vg and hip, I think I've given the wrong impression.The cave trip was actually a highlight,great fun, like nothing else we've done! Our disappointment was that, as nature-oriented people, we wanted to know more about what we were seeing! There are some funky critters in there, lol! Also,there was little concern given to preserving the cave; the guides didn't care if people touched the structures for example, but we later found out that this harmed them.

Patty, I did visit Tirimbina recently. I've been swamped since I got home, but I promise to post a trip report very soon - thanks for asking!

OK...the owner of the lodging we are using in Monteverde is recommending Aventuras El Lago for our transportation from Monteverde and Arenal (jeep boat jeep). The website looks reasonable...is anyone familiar with this operator. I like to support locals when I can.

Cat, oh, good to know; I'll put the caves back on the to do list!

Aye Caramba!

I'm getting so confused with all my choices.

I have a new debate on ziplining. We will be in both Arenal and Monteverde and will probably plan to do some sort of canopy tour in both places.

But...for actual ziplines, do you think we would be better with Selvatura in Monteverde or Mundo Aventura or Sky Trek in Arenal? I had thought we would do the zips in Arenal, but my host in Monteverde thinks we should do them at Selvatura.

Advice? And thanks for all opinions up to this point.

Deb, your host has a lot of opinions - lol! I think either zipline would be fine; just do whatever fits in better with your schedule.

About the Jeep Boat Jeep, Desafio is the one that most people use; I haven't heard of the company your host is recommending. Desafio is a Costa Rican company though I believe, so to me it's just as local as the other company, and it has a good rep.

I agree vg...he does have opinions, but that is one thing that people on TripAdvisor have commented on...that he makes good recommendations.

And I got DH to take a look at websites and he said we might as well do the zipline in both places...Arenal and Monteverde. So we've gone from being chicken shi.s to pushing our limits twice in one week. :-)

Good for you - Sky Trek and Selvatura both have long, high lines, so should be a good time.

VG,
I think we are leaning towards Mundo Aventura in Arenal though. DH like the other things included there.

Deb - I would go with Mundo. You'll be soaring over canyons and the longest line is about 800 meters. Have a blast!

Your itinerary sounds great. Desafio has been around a long time but it doesn't mean they are the only option. Sometimes I just use the newer, little guys just to give them a leg up unless I hear something horrible about them, which is rare. My husband and I are the type of people who like surprises and will sometimes ask a taxi driver to pick a place that they would take their best girl to for a special dinner. We have had lovely city views with great food and have even just been taken to a rib joint in the middle of nowhere but they were great ribs. We were only the second customers for a new company years ago here in Costa Rica. The tour operator had been working for other companies for a long time and decided to try it on his own. He is now our best friend in all of CR. We just spent a week with him at his home while my husband recuperated from spine surgery in his neck. What I am getting at is it is safe to follow the herd and take the safe route with older companies but there are also some lesser known hidden gems all over the country.

Do get your plane tickets ordered as they do sell out of seats.

Hotel operators do recommend certain companies because they have a connection to them. Commissions are given at every corner in CR and is just the way it is done. Nothing wrong with it. Feel free to use any company whether they are connected somehow to the hotel or not.

I am also a fan of orquideas Inn. As was mentioned the rooms are just so so but the ambiance and the people who work there are what keeps me going back over and over. The food is great as well.

One of my favorite places to eat while in Arenal is El Novillo. A tiny little place on the main road with a beautiful view of the volcano. I recommended it to some neighbors who hadn't been to Arenal yet and the clouds cleared, the mountain burped and they got to see a great show while eating dinner. It is always luck whether you will see it or not.

Deb, yes, you can't go wrong with Mundo either - maybe you'll do all of them!

I like to give the little guy a chance too, but sometimes I wonder if their boat conks out in the middle of the lake if there will be another one to replace it.

We like El Novillo too - good steaks. When we were there, all the lights went out, and we thought it was a power failure - turns out they were making a flambe dessert and wanted everyone to see the show. Don Rufino is good too, and we also like La Choza de Laurel and Soda la Parada.

And the questions never stop!!!

So if we do a canopy tour with ziplining in Arenal, should we still do the hanging bridges?

And if we do ziplines, etc. with Selvatura in Monteverde, should we still go into Monteverde Cloud Forest?

I think we need at least some time to just chill. :-)