Hi there all, I've been reading the board for awhile and planning my girlfriend and I's first trip to Costa Rica.

So we booked a 3 night stay at Bosque del Cabo at the end of June this year and just had a few quick questions.

- We are interested in the Dolphin Trip & The Animal Sanctuary... With June being the rainy season do they still offer these trips or are they subject to the weather? Also the trips are a bit pricey, would you say they are worth it?

- Do you think it is possible to hike every trail they have there in 3 days? I plan on doing my best to knock them all out!!! =)

Ryan

- Finally anyone know roughly how much a beer costs there, and what type of beer they have? Gotta budget!

Thanks in advance, only 5 months till we leave!!!

We stayed 3 nights our first time. We had just enough time to hike every trail, do the morning tour with Phillip, an early a.m. birding tour, and the little night tour with Phillip to see what lurks on the grounds after dark. We also had a LITTLE bit of time to relax on our deck. We didn't leave the property. The Animal Sanctuary will take you the better part of a day. I believe it IS worth the price and you should have no problem in June.

That said, my personal opinion is that, with just 3 days, I'd stay with the property and the trails and beach that it offers. I wouldn't want to give up any time at all transferring back and forth between Puerto Jimenez and BdC.
Have a great time!

I agree with Shillmac--the Animal Sanctuary is SO worth it. We're a family of 6 & not everyone was that enthused with the idea so only my son (22) & I went. Because of the cost I didn't push the issue but boy was I sorry that I didn't make them all come. It was such an amazing experience & definitely would've been worth the cost. As far as the beer goes we picked some up at the market before heading to BDC so I don't know what they charged.
Enjoy!!

Hi Petite43,

Yeah my girlfriend and I are pretty set on the animal sanctuary. Do you remember how long it took you? Was it an all day thing?

Also I've seen pictures, do they really let you hold monkeys/sloths? If so, I'm even more excited!!! =)

Ryan
*oh, and good idea on picking up some beer!

Yes, do the animal sanctuary - we got to hold both baby monkeys and a sloth - really neat experience, and we saw dolphins on the way over. As far as the cost of beer, I wouldn't know, but you should definitely check with shillmac! Hee, hee!!

Imperial is excellent - it's our CR beer of choice!

Best I remember sodas were $1.75, beers (Imperial, very good) were $2 and cocktails were around $5-6.

The Sanctuary tour starts at 9:30, so you have to leave Bosque 7:45 - 8am. Takes about a 1/2 hour to get there and the tour last about 90 minutes, then you'll have the 45 min or so ride back to the lodge. Last time I went I was back in time to catch a late lunch so it had to be before 1 pm.

You should have time to do all trails. Just remember though you can see totally different things on the same trail again and again. I sometimes like to do the Titi trail, get to the end and then do it backwards.

Have a great trip.

Yes, you can hold a monkey if the monkey is available while you are there. In fact, you might find the monkey holding you. (I report this only after careful consideration.) One of the female spider monkeys has the habit of running her hand quickly up the pants leg (shorts) of male vistors, and well, surprising them. You may wish to dress accordingly.

Tours take place only at certain times of the day and you must be there (across the gulf from PJ) when they start. This may mean leaving BdC early enough to get to PJ early enough to cross the gulf in a small boat. Shillmac is not kidding when she says that this will eat up most of the day. As do others, we stayed a few nights at Iguana Lodge (much closer to PJ) and did the Sanctuary from there. It still takes a lot of time.

You really should consider spending the whole three days at Bosque del
Cabo unless you really enjoy the rough ride back and forth to PJ. Do the Sanctuary on another trip or lengthen your stay on the Osa Penn.

If you can time it to go to the sanctuary the day you fly out that can save you some back and forth to BDC. Usually they can spot dolphins. On my last trip a pod of over 100. If you meet peeps at BDC sharing the $120 boat trip is ideal.

As much as BdC costs, I don't keep track of what I'm paying for beer! The damage is already done before I even belly up to the bar. Think tully is spot on, though.

I was in Austin for a conference a couple of weeks ago and found a bar on 6th Street that was having Happy Hour with Central American beer. I was excited to introduce the little group I was with to Imperial. It got a hearty nod from all!

Ryan- yes they do have monkeys they allow to hold YOU . . There's a pic of my daughter on page 555 of Costa Rica color guide of Sweetie (a Spider monkey) that crawled up under her rain poncho and stuck her head out through the top! I will be there early July (from Seattle too).

Ryan, we were told if we took the earliest Nature Air flight into PJ, departing San Jose at 6 am, we could do the Animal Sanctuary tour before even heading to BDC. We just might do this. It will make for a very early morning, but it also will save us some transfer time to and from BDC on a day we're already there. I have to discuss it with my family to see which they prefer. But for sure I don't want to miss going!

My husband and I were there a few years ago for 3 days and we didn't hike every trail, but we did the before dinner night hike and enjoyed that. We also did the Pacific Trail and the Titi Trail. Just wandering around and even just sitting on your deck or at the pool, you see so much wildlife! You'll have a great time there! I can't wait to go back with my kids and my parents so they can experience BDC!