Costa Rica Itinerary ?
 

Family of 4 (kids 9 & 14) looking to go next May or June for approx 10 days. We enjoy the outdoors / water and are not wanting to spend a lot of time traveling between hotels / areas (ideally split time between two hotels / areas. Since we know we want to do at least one canopy tour, a day white water rafting, hanging bridges, view volcano & some nature / beach time....here are my initial thoughts:
* SFO to Arenal for 4 nts (Tabacon Resort
or Lost Iguana Lodge?)
* Fly from SFO to Osa and spend 5 nts (Cabo
Del Blanco or Iguana Lodge?)

Suggestions or recommendations appreciated!

Sorry for hotel in Osa I meant Bosque del Cabo...

Sounds like a great plan to me. Reviews tend to be more positive toward Lost Iguana rather than Tabacon, but I've not stayed at either. You simply can't beat Bosque del Cabo for lots of fun adventure choices. Are you kids hikers? The trail system is excellent! Enjoy! :)

Hi Pumpy,

Arenal and Osa should be a wonderful combination. I think you'll find more recommendations here for the Lost Iguana than for Tabacon as a place to stay in Arenal. I didn't stay at either last year, but we were out near the Lost Iguana. It's further away from town than Tabacon, but is in a really nice area with great views of the volcano (weather permitting :-) ). Its also right next to the Hanging Bridges and quite close to the Sky Tram/Sky Trek ziplines (we had a blast there!).

In the Osa Peninsula, you'll quickly discover that Bosque del Cabo is the hands-down favorite of most of the regular posters here. I can't wait to see it for myself in December!

Thumbs up on the itinerary - we stayed at both Lost Iguana and BdC and adored both. Lost Iguana is set outside of town in the hills with gorgeous views - it's pretty quiet; Tabacon is more busy with all the people coming to use the hot springs - just depends on what your family is looking for. Have fun!

Haven't stayed there but judging by what people post here I would take the Lost Iguana over Tabacon (I admit I was shocked though to see LI's prices for 2008 - a $40 or so jump!) I would do the zipline while you are in the Arenal area - I liked SkyTrek myself but there a re a couple different options.

I think your amount of nights per place sounds perfect! Bosque, as cmerrell said, is a fave here and no doubt you will enjoy it.

If you have time, do Cano Negro while you're in Arenal - excellent boat/wildlife tour.