cherish05

I hate reading bad reviews: especially because if you come to these forums, you want endorsements on your planning, and not too much negative stuff. Unfortunately, for the first time in my extensive traveling around the world, I find myself writing a negative trip report.

First of all, let me say if you haven’t been to a tropical third world country, or rainforests, or seen volcanoes before, Costa Rica will indeed be amazing. But if you have, you may want to reconsider the places you will be visiting.

Arenal: They tell you that the top of the mountain is often covered in fog, and you may not get to see the volcano at night. Alright, you prepare yourself for that. What you do not prepare yourself for is that in the dry season (February), it could rain for several days continuously. Forget seeing the top of the volcano, you don’t even know there’s a mountain out there! Unlike other tropical countries, rain showers last days together. Arenal would be beautiful if you saw the volcano, but extremely disappointing if you don’t. Given that weather conditions change daily, you may be better off arriving in San Jose, and then deciding when to go to Arenal. Hotels tended to have availability: you shouldn’t have trouble finding one.

Good things about Arenal: Observatory Lodge, Hot Springs at Tabacon. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any of the day tours due to the downpours.

Monteverde: You can’t believe how bad the roads are. There is no ‘road’ actually. Its gravel all the way. But local drivers know how to drive on them – and we didn’t feel unsafe, just uncomfortable. Its do-able though.

The cloud forest was nice. Very lush. The wild life is amazingly disappointing though! We did hire a guide in the cloud forest – he showed us a total of three birds (including the famous male quetzal – but I’d have rather seen more birds). Try and take a specific birding tour: the official guides are way too focused on the quetzal, and give you no information on the forest itself.

We took a night tour which was cool. Zip line is fun.

So Monteverde was nice, but personally – I didn’t find anything too special or different about it.

Manuel Antonio:
My advise: Skip it. It is SO crowded by locals that it takes the charm away. Think of Daytona Beach during Spring Break. Camping on the beach, shacks on the roads – very dirty. If you’re fascinated by monkeys, then you may like this (there are tons of them). Iguanas are plenty as well.

Don’t stay by the beach: the nicer hotels are on the hills where the view is spectacular. The national park is too touched by man: you’ll see sloths, monkeys and iguanas. I do think there are other places on the coast you’d be better off exploring.

The mangrove tour is very very cool: we probably saw more wildlife there than in the national park.

I just think I went to Costa Rica with very high expectations: expecting to see something very different. However, the rainforests, beaches and volcanoes of Hawaii beat this any day, Mexico and Jamaica beat this too, and countries like India give you a feel of culture and wildlife that aren’t comparable. Sure: I may have been unlucky in weather, guides and crowds: but that’s too much of unfortunate coincidences for me.

surfexec

Cherish 05,
I'm sorry to hear that you had a negative travel experience in Costa Rica. It was definitely bad luck with weather. I have to say though, that I feel similarly about the areas you chose to visit. Many on these boards will disagree and love those areas. I also agree that the hills are much more luxurious. I prefer the hills over being right on the beach for privacy and views anyday! But, I've travelled extensively as well, and quite a bit to Hawaii, but I still prefer Costa Rica(even over Kaui!). I don't spend my time in those "more touristy" areas. Each place you mentioned are the top locations recommended by guide books and travel agencies, but to me are not the best areas of Costa Rica. It sounds like you did have quite a bit of "bad Luck" with the weather and lack of animal sightings. It's a shame, because Costa Rica rivals Hawaii for some of the beautiful volcanic rock lined beaches and beats Hawaii for it's amazing and diverse wildlife. Costa Rica is a small country but VERY diverse depending on which areas you visit and what time of year (February is usually hot, clear, and gorgeous VERY ODD). Perhaps one day you will try visiting some different areas and have a different opinion. Thanks for sharing though.

Percy

Hi cherish05

Thanks for a good report.
We like reading about the good, the bad and even the ugly.

A lot of things are relative.

I have been to Monteverde twice.

But before I got there for the first time I had already been to two other cloud forests...
seen the Quetzal, seen the hummingbird gardens elsewhere, did two zipline tours also elsewhere.. walked suspension bridges ,again elsewhere...

So when I got to Monteverde my first impression was,"hmmm, so this is the Monteverde Cloud Forest"?!!

But I enjoyed it for what it was and my expectations were nottoo high, so I was not disappointed.

And yes Arenal can be disappointing if you are waiting around for the cloud to lift and it keeps on raining.

You can get this same bad luck at the Psoas Volcao.

And yes I can believe how bad the roads are to Monteverde.!!!

It seems like your trip was not that bad overall and that you had a good time in certains spots.

Yes the rain can sure dampen your trip.

I recall reading how shillmac had a bridge wash out of her coming in from the Osa area, because of heavy rain, and their driver had to double back.

Thanks for sharing your experiences .

Percy

fiveholmes

OK. Now I'm nervous! I'll try to keep my expectations in check. We are going to Arenal, Monteverde, and MA in late March. Can you tell me what the mangrove tour is and where? Any other "out of the way" advice - we esp. have time in MA to explore elsewhere. Thanks!!

cherish05

Note that tour prices in MA can vary a lot. Its much cheaper to make bookings from vendors near the MA park. We booked from one next to the bakery, and found them to be reliable. The Mangrove tour is also known as the Damas Island Boat Tour - you'll see plenty of signs for it - we paid $40 pp.

Percy

One of the tour companies out of Quepos and Manuel Antonio is called Iguana Tours and they do a Damas Island and Mangove Tour.

I think the cost is about $65.00( US$ or course.)

They tour you through the Mangrove Swamps and show you wild life and birds, then to a little island called Damas Island.

Try typing in iguana tours on google.

I am sure they have a website, I just do not know the address.

Percy

Percy

oops , just as I posted cherish05 posted also.

Percy

faithie

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder , we have been to Jamaica and Mexico , and loved both , but prefer Costa Rica . Sorry about your bad luck with weather , that's a bummer . As for too many "Locals " on the beach in MA , it's their country , and they love the beach as well !! lol . It's too bad your trip did not meet your expectations , at least you can say " been there , done that ! " .

seeall

Some of us, U.S. citizens think once we make a decision to visit a country, we did the local people a favor and they must disapear while we are visiting their country!
It is too bad you had a bad time, hope you have a better experience next time.

Melissa5

Cherish 05, sorry you were disappointed in your trip. We went during the rainy season to Costa Rica and it never rained for more than a couple hours. You were indeed unlucky I guess!

Also I think people appreciate places like the Monteverde Cloud forest better if they understand what it is that is unique about Costa Rica. Travelling with biologist hubby, I understood that what is unique about Costa Rica, which you won't find in Hawaii, is the incredible biodiversity. The numbers of different species is impressive...This isn't something you can appreciate unless you are a biologist, botanist, or naturalist, or you have one in the family.

I wouldn't have understood what I was looking at in the Monteverde Cloud forest if hubby hadn't explained it to our family. I also knew in advance that I wouldn't see animals in the Monteverde Cloud forest because the cloud forest is so dense, the animals are hidden. Unless you understand things like this, I can see how you might build up expectations which won't be met.

I stood gazing at just one of those giant primordial-looking trees at the Monteverde cloud forest while hubby explained all the different species of bromeliads, orchids, etc. present...You cannot "know" this and appreciate it unless you are a biolgist or naturalist, or unless somebody you are with is explaining it to you.

Basically, if you are going to the Monteverde Cloud forest, don't go for the wildlife, because you won't see any. You have to be a person who will be entertained by learning about a lot of different plants, and by just soaking in the atmosphere of a cloud forest. If this isn't enough for you, I agree you should go someplace else.

cherish05, I think your trip report is important, as other people are deciding where they really want to go on vacation too. Different people experience the same place in a different way.

My family has learned a lot from my husband (biologist), and it has influenced the way we travel. The rainforests and cloud forests of Costa Rica are best for people who can stand still for 10 whole minutes and be wonderfully entertained watching a small colorful bug sitting on a leaf. This is something I have learned to appreciate from watching my hubby interacting with my older daughter, who loves nature and is also artistic. They spend long moments noticing things other people walk right by and don't see.

cherish05, I hope your next vacation is more enjoyable for you.

rbrazill

<My advise: Skip it. It is SO crowded by locals that it takes the charm away.>
Yeah, that's the problem with foreign countries - they're SO full of foreigners. I'm sure it would have been much more charming if there were more Norte Americanos.

shillmac

cherish05, thanks for sharing your views. Indeed, you were unlucky with the rainfall, and that is a shame. We found Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio to be interesting in different ways, but agree with surfexec that some of the less traveled areas are often more interesting.

The Orosi Valley--outrageously beautiful! Bosque del Cabo on the Osa--the reviews speak for themselves. Wilson Botanical Gardens near San Vito. San Gerardo de Dota for fabulous birding and cloud forest. The southern Caribbean. The Caribbean lowlands up around Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Views of Braulio Carillo Parque Nacional driving from La Paz to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Poas, La Paz (popular spots, but fabulous). The Rincon de la Vieja and the boiling mudpots and mudbaths! Malpais and Santa Teresa and Montezuma and the entire southern Nicoya Peninsula. Gorgeous Flamingo Beach. Towns like Zarcero, Grecia, Sarchi. Bosque de Fraijanes up near Poas. So much diversity.. .the above just scratches the surface!

And those locals. . what a gracious group they are to share their lovely (and once tranquil) home with those of us who arrive in such hordes from the north! It has been both a blessing and curse for them--still they smile and say "bienvenidos"!

But, indeed, if we were all in agreement, it would be a boring world!

gannetmusic

Shillmac.....I agree that the places you've mentioned above are wonderful.....but most of them are full of those darned 'locals'.....some of whom even have the nerve to go to the beach and bother the gringos. LOL

dfarmer

I believe that it is important to read both the positive and the negative reviews on any destination. Cherish05, It is unfortunate that your experience was not what you expected. And it is important that people understand that these are 3 of the busiest places to visit and the busiest time of year.

The negative reports that I dislike are those that say "Don't go there" and then do not offer any comparisons or reasons for their negative response.

Cherish05 - Something that will help future travelers that stumble onto this thread - is if you would offer the other third world countries with volcanoes and rainforest that you have traveled to and are comparing CR to?

As for February travel and the weather, all 4 of our trips to CR have been in February. We understand that while visiting Costa Rica we will be visiting rain and cloud forest, and are totally prepared for rain, no matter the season. And we certainly hope it continues to rain in the rainforest, or else our world as we know it is in serious trouble. We always have a light rain jacket, just something that clips on the belt or packs away in a daypack - just in case we get caught out in a downpour. We have experienced rain, or at least a shower or an overnight shower in every area that we have visited, with the exception of Montezuma.

While visiting Arenal we saw the top and the beautiful show of red each evening or very early morning. During the day the clouds covered most of the volcano, however we certainly kept busy doing other things.

While in Monteverde, we experienced a light drizzling rain most of our stay. But it didn't stop us. We understood that the roads were terrible, we didn't totally appreciate that until after the trip and certainly were not expecting it to take 2 hours to drive 20 miles. We knew going in that Monteverde area was small with little to offer other than the grand lush cloud forest. We did much enjoy the little shops and the co-op and the coffee, wonderful. Actually we were in such awe of the lush green beautiful huge vegetation, sometimes forgot to look for any animals. Walking along in sunshine, then to clouds, then to light misting rain, then back to sunshine, changing constantly and totally amazing.

Now we are not the type that goes to CR to ride thrill rides, we save that for amusement parks. Plus my personal opinion is that the ziplines, ATVs, etc run the animals away, thus removing much of the nature that we travel to CR to see. We are not biologist or botanist or any kind of "ist"! We are simply two people that very much enjoy the beauty and awe of the destination. Doesn't take much to entertain us, just being and experiencing is excitement enough.

Yes, thankfully Costa Rica is not for everyone.

missypie

We leave for CR in a couple of weeks. Now I'm rethinking our raingear. It is one thing to throw on a poncho if you're going to dash in and out of the rain. But if you hit a serious rainy spell and want to get out in it to avoid spending your vacation in your hotel room, you need appropiate shoes, a breathable rain jacket, water resistant pants, etc. The problem is with the kids...I hate to invest the money when they'll grow out of it all in a few months. Oh, well, maybe REI will get some more of my money after all.

gannetmusic

I suggest just a little 2 dollar poncho.

That other raingear is hot and cumbersome.

missypie

Last May/June we went to Disneyworld for 10 days and on six of the days we had significant rain; on two days it rained non-stop. We found that the dollar ponchos (that are like dry cleaning bags) are miserable. We also had more expensive ponchos (the $8 ones from Walmart) were better but were still not comfortable. I hate wearing a hood. I'll bring the $8 ponchos, but they sure would be uncomfortable on a long hike.

Melissa5

missypie, some advice about clothes and rain. In Costa Rica in June, we only had a couple hours of rain in the afternoons to deal with. Folding umbrellas are great and easy to pack. Save your shopping for rainy afternoons. A light-weight rain jacket would be helpful.

But the most helpful thing is to pack lots of light-weight clothes which dry fast. If you have packed light-weight pants, and they get wet, you can hang them up to dry and wear them again. Or, if you need to do laundry, with light-weight clothes, they will dry faster and you won't be in the laundromat all day. Many zip-off pants come in light-weight material and are a good purchase.

There are some cheaper zip-offs on-line where hubby shops, not sure of the web-site. But watch the zippers when you put them in the washer and dryer, if they are half-zipped they can get the zippers permanently ruined in the wash.

Or have your hotel do the laundry for you. That's what we did. La Finca Que Ama did our laundry for a cheap price...it is now called Ama Tierra and I hope to return there someday.)

Also, if you are interested in doing laundry in the sink, like an emergency pair of pants for example, buy Rick Steves laundry soap, see his web-site, www.ricksteves.com, it really is low-sudsing, so much easier to rinse out those pants in the sink. If they are light-weight they will dry. He also sells clotheslines on his web-site, I tried one in Italy and liked it, you don't need clothespins.

Good luck! Rain is not a problem unless it rains all day. For us, fortunately, it only rained for a couple hours each afternoon. We learned to get into the rhythym of the climate, we got up earlier and earlier each day to take advantage of all those sunny mornings, and by the rainy afternoons we were tired anyway.

My kids actually liked the rain. There was one crashing thunder and lightening storm at Arenal which was very atmospheric, especially for my California kids. (We rarely get thunder and lightening storms here in So Cal.) They said they would definitely go to Costa Rica again in the rainy season!)
Don't even think about packing jeans. They are slow to dry, and don't keep you warm when they are wet.

Also, if you are packing light-weight pants, you can fit more in the suitcase without weighing it down!

Also important to have a change of shoes, in case one gets wet.

Does anybody have an answer to this question? We travelled in June in the rainy season, but it didn't rain more than a couple hours each day. Some of you have travelled in the dry season, yet it rained all day...is this typical for the dry season? I mean, when it rains, it pours?! What does anybody think? Did cherish05 just have bad luck?

faithie

Bit of bad luck !!

shillmac

Hate to sound like a broken record; I guess I'm just amazed at our good fortune. We have spent all of the 3 Julys in Costa Rica and can remember maybe 3 serious downpours (lasted about an hour around 2:00 in the afternoon). Other than that, only some sprinkles here and there. Many, many days, often close to a week at a time. . .nada. During the night--about a third of the time. I'm sure our "bit of bad luck" is coming one day.

Worst rain ever--in Guanacaste, mid March. Driest part of the country, driest time of the year. A full day of deluge so intense there was near zero visibility on the road--but with no shoulder, who dares to try to pull over, all those big old trucks! Go figure! One day out of about 20 weeks!

We never pack raingear and buy a cheap umbrella if we need one while there, then leave it! I even take a pair of lightweight jean capris, my favorite for cooler evenings.

Everytime someone writes worrying about the rain, I want to tell them not even to give it a second thought. But yet I know that some have experienced a LOT of rain from time to time. Until that is our experience and it really impedes our plans and enjoyment, we'll just keep on pushing our luck!