Diria Hotel Barcelo is ok not great there food fair.. Many great restaurants downtown safe to walk around.. Very hot in Oct 90's bring lots of sunblock gets hooter in May and Aug

Thanks so much to everyone for the advice.
I have fleshed out a shell of an itinerary. My friends as I would like to vist Arenal, but we're going to Tamarindo. Would you suggest flying into Liberia and staying at a hotel near Arenal, then flying from Libera to Tamarindo?

Any suggestions of villa type places in Tamarindo. And nice accommodations in Arenal? Also is San Jose a "must see" or is skipping it worth while?

I think you guys (and girls??) would enjoy Hotel Pasatiempo in Tamarindo. Not a villa, but a cool place to stay, and very reasonable.

Flamingo Beach Resort about 30 minutes north also excellent. Great beach.

Bahia del Sol also good at Playa Potrero, just outside Playa Flamingo.

There are a lot of good options in the Tamarindo area--or within 30 min. of it.

After further research, flying from Liberia to Tamarindo would be kind of silly.

I would skip San Jose unless you are flying in or out of there. And then I wouldn't really go see the city I would do a few excursions out of the city - Paos, La Paz.