Costa Rica itinerary HELP
 

WE are going to Costa Rica May 18th and I just wanted to know if anyone had good ideas for an 8 day trip that could get us to Fortuna, monteverde, and montezuma? PLEASE help!

www.mapcr.com

www.sevicecarrental.com rent a car

www.arenal.net 2-3 days

www.monteverdeinfo.com 2 days

www.playamontezuma.net 2-3 days

www.ylangylangresort.com best there

easy drives hotels based on budget..

have fun,

If you are planning on ziplining anywhere... definitely DEFINITELY zipline in La Fortuna with this company: http://www.skywalk.co.cr/index/index.html ... many people had tried others and said there was no comparison! absolutely amazing!

A small/quaint lodge outside Fortuna is the Cieba Tree Lodge... http://www.ceibatree-lodge.com/ ... that tree is the most amazing natural thing I have ever seen.

Also do NOT miss La Fortuna waterfall, absolutely breathtaking and glorious swimming.

If you get the chance to take a tour up to Canye Negro I'd highly recommend it... it's a larger time commitment (6ish hours) but we saw the most incredible natural wildlife!
there are lots of tour companies in la Fortuna that run this tour.

I second renting a car, so much fun and the locals are absolutely wonderful and welcoming! Brush up on some Spanish vocab before you go... Ceda = Yield for all those one-lane bridges.

Have a blast! Costa Rica is currently my favorite vacation spot!

On the practical side, how many nights will you have? Keep in mind that, depending on arrival and departure times, you may need to spend the first and/or last nights near the airport. If you arrive by 1:00 or so in the afternoon, you will have time to drive on up to Arenal, spending your first night there.

If you want the combination of forest and beach, I would suggest choosing either Arenal or Monteverde in addition to Montezuma. You don't have enough time to do justice to 3 absolutely amazing areas. Minimum of 3 nights each, 4 would be better.

Transfer from Arenal to Montezuma will take around 5-6 hours, most of one day.

Be sure you allow time to be at the airport at least 2.5-3 hours prior to departure. Not always necessary, but frequently necessary, and you just never know.

Count on it taking about 5-6 hours to return to San Jose from Montezuma, necessitating returning the day before departure.

It's all those little logistical details in a country where travel is slow that can get in your way! You'll have a great time--that's just around the corner!

With an 8 day trip, I would pick just two locations so you don't spend the majority of your trip on the road.

Monteverde is an overnighter . Nothing more.I'd do Rio Celeste instead.
Skip the butterfly ripoff, hit the cheese factory, put on some rubber boots and follow the other 300 people into the cloud forest. Don't expect to see any animals other than hummingbirds.Monteverde is not what it was 25 years ago.It's borderline theme park these days.
Split the rest up between the other 2 places. Keep in mind that Montezuma has been 38 degrees lately. 99 degrees or so.

We did see a lot of wildlife in Monteverde - quetzals, a fox, raccoon, howlers, sloth, coati, porcupine, etc. but I haven't had any strong desire to go back. With such a short trip, I'd probably skip it.

THANKS! you guys have been really great. Keep it coming!
Shillmac- we get in on the 18th at about noon and we leave on the 26th at about noon as well so.....?