First time in Costa Rica--help!
Apr 27th, 2006 | 11:27 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2005
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First time in Costa Rica--help!
Hello to all--I am planning a trip to Costa Rica in September. As I have never been there before, I have no idea which areas are the best to visit.. or stay in. Also, would it be worthwhile to visit more than one area--or stay in one general location? Would it be smart to rent a car? Oh--I plan on staying for one week, if that helps. Thanks in advance to anyone that helps!
Apr 28th, 2006 | 03:51 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 77
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If you like nature, history and sightseeing it might be nice to stay outside of San Jose for a couple of days. That way you can visit the city. We stayed at a beautiful place when we arrived in CR called Vista de Valle. They have individual little cottages placed on winding stone paths. The food is quite good, they serve dinner to their guests staying there and breakfast is included. It's tucked away in the forest and they have horses on sight if you like to ride. It's a very relaxing place. Then if you wanted to visit the city you could arrange a taxi to take you.
Driving in CR is for the adventurous. The roads are very winding and mountainous. People have a tendency to pass on these curvy uphill roads- very different from the US. If you only have a week, I wouldn't try more than 2 locations. La Fortuna (arenal volcano)is about 3 1/2 to 4 hrs. away. It might be rainy and cloudy that time of year, so you may not get a great view of the volcano. Manuel Antonio is about 3 hours southwest of San Jose. It's very hot and humid there. Lots of wildlife, nice place to hike in Manuel Antonio Ntl.Park. We also took a boat tour through the Mangrove trees, had monkeys climbing in our boat at one stop!! Really fun. You can also take a little puddle jumper flight to get to the MA/Quepos area.
Fodor's 2006 edition was helpful for us, we had also traveled to Guanacaste area 7 years ago.
Good Luck!
Driving in CR is for the adventurous. The roads are very winding and mountainous. People have a tendency to pass on these curvy uphill roads- very different from the US. If you only have a week, I wouldn't try more than 2 locations. La Fortuna (arenal volcano)is about 3 1/2 to 4 hrs. away. It might be rainy and cloudy that time of year, so you may not get a great view of the volcano. Manuel Antonio is about 3 hours southwest of San Jose. It's very hot and humid there. Lots of wildlife, nice place to hike in Manuel Antonio Ntl.Park. We also took a boat tour through the Mangrove trees, had monkeys climbing in our boat at one stop!! Really fun. You can also take a little puddle jumper flight to get to the MA/Quepos area.
Fodor's 2006 edition was helpful for us, we had also traveled to Guanacaste area 7 years ago.
Good Luck!
Apr 28th, 2006 | 04:18 PM
#6
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 350
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Swtjen7, I also had no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go in CR when I began planning this trip. Guidebooks are wonderful, but sometimes talking is better. This site is usually great for that - and I'm sorry that some of the replies have been less than helpful. After trying to make decisions myself, I stumbled across Pat Hewitt of Costa Rica Travel Exchange. He's been a great deal of help, and while I know he's not saving us any money per se, he is making each dollar better spent with his advice and suggestions. I'd recommend him in a heartbeat. He's also dead honest, any many on this website and others recommend him regularly. He lives in New Orleans and also owns a home in the Monteverde area.
www.lovecostarica.com
www.lovecostarica.com
Apr 28th, 2006 | 07:13 PM
#7
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,212
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swtjen7,
For most people who are visiting Costa Rica for the first time (and for 7 days), a combination of Arenal and Manuel Antonio works very well. These areas are fairly touristy, but not crowded touristy like you might experience at popular places here in the states. Arenal is located about 2.5 hours north of the airport, and Manuel Antonio about 3 hours south and west of the airport. Arenal offers an active volcano and lava views (should you luck into some clear weather) and Manuel Antonio offers rain forest right next to the beach--and lots of wildlife. Great areas, both of them. You can be just as active (or inactive) as you want either place. Good luck! You'll have a great time whatever you decide.
For most people who are visiting Costa Rica for the first time (and for 7 days), a combination of Arenal and Manuel Antonio works very well. These areas are fairly touristy, but not crowded touristy like you might experience at popular places here in the states. Arenal is located about 2.5 hours north of the airport, and Manuel Antonio about 3 hours south and west of the airport. Arenal offers an active volcano and lava views (should you luck into some clear weather) and Manuel Antonio offers rain forest right next to the beach--and lots of wildlife. Great areas, both of them. You can be just as active (or inactive) as you want either place. Good luck! You'll have a great time whatever you decide.
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May 1st, 2006 | 05:41 AM
#9
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,372
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Well I will admit that I too have wanted to SCREAM - Read something! Only because the vague question of "where should I go in CR?" comes up quite often. But I have to sit back and remember - "did I ever ask anything so vague?" Pretty sure I did, maybe Sean just had a bad day.
Anyway - swtjen7 - for only one week - I agree with previous posters - 2 locations. Manuel Antonia Park area and Arenal Volcano area provide a very good introduction to Costa Rica. You get rainforest, wildlife, volcano and beach. Plenty of opportunities for river floating, hiking, sunset viewing, hammock time, being lazy or super active.
Do get a guidebook and look at trip reports. There are plenty of trip reports that highlight MA and Arenal. See if those interest you?
Then let us know what your nightly lodging budget is and we can steer you to lodgings in your budget.
For just a week and assuming 2 locations, you can easily arrange for private transfers or use Interbus. In MA you will not need a vehicle, local buses and cabs are plenty. In Arenal, most likely you would be doing tours where transportation is included.
Hope that helps?
Oh and yes, Pat Hewitt is great to work with - he put together one of our 4 trips.
Anyway - swtjen7 - for only one week - I agree with previous posters - 2 locations. Manuel Antonia Park area and Arenal Volcano area provide a very good introduction to Costa Rica. You get rainforest, wildlife, volcano and beach. Plenty of opportunities for river floating, hiking, sunset viewing, hammock time, being lazy or super active.
Do get a guidebook and look at trip reports. There are plenty of trip reports that highlight MA and Arenal. See if those interest you?
Then let us know what your nightly lodging budget is and we can steer you to lodgings in your budget.
For just a week and assuming 2 locations, you can easily arrange for private transfers or use Interbus. In MA you will not need a vehicle, local buses and cabs are plenty. In Arenal, most likely you would be doing tours where transportation is included.
Hope that helps?
Oh and yes, Pat Hewitt is great to work with - he put together one of our 4 trips.
May 1st, 2006 | 01:52 PM
#10
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Hello,
My boyfriend Erick & I are planning a trip to Costa Rica in June. - We have done a lot of research, but still have a few questions we can not find answeres too... - Please help if you can. - We want to make the most of this trip & would appreciate any advice... - We are planning on renting a 4X4 (any advice on where to do this) and driving...
San Jose to Arenal (stay 2 nights), Arenal to Mauel Antonio (say 4 nights), Manuel Antonio to San Jose (say 1 night) & then San Jose to Puerto Viejo (say 2 night) & then back to San Jose... - please let me know if you have any ideas for best routes and hotels in these areas. - We are planning on Hotel Linda Vista in Arenal, Mangomoon in Manuel Antonio, not sure about San Jose & then Shawandha Lodge... and we are also looking for the best places to go for Scuba diving (we are getting certified before we go on this trip) and will be diving for our first time in Costa Rica... - Two more questions (sorry there are so man), but in traveling from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo, could we take the route of HWY 22 and then CI2 through Cartage? - or is that too dangerous and a much longer route?
Thanks in advance for your advice. - I am looking forward to chatting.
My boyfriend Erick & I are planning a trip to Costa Rica in June. - We have done a lot of research, but still have a few questions we can not find answeres too... - Please help if you can. - We want to make the most of this trip & would appreciate any advice... - We are planning on renting a 4X4 (any advice on where to do this) and driving...
San Jose to Arenal (stay 2 nights), Arenal to Mauel Antonio (say 4 nights), Manuel Antonio to San Jose (say 1 night) & then San Jose to Puerto Viejo (say 2 night) & then back to San Jose... - please let me know if you have any ideas for best routes and hotels in these areas. - We are planning on Hotel Linda Vista in Arenal, Mangomoon in Manuel Antonio, not sure about San Jose & then Shawandha Lodge... and we are also looking for the best places to go for Scuba diving (we are getting certified before we go on this trip) and will be diving for our first time in Costa Rica... - Two more questions (sorry there are so man), but in traveling from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo, could we take the route of HWY 22 and then CI2 through Cartage? - or is that too dangerous and a much longer route?
Thanks in advance for your advice. - I am looking forward to chatting.
May 1st, 2006 | 01:55 PM
#11
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3
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One more burinig question... I really do not like bugs of any kind (yea, I know I am crazy for going to Costa Rica), but what do you recommend my doing to keep them away from me our out of my hotel rooms? I cringe at the tought of a spider or anything in my hotel room as I am sleeping... ick!
May 1st, 2006 | 06:55 PM
#12
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,212
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Tracy, we have stayed in many hotels in Costa Rica and bugs have never been a problem. We've actually seen very few. I think you'll be surprised.
Tricolor has consistently given us the best prices combined with excellent service many times over.
www.tricolorcarrental.com
We've also used Dollar and liked them, but have found Tricolor a little easier to pick up and drop off (location wise).
To get from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo, your best route is on the Braulio Carillo highway that travels a little north, then east out of San Jose. The route through Cartago is scenic (but so is the main route) but will definitely eat up your time. Either way you still have to go into San Jose.
One year we went to PV the short way, then returned the long way, through Cartago, but we had the time to do it.
The one thing about your itinerary that troubles me is just 2 nights at Puerto Viejo. From San Jose, it will take 4 (best case scenario) to 5 hours to get there. That's a good part of a day (especially considering that getting out of San Jose could give you a problem and MIGHT cause a little delay--roads aren't always easy to find and you'll be dealing with one way streets all over the place. I know you can do it because we did (there's a first time for everything!). You'll probably do fine, but in Costa Rica, there's ALWAYS the possibility of having to, let's say, "wander" around a little bit!
You'll only have one full day in Puerto Viejo. And it is a great place. Shawanda is an excellent choice. I would be tempted (if this were my itinerary and having been there, done that) to cut a day at Manuel Antonio and add it to Puerto Viejo. Sure, 4-5 days everywhere you go would be nice, but if that isn't an option, you can certainly enjoy MA with 3 nights. The park is the main attraction, and it takes one full morning.
If you want to slow your pace a bit and get the most out of each location you visit, I'd recommend limited your time to Arenal and Manuel Antonio. You are going to be spending close to 2 full days of your vacation on the road. But it's certainly do-able. We've done the hopping around, driving a bunch method more than once, and we still enjoy every minute!
Just some thoughts for you. . .
Enjoy!
Tricolor has consistently given us the best prices combined with excellent service many times over.
www.tricolorcarrental.com
We've also used Dollar and liked them, but have found Tricolor a little easier to pick up and drop off (location wise).
To get from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo, your best route is on the Braulio Carillo highway that travels a little north, then east out of San Jose. The route through Cartago is scenic (but so is the main route) but will definitely eat up your time. Either way you still have to go into San Jose.
One year we went to PV the short way, then returned the long way, through Cartago, but we had the time to do it.
The one thing about your itinerary that troubles me is just 2 nights at Puerto Viejo. From San Jose, it will take 4 (best case scenario) to 5 hours to get there. That's a good part of a day (especially considering that getting out of San Jose could give you a problem and MIGHT cause a little delay--roads aren't always easy to find and you'll be dealing with one way streets all over the place. I know you can do it because we did (there's a first time for everything!). You'll probably do fine, but in Costa Rica, there's ALWAYS the possibility of having to, let's say, "wander" around a little bit!
You'll only have one full day in Puerto Viejo. And it is a great place. Shawanda is an excellent choice. I would be tempted (if this were my itinerary and having been there, done that) to cut a day at Manuel Antonio and add it to Puerto Viejo. Sure, 4-5 days everywhere you go would be nice, but if that isn't an option, you can certainly enjoy MA with 3 nights. The park is the main attraction, and it takes one full morning.
If you want to slow your pace a bit and get the most out of each location you visit, I'd recommend limited your time to Arenal and Manuel Antonio. You are going to be spending close to 2 full days of your vacation on the road. But it's certainly do-able. We've done the hopping around, driving a bunch method more than once, and we still enjoy every minute!
Just some thoughts for you. . .
Enjoy!
May 2nd, 2006 | 11:38 AM
#13
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thank you so much for all your advice. I take much comfort in knowing that the bugs are not that bad and I and going to look into Tricolor color car rental like you suggested.
In regards to traveling from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo, is this Braulio Carillo highway the same as Route 10 or Route 32? And in traveling from Manuel Antioio to San Jose, do you recommend I take 34 to 3 to C1 to 32? And from Arenal to Manuel Antonio, do you recommend I take 141 to C1? - Can you tell I need help with directions.
O yea, and thank you for your concern about Puerto Viejo... but we are actually spending 3 nights there.
Below is the plan I put together & now I looking for cool things to see along the way, best routes, hotel selection feedback, and any other tips anyone can recommend. - I am super excited!!!!
Day 1 (6/8-thurs)… (Travel)
*3am–10am=fly from Chi. to San Jose
*San Jose (get rental car)
*12pm–5pm=drive from SJ to Arenal(3.5)
Day 2 (6/9-Fri)… (Arenal)
*Volcano (maybe some biking)
*Hot Springs
Day 3 (6/10-Sat)… (Travel/MA)
*8am–1pm=drive from Arenal to MA (5)
*Jungle
Day 5 (6/12-Mon)… (MA)
*Scuba & Beach
Day 6 (6/13-Tues)… (MA)
*Jungle & Beach
Day 7 (6/14-Wed)… (MA/travel/SJ)
*Beach
*11am–4pm = drive from MA to SJ (4)
*Dinner & Sights
Day 8 (6/15-Thurs)… (travel/PV)
*9am–1pm = drive from SJ to PV (5)
*Beach
Day 9 (6/16-Fri)… (PV)
*Scuba & Beach
Day 10 (6/17-Sat)… (PV)
*Botanical Gardens & Beach
Day 10 (6/18-Sun)… (travel)
*9am–2pm = Drive from PV to SJ (5)
*fly home to Chicago
Any advice anybody?
In regards to traveling from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo, is this Braulio Carillo highway the same as Route 10 or Route 32? And in traveling from Manuel Antioio to San Jose, do you recommend I take 34 to 3 to C1 to 32? And from Arenal to Manuel Antonio, do you recommend I take 141 to C1? - Can you tell I need help with directions.
O yea, and thank you for your concern about Puerto Viejo... but we are actually spending 3 nights there.
Below is the plan I put together & now I looking for cool things to see along the way, best routes, hotel selection feedback, and any other tips anyone can recommend. - I am super excited!!!!
Day 1 (6/8-thurs)… (Travel)
*3am–10am=fly from Chi. to San Jose
*San Jose (get rental car)
*12pm–5pm=drive from SJ to Arenal(3.5)
Day 2 (6/9-Fri)… (Arenal)
*Volcano (maybe some biking)
*Hot Springs
Day 3 (6/10-Sat)… (Travel/MA)
*8am–1pm=drive from Arenal to MA (5)
*Jungle
Day 5 (6/12-Mon)… (MA)
*Scuba & Beach
Day 6 (6/13-Tues)… (MA)
*Jungle & Beach
Day 7 (6/14-Wed)… (MA/travel/SJ)
*Beach
*11am–4pm = drive from MA to SJ (4)
*Dinner & Sights
Day 8 (6/15-Thurs)… (travel/PV)
*9am–1pm = drive from SJ to PV (5)
*Beach
Day 9 (6/16-Fri)… (PV)
*Scuba & Beach
Day 10 (6/17-Sat)… (PV)
*Botanical Gardens & Beach
Day 10 (6/18-Sun)… (travel)
*9am–2pm = Drive from PV to SJ (5)
*fly home to Chicago
Any advice anybody?
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