Have to be in CR for a week and while I love it, I've been there quite a bit. Wondering what other suggestions people have to other places to go. Like Managua perhaps? That's a bus ride? Or a flight that I can work into my freq. flyer trip?Suggestions from experienced Central America visitors??? (Not too interested in active type vacations. I prefer getting into the culture of the country.)

Tica bus has a fairly new executive class to travel through central american on. $136 will get you a round trip ticket to Guatemala and back.

Guatemala is a great country with lots of culture.

Managua is about nine hours from San Jose on the bus, including border formalities. I'd go to Granada instead. Some of the Tica Bus runs will take you there. It's a far more appealing city than Managua.

there is a cool tour that Desafio in La Fortuna operates and it is called, "culture and conservation in the community" or something like that. We visited a developing animal rescue center, a really neat center where they teach you to recycle paper and you can buy some great souvenirs, and an impressive organic botanical medicinal garden. We even were served an amazing organic lunch and got to hang out with "real" Costa Ricans. Definately a nice change from all the adventure we did the other days we were in Fortuna. My highest recommendations!!!!

I recommend you a trip to Granada, too! It's an interesting town and it's easy to get there. Crossing the border from and to Costa Rica is no problem.

How long does it take to get to Guatemala from San Jose by bus? Is there a website? What is the best transportation between San Jose and Granada? Thanks for the idea in Fortuna. WIll definitely look into that? Has anyone rented an apartment/house in San Jose they would recommend? Looking for 2 people...nice but inexpensive.

http://www.ticabus.com/ingles.html

I see that the Tica bus leaves from the terminal at 3 a.m. How have you all worked out the logistics of being there at this hour???

Taxis run all night long. Kind of tough to get up at that hour but the buses are like the ones that I just took from San Isidro de el General to San Jose and it was very comfortable and I would assume most people would go back to sleep. Another option might be to go up to Managua via economy for a day or two at a different time and then continue on to Guatemala via executive. They do say on their web site that you can mix it up. I don't see a schedule for executive from Nicaragua to Guatemala but the prices do say that they have it. I'm pretty sure that the bus service from El Salvador to Guat is not executive.

Probably going to Granada for a long weekend from San Jose. Looks like the bus station is downtown..old section. Wondering how to get to the bus station for a 3 a.m bus (2 women travelling). Not feeling too secure taking a cab at that hour. But nice to travel at night and not lose too much time. Are we missing beautiful scenery???

Another option (although I think you've made your decision!)--Bocas del Toro, Panama. You can fly there on Nature Air out of Pavas. We loved it there--very laid back.