I have been reading the threads for weeks and love the wonderful info. I feel like I can not quite get a handle on this trip. We are a family of four (grown children) and are leaving ATL for SJO on 22 June 08 and returning on 29 June 08. This will be the first trip to CR. The boys want to fish for a day and a half, so I am thinking Quepos. We have been in Australia and loved staying in the Daintree, so I'm thinking BdC, Peace Lodge is booked. The other area is Arenal. My husband does not want to rent a car, go figure! So we will either fly or hire a driver. Are we trying to do too much? This family needs some chill time together. I am so open to any and all suggestions. The return flight leaves SJO around 1:00 pm.
Thanks

You don't have much time vanne49, so unless you have plenty of time to set aside for planning, or just love to do it yourself, I'd contact a travel agent.

I used Pat Hewitt with Costa Rica Travel exchange. Here's the link to his site.

http://www.lovecostarica.com/

We're traveling for two weeks mid July. With 15 days in Costa Rica, we are limiting our time to 4 locations (Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio) with one night at Peace Lodge in between Tortuguero and Arenal. Even with two weeks, we'll be rushing around a bit.

With only one week I'd think you'd want to pick two of the locations you mention, not all three. Like your husband, we did not want to drive ourselves, so Pat arranged internal flights and road transfers for us.

BdC gets great reviews here. We did not choose it solely because of the cost difference between the Osa and MA.

I have not yet been to Costa Rica, so hopefully those who have will chime in. Based on alot of what I've read, however, I'd probably recommend going to Arenal and then to BdC.

If you are on the morning flight out of ATL, you can probably get to Arenal your first night without a night in SJO. I don't know the timing of the flights to BdC, so I don't know if you'll have to spend a night before your departure to BdC or a night in SJO before your flight home. The flights could determine your itinerary order. I believe you'd fly either NatureAir or Sansa.

Even though Dana has not been there before, I totally agree with her advise to you.

With less than a month before you travel, I would also contact Pat and see what he can do. He planned one of our 4 trips to CR and it was PERFECT! Not one single glitch and the planning was simply checking out the hotels he suggested.

With a week, I agree two locations. Arenal and MA will give you a good first overview of the country. The guys can get in some fishing. MA is next door to Quepos.

I'll just add another vote to the good advice Dana and dfarmer have already provided. I think you need to choose a combination of either Arenal and MA/Quepos or Arenal and the Osa (where BdC is located).

Both MA and the Osa are terrific destinations to visit. MA/Quepos is more built up with a variety of hotels, restaurants, and easily available activities to choose from (including fishing). The Osa peninsula is more remote and isolated and definitely more 'off-the-beaten-track'. Bosque del Cabo Lodge (BdC) is phenomenal! If you decide you want to choose the Osa over MA, I'd contact BdC right away about availability; it's a popular place...

Pat Hewitt's a good guy with extensive experience in Costa Rica, so if you're feeling overwhelmed and need some help pulling the trip details together, he's a good person to contact.

Many thanks for your suggestions. I have placed a call to Pat and will also e-mail him.

Dana M,
Do you have a current e-mail for Pat?
I have called and left a message and have gone to his web site. The e-mail address will not forward.
Thanks

Hi vanne,

The email address he's used to correspond with me in the past is [email protected].

Its possible he may be out of town for the holiday weekend. Let us know if you don't hear from him in the next day or two. We can make some other suggestions...

Vanne49,
The email cmerrell listed is the correct one. Pat's very good about responding, so cmerrell's probably right-Pat is probably not in the office since this is holiday weekend.