We've used Sunset Tours for Cano Negro several times - really like them, but I don't think you can go wrong with the others.

We went with Sunset. It's an excellent tour, I'm sure, with any of the tour groups. They all have strong reputations.

Sunset seems to be more well known and always gets great reviews. We went with Canoa Aventura and loved every minute. Great guide and the boat driver was awesome at spotting as well. I think any of those 3 would be good.

We went with Canoa Aventura also and had a wonderful time with loads of wildlife spotting. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

OK...I think I like the sound of Canoa Aventura for the Cano Negro trip.

Now I need to know what is recommended for ziplining in Arenal. My hotel mentions Mundo Aventura, Ecoglide and Sky Tram & Trek in their tour info.

Any preferences?

We went with Mundo. I believe they're longer lived and started up by local family, but Sky Trek gets more press. We had a lot of fun from the tractor ride to the falls overlook to the horseback at the end. The longest line is something like 780 meters!

Sky Trek is the one that gets the raves for the longest, highest lines, but they all get pretty good reviews.

Nature Air also has double, rather than single engines, I believe, and a much better environmental record.

I liked Sunset tours for our recent Cano Negro trip; great guide and driver, small group. Their Vernado cave tour was a bit disappointing, as it was treated more as an adventure than a nature tour. Great fun, mind you, but not much detail, even mis-information.

I too like the Orquideas Inn. More for their grounds and friendly staff than their so-so rooms. Just very laid back and relaxing with loads of birds and flowers.

Our Sunset Tours Cano Negro trip was really wonderful. The boat driver really had eagle eyes and so it was basically like we had two spotters. I love how they get everyone involved in the spotting and let you walk around to all sides of the boat. Also like the stop at the Iguanas Restaurant to take pics of the huge iguanas in the trees there. The boat is nice and covered, and they provide a cooler of cold drinks - I'm addicted to those little mango ones, always the first thing I go for.

Cat, what do you mean Nature Air has a better environmental record? In what way?

For those of you who have done the Cano Negro tour, how many people were in your group total?

I've also read that Canoa Aventura is the only operator that actually goes into the wildlife refuge and the others cruise the river outside of the refuge. Is this true and how important is it to enter the refuge?

I'd also like to hear more about Nature Air vs Sansa's environmental record.

Thanks!

Our groups have probably averaged around 10 people or so, but I'm sure it varies by season, etc. We went up and down the Rio Frio; we saw a lot of wildlife including capuchins, howlers, and spider monkeys, sloths, caimans, and a lot of birds. We've done in the refuge and outside - couldn't really tell a difference other than that the refuge had a sign marking it. The animals are just all over the place. We've always been in rainy season though.

I like Sansa for the sheer convenience of their location right next to SJO.

Patty, there were 6 of us on our Sunset Cano Negro tour a week or two ago. We were the only ones on the cave tour. Not sure about your refuge question. It seemed as if we went as far as we could outside green season; even walked around a bit to look at shorebirds.

Nature Air uses biodeisel fuel for its ground transportation,funds environmental programs to school kids, and tries to be carbon neutral through land preservation and restoration. Whether these are marketing tactics or the company genuinely cares about the land isn't clear, but who cares, as long as there's a positive effect! I haven't heard the same about Sansa.

Volcanogirl and Cattail, thanks to you both! Cattail, did you just stay at Tirimbina recently? That's another area we're interested in. Will you be posting a trip report?

Cat, interesting about the Venado Cave tour; that's always kind of interested me, but it doesn't sound all that great the way you described it.

You're welcome, Patty - have fun!

With Canoa they take you up as far as the Nicaraguan border (a barb wire fence). :-) We got out there and wandered a bit and took pics of some Tico boys on horses and water buffalo(?).

I'm also interested in Venado caves. What didn't you like about it cattail?

Patty -- Have a great trip! Envious you get to leave before meeeee! ;-)

Hipvirgochick,
I wish I was leaving before you! Alas I don't even have a time frame figure out yet. I just piggybacked onto Deb's thread to ask some questions :)

Oops! Got confused.

Have a great trip Deb! :-)

OK...I want to use the Jeep Boat Jeep transportation between Monteverde and Arenal, but I can't seem to find the website I initially looked at.

Who has used this method of transportation and what operators do you suggest?

OH..and one more thing. If we are interested in a Liquid Lava Tour (night time hike) who do you all recommend.

Sorry for all the questions...getting close and don't want to spend valuable time on the trip making last minute decisions. Not that I will book this stuff in advance, but I want to at least have a tentative plan.

Thx again for all the help.

We used Desafio for the Jeep Boat Jeep.

http://www.desafiocostarica.com/inde...120&cat=f#top2

I'd use either Sunset Tours or Desafio for the volcano hike, both good operators in the area.