jthorn1227

my husband and I are leaving for costa rica on saturday. this is our itinerary:
day 1 - arrive into SJO at 1245.
tool around san jose then go to finca rosa blanca

day 2 - drive to arenal park. then go to tabacon hot springs. staying @ arenal kioro.
question 1: how long does it take to get from finca rosa blanca to arenal park?

day 3 - either do the sky tram or a river tour

day 4 - wake up and drive to manuel antonio. stop by monteverde cloud forest and do a canopy tour @ 1030.
what time would we need to leave finca rosa blanca to make it to monteverde? the tour is like 2 hours i think ... so then we would finish our drive to manuel antonio
question 3 - how long from monteverde to manuel antonio?

Thanks thanks thanks so much in advance!

CocoPazzo

The Hotel Pura Vida website
http://www.puravidahotel.com/tours/driving_times.html
offers good information on driving in CR, as well as driving times from their location near the SJO airport.

Email your hotels for specific info, point to point.

roadadvisor

1- From San Jose to Finca Rosa Blanca...it will take you about one hour...can be less ...just in case you will get lost...!

2- From Rosa Blanca...to Kioro...close to 3 hours...again ...road signs factor may be in your way!!

3- If I undesrtand correctly...you are going to drive from Arenal to Manuel Antonio by Monteverde.?? OK let see...From Arenal to Monteverde...driving around the lake ...easy and depends how is the road and you as a driver...it will be around 2 and half hours...and from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio...easily 5 hours... do your math and figure it out!!

R.A

shillmac

Monteverde is not a daytrip. There are excellent canopy tours (from zipline to hanging bridges to a tram, I think) at Arenal.

Those who go to Monteverde go there because they want to spend some time in the cloud forest, most notably hiking through the reserve. You need at least 2 nights, 3 is better for going to Monteverde. It is a destination for spending more time. It is a long rough road getting up to Monteverde, and I can't imagine driving up there and back down in the same day! Although it looks close on the map, the location and the road make it a long trek both ways. Not feasible at all.

Arenal to Manuel Antonio takes about 5 hours if you drive straight through. We usually stop for lunch and for sure at the Rio Tarcoles to view the crocodiles, so figure 6 hours.

Arenal to MA by way of Monteverde would be a MUCH longer day, I'm guessing about 12 hours, activity included.

I'm confused as to why you want to know what time you'd leave Finca Rosa Blanca to get to Monteverde? You also mentioned driving to Monteverde from Arenal, Kioro Hotel specifically. . .

Also, the airport is several miles west of San Jose in the town of Alajuela. It also wouldn't be feasible to drive into SJO to spend time. Go straight to Finca Rose Blanca. Get yourself into the country and enjoy the afternoon/evening at that beautiful hotel!

Airport to FRB--about an hour
FRB-Arenal------about 3 hours

Please rethink your itinerary. Also, you should know that for one week, Arenal and Manuel Antonio is a very popular combination--you can get an excellent overview of the country at these 2 places, and SO MUCH to do.
Arenal Paraiso Hotel has a zipline tour with 18 cables, and it gets excellent reviews. Very centrally located, across the highway from Kioro. I'd recommend 3 nights each location if you can manage. . .

It will take you about 3 hours to get back to SJO from Manuel Antonio. Good luck!

crchica

Yup, I couldn't agree with shillmac more. Although Arenal and Monteverde look close on a map, you're talking a 2.5-3 hour drive on rough roads. I think it's silly to make that drive if you're not going to spend at least two nights exploring Monteverde. I'd stick with Arenal and Manuel Antonio for this trip and do a canopy tour in one of these two areas. I'm sure you will have an amazing time!