Hi there, I'm planning my first trip to CR this August and I can't wait. It's been one of my dream destinations for many years, so I'm pretty excited. I'm going with my 16 year old son.

My itinerary looks like this right now:
Day 1, 2, 3 - Arrive SJ at 10am and transfer to Puerto Viejo
Day 4, 5 - Tortuguero
Day 6, 7, 8 - Arenal
Day 9 - Overnight near airport
Day 10, 11, 12 - Bosque del Cabo
Day 13, 14 - Pearl de Osa
Day 15 - Transfer to SJ area, possbily Vista del Valle
Day 16 - Depart in the afternoon

So, does this look pretty good? Any other suggestions? I'm a little confused about the transfers to Tortuguero. I'm just planning on staying somewhere in the town, not one of the big lodges. Does anyone know if it's easy to arrange a water taxi back out in the morning? The Interbus to Arenal leaves from Limon at 11:30. Or maybe it's better to arrange private transport for that leg?

I'm also wondering if it might be better to just have one night at Tortuguero. If anyone can share their experiences there, it would be great. I'm really most interested in seeing the turtles, so I could be talked out of going there if it isn't a "must see."

I see everyone talk about the Cano Negro tour near Arenal. Is it still worth doing, if we've just come from Tortuguero?

Thanks for the help. Just reading this forum has already helped tremendously.

Spookysee,

Your itinerary sounds fine.
You and your son can whitewater raft the Pacuare and transfer to Puerto Viejo instead of back to San Jose if you want to. (If tons of rain they cancel trips due to safety).

A public water taxi (cheap) leaves the marina in Cano Blanco for Tortuguero at around 1:00 in the afternoon. Private charters are much more. Phone (506) 259-8217

here is a page defining ways to get to Tortuguero
http://www.servicecarrental.com/tortuguero.htm

Interbus is a great way to travel to Arenal from the Caribbean coast.

Tortuguero is hot and humid. Green sea turtles are around in August and if you are lucky leatherbacks and hawksbill.

Bring mosquito repellent and Avon skin so soft for no-see-um's.

Have a fun vacation!
Roger
http://www.fun-costa-rica-vacations.com

Your itinerary looks great to me. I've never been to Tortuguero so can't help in that regard.

You will absolutely love Bosque del Cabo. What about staying at Bosque for five days and not transfer to Pearl? To me, I would want to stay put for a while longer rather than transfer so much.

Vista del Valle is a nice place to stay the day before you leave. Very peaceful and not far from the airport.

Have fun.

Thanks for the link and the tips, rogerd! I had read pretty much the same thing on another site which made me wonder about getting back out. It sounds like you can come back out around 10, but that�s not enough time to catch the Interbus at 11:30. I just sent an email to the place I want to stay, so hopefully I can find out more about the return times from them.

Mixter603: I�d love to stay at Bosque all 5 days Alas, it�s a bit pricey for me; the 3 days there is already my one big splurge for this trip. I will check out Vista del Valle. Thanks!

spookysee, you have such a fun itinerary! Near perfect, my opinion!

I think you'll enjoy both Osa destinations--and understand the "splurge" factor.

Vista del Valle is a beautiful hotel, nice property. We loved it there one night last year and vowed to return, although it didn't work out for us this coming summer. Later, maybe!

Because we are always trying to cut corners (important on a 4-6 week trip), we use Hotel Villa Bonita, about 5 min. from the airport. Great hosts, Humberto and Carmen Brenes. Internet, good breakfast, $50. Vista del Valle, although more "luxe", is about $150 or more. For us, it is a splurge! And if you are only needing somewhere to stay before catching your flight, there isn't much need to splurge at that point in time. If you find you have most of the afternoon to spend before your departure day, then yes, VdV would be a good choice. About 20 min. from the airport. . .

As for Tortuguero, we thought we happened on the perfect plan last summer, and we were coming from Puerto Viejo as well. We took a taxi to Moin, Japdeva Wharf, early in the a.m. Used a fellow named Renee. I have his phone number, I think, but will need to look for it. Young guy, very careful driver. Not an official taxi--those are pretty non existant in Puerto Viejo area.

We had arranged our Tortuguero trip with Fran and Modesto Watson and their Riverboat Francesca. They were excellent to work with, out of Laguna Lodge, which we were pleased with as well. Very reasonable we thought. $218 for 2 nights. You can google Riverboat Francesca and find them. Great couple with a great story--many many years experience in Tortuguero.

As I was saying (!), we met up with Modesto and the RF there in Moin. Also met up with our fellow tour partners (about 5 people). Modesto zipped us up the canals and rivers in about 3.5 hours, stopping for a snack midway. He was a wealth of information and slowed to show us all kinds of birds and wildlife. It was SO much fun. Loved being on the boat with him--both days. I'd definitely recommend 2 nights.

At the close of our trip, he took us back to Moin where Francesca picked us up in a van and took us back to SJO. I would HIGHLY recommend Modesto and Fran. He is basically native to the area. Excellent riverboat captain and guide.

Seeing the turtles was for sure a huge highlight. Fabulous experience. Both of you will be thrilled.

Also last summner, we did the Cano Negro tour at Arenal for the first time. It never occurred to me that the tour at Cano Negro would be too similar to Tortuguero. In some respects it was (we were on a boat and seeing birds and wildlife), but for us it was NOT too much of the same. We enjoyed every minute of both excursions. I think you and your son would as well.

DO contact Fran and Modesto. As with Renee's number, I have their information--just not with me now. I'd be glad to find phone #'s for you if you'd care to e-mail me at:

[email protected]

Hi Spookysee,

We just returned from a Bosque del Cabo/ Pearl split. I would suggest saving BdC for after The Pearl, if possible. It is pretty hard to visit anywhere after BdC.

When we were at The Pearl, Tuesday night was the bar-b-que on the beach night. We really enjoyed it. Much nicer and more fun then we had anticipated. Friday night was the "Salsa" night. It was too loud for us although your sixteen year old may enjoy it. A lot of the town shows up and there is a -Very- loud d.j. If you are there that night be sure to eat at the beginning of the dinner. When we were there they ran out and my husband and daughter did not get to eat. I did not care for the pasta buffet but they were little upset since there was nothing else to eat that night.

Have a wonderful time!!!

shillmac � thanks for all the advice! I contacted Fran at Riverboat Francesca and it looks like I might just luck out and be able tag along with a group that arranged a later departure than usual. We�d really love to see the turtles nesting. I�ll see what Fran says about transport, but I may take you up on your offer to find Renee�s #. Thanks.

Sparklegem � I�m so glad you mentioned the loud music on Friday. It might be fun! But probably not on my last night in the Osa. And you�re probably right about saving BdC for last. So I changed my reservations. Thank you so much.

Sure. I'll look for it this weekend. If I don't find your post again, e-mail me or post something with my screenname in it and I'll send it along. Hopefully I still have it! If I don't, you won't have any trouble finding someone reliable. Your hotel probably has some very good contacts. I can't even remember how we found Renee, but he taxied us around for 2 days.

Spookysee, I am so glad that I could help! If you have any other questions that arise while planning I would happy to try to answer them.

spookysee, I am so excited that you've been in contact with Fran. You'll just be amazed at how nice she and Modesto are. Fran is such a gracious person, professional, yet thoughtful and kind. Modesto, raised on the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, is fluent in the native language of that area (and Tortuguero) as well as English and Spanish. They are quite a pair. I can't imagine anyone who could provide you with a better experience than these 2.

Fran returned us to San Jose and we ran into a little problem on the highway not long after leaving Moin. There was a taxi strike and the taxistas were blocking all the lanes of the highway. We sat for quite some time amidst this huge jam. She got out, spoke with some truck drivers (she was SO comfortable with the situation and demonstrated what a take-charge gal she is!). We eased forward a bit, then noticed a public bus turning off on a dirt road. She followed it and we found ourselves bouncing along a country road that ran parallel to the highway, yet out of sight of the highway, through country neighborhoods, etc. We lost sight of the bus, and Fran, after some minutes along this road, decided it was time to cut back up and try to re-enter the highway. As we approached that junction, it was obviously clear. We looked back toward the east and saw 4 taxis absolutely RACING toward us in an attempt to block further stretches of the highway. As they pulled into place, she literally gunned the engine, squealed out onto the highway, spewing gravel everywhere, and barely squeezed through into the clear, where we zipped along our merry way. We were all clapping and cheering! She took it all in stride, and I'm telling you--it was a hoot!

On top of that, she had requested cash payment (which I had forgotten). So she very graciously took us straight to an ATM in San Jose, where, thankfully, we were able to use our bank card and get the cash we needed. She wasn't worried about it at all, and was very understanding. I was most grateful. Right there at the ATM area, we got out and hailed a taxi and she went on her way.

I just can't say enough about the two of them. While at Tortuguero, we went out on the boat with Modesto every chance we got-at least 3 times during our 2 night stay. He showed us so much, and it was such a joy to glide along that beautiful black water, the reflections were fabulous, the days were gorgeous, the temperature perfect. Very good memories. I hope you have an equally wonderful time!

Wow, Shillmac! That sounds like quite the rollicking adventure you had coming back from Tortuguero. What fun!

I also read your little mini Las Vegas report in another thread. Thanks for posting! I've got to get back out there one of these days...

Spookysee,

You itinerary sounds really fun! You will get such a great taste of CR. Out of your destinations, I've only been to Arenal and totally loved it! I'll be visiting the Osa (BdC) this December so I hope you will post your impressions when you return, as you'll get there before I will!

I hope you'll have some great turtle sightings in Tortuguero. I live on the Atlantic coast of Florida and we get both Loggerheads and Greens nesting on our beaches here. Seeing them is a truly special experience!

It sounds like your plans are shaping up nicely, and your trip will be here before you know it!

Yes, all of womankind could have been most proud of Miss Fran that day! She was a formidable force--to be reckoned with! All while smiling and looking agreeable. .

I have a friend (you guys on Fodor's know him as Nonstop) who has returned today (as far as I know) from a week of language study in Nicaragua. He's been sending reports via e-mail everyday and has had some fantastic stories to tell.

Seems when he arrived, he discovered the school had closed. While that was a little disturbing (naturally) it opened the door to all kinds of excellent experiences this week that he wouldn't have had otherwise. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise and he's been learning Spanish all week anyway since a couple of teachers at the school accompanied him everywhere. T

They even got a rare pass to visit the prison where Eric Volz is being incarcerated. Perhaps Nonstop will report of his adventures. . .it has been most interesting. His words in the last e-mail were that Central American seems to have a heartbeat all its own, and I thought that summed it up very well!

If you wander around down there long enough, intentionally or otherwise, there are gonna be some stories to tell! Of course, I suppose that's true of most places. . .

Renee in Puerto Viejo for taxi service:

506 879-50-33

Woohoo! I'm going to be able to go with Fran and Modesto with a Dutch group that needs to leave later, too. It was obviously meant to be. And Fran sounds like a blast. We're staying in the village at Miss Junies for 160 for 2 nights. Not luxury, but a good deal for my budget.

shillmac: Thanks so much for the excellent recommendation. It's nice to know I'll be in good hands. And thanks for Renee's number, too.

cmerrel: I can't wait to go! And I'll be sure to post a trip report. We'll be in Tortuguero at a good time and moon phase to see the turtles, so I'm really excited to have a chance to see them. So cool!

That's super! Good for you. Miss Junie's will be a fun place to stay. Tortuguero town is a very interesting little place. While you're there, check out the pharmacy. I forget what it was my husband needed, sinus meds or something. Not like any other pharmacy you've ever seen!

The turtle viewing will be an awesome experience for you. Enjoy! Please say hello to Fran and Modesto. They may not remember us among their many guests, but still I'd like them to know they are remembered very fondly!