flopthestr8

Hello, my wife and I (both 34) will be honeymooning in CR from 12/28-1/8 and are planning to travel from MA (staying 3 nights) up the pacific coast. We are hoping to find both jungle and beach excursions which are not so "touristy" (We realize that time of year is not the best but it is what we have). We have a 4x4 and would love any suggestions for hidden treasures. Thank you in advance. Dan ([email protected])

shillmac

I would suggest taking the ferry over to MalPais and enjoying Ste. Teresa beach. Gorgeous! Also, nearby, will be Montezuma. You can enjoy exploring this area for a few days. There are some excellent reserves for hiking (Caru, Cabo Blanco, etc). If money is no object, Florblanca comes highly recommended. We stayed at Tropico Latino, but FB gets great reviews.

Since it will be the dry season, you could drive up the coast toward Samara. This road is impassable during the rainy season, but would be a great adventure during the dry! Someone posted on it a year or so ago. I think the National Geographic guidebook to Costa Rica offers a good description of how to do the drive.

Also, you would enjoy heading straight to Punta Islita. I think it would make a lovely honeymoon location. It is up the coast from Ste. Teresa, but you could reach it more easily by taking the ferry across at Puntarenas, then driving up and over the Nicoya Peninsula.

gannetmusic

It is not exactly a 'hidden treasure' but you might consider trying to get a cabin at Rincon de la Vieja Mountain Lodge. Wonderful, simple, 'off the beaten path' but getting in there with such short notice will be difficult.

cheers

Jerry

aaguilar

Do a little research on the following:
San Jose to Guanacaste. Find your way to “Cabo Blanco”. Make sure to stop by Nosara. From there take the ferry to Puntarenas and back to San Jose.

By doing so you will fine hidden places. You will be amazed and not disappointed.

flopthestr8

thanks for the great tips. We are doing are research and we are looking forward to winging it!!

shillmac

It's the best way! And Jerry is right--the Rincon de la Vieja area would be a great place to just relax for a couple of days!

gannetmusic

LOL -this shill must think we are all a bunch of morons......

Jerry [laughing in Toronto...]

faithie

Hi , In case you don't know . I am Faith , a person of the female sort . I am a mother , I live in Montreal . I love Costa Rica . ( and yes , I am behaving a little badly ) . Actually , how do you stop something like this ? It's mixed in with probably 15 threads where real travellers are asking advice ?

flopthestr8

Took me a while to figure out that faithie was responding to a post that had been deleted.

How long (time) a drive is it, including ferry, from MA to the Mal Pais area?

Thanks

surfexec

I'ts been a while since I visited Manuel Antonio. Someone else can give you a more accurate estimate from MA to the ferry. I believe approx. 2 hours from MA to the ferry, the ferry ride is 1.5 to 2 hours (depending if you get the faster boat or slower boat) and it recently took me 1 hour 15 minutes from where the ferry stops in Paquera to Mal Pais.

faithie

Sorry ! Sorry ! Sorry ! Now MY post looks a little suspect doesn't it !? That was yesterdays excitement , and I was poking fun at the nearly 30 posts starting off like that !! Eeeek ..... Looks a little odd now ? There will be a few from me and others on different threads looking a little strange .My apologies !

jdp867

If we are flying into San Jose and want to stay at Peace Lodge for last 2 or 3 nights, should we stay in Arenal (Lost Iguana) for first 2 nights or charter to Guanecast to stay at Punta Islita? Just read about PI and it sounds really nice.

surfexec

It really depends on your preferences. In Arenal the climate is a bit cooler and the volcano is the big attraction. Punta Islita is more about the beach. Both places have nice scenery and wildlife. The big question is which one has availability? You are traveling at probably the busiest time in Costa Rica. I e-mailed Casa Chameleon(hidden treasure) in Mal Pais and they told me they were completely booked from Dec.to several days after the New Year and that all the hotels in the area were booked up at that time. If you choose Punta Islita, don't forget to check charter availability. Since it's your honeymoon, you probably don't want to risk winging it at this time unless you bring a tent and don't mind camping out...actually I've done that and it's fun too...but maybe not on your honeymoon. Good luck!

LocalHero

I was just in Montezuma, Malpais and Santa Teresa the last week in Oct. Yes the beaches are very nice. We made it to Cabo Blanco and it's really nice old growth forest there. Good for viewing wildlife as the canopy is more open.
The roads from Paquera to Santa Teresa were extremely rough. There were long periods I never got out of 2nd gear. The locals told us that the roads had never been so bad but also that they fix them when the rains stop and the high season gets underway.
Now we're going back on Dec 11th and Curu is one of our destinations with a trip to Monteverde being considered too. Is it feasible to drive from curu around to MV instead of taking the ferry? Is there any reason to do so? Good stops along the way? It would look to be off the beaten path...

John