Help planning 5 day trip for first time travelers to Costa Rica
Jun 7th, 2006, 08:05 AM
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Help planning 5 day trip for first time travelers to Costa Rica
We are planning a trip to Costa Rica the first week in August. We have never been there before and are looking to mix up the trip with relaxing on a beautiful beach, zipping, white water rafting and monkeys! We realize we can not see all of the hot spots in one short trip but would greatly appreciate ideas for where to go and high end accomodations. We are leaving the kids at home and looking forward to adventure and romance!
Jun 7th, 2006, 10:14 AM
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2 suggestions:
Manuel Antonio--all 5 days (realizing, of course, that, depending on arrival and departure times you may need to speed first, last, or both nights near the airport). Everything you are looking for is right there. 3 hours drive from the airport, or you can fly NatureAir or Sansa.
Osa Peninsula--Bosque del Cabo on the Golfo Dulce side fabulous place. 4 nights would be great, but you could also do 3 if necessary and have a fabulous time. Everything there except zipping and rafting--tons of wildlife, gorgeous hotel--outdoor showers are to die for!
Both places are high above the beach, and you can access the beaches at Manuel Antonio easier. Bosque del Cabo more high end/expensive, RIGHT in the rain forest, but very beautiful. It is all-inclusive as you are pretty much confined to the property. Excellent guides on the property for tours of the forest, night hikes, or birding.
Manuel Antonio would allow you to take a quick shuttle down to the beach, the national park has several beaches inside it, the Naranjo River is nearby for white water, there are some good horseback tours available, and of course, the ziplines. Lots of restaurants to choose from. Lots of hotels to choose from. Take a look online at Tulemar Bungalows and Costa Verde II (adults only). Have a great time!
Oh, by the way, both areas will get rainfall in the afternoons and during the night. Usually fairly brief. It doesn't tend to interfere. Bosque is perhaps a little rainier.
Manuel Antonio--all 5 days (realizing, of course, that, depending on arrival and departure times you may need to speed first, last, or both nights near the airport). Everything you are looking for is right there. 3 hours drive from the airport, or you can fly NatureAir or Sansa.
Osa Peninsula--Bosque del Cabo on the Golfo Dulce side fabulous place. 4 nights would be great, but you could also do 3 if necessary and have a fabulous time. Everything there except zipping and rafting--tons of wildlife, gorgeous hotel--outdoor showers are to die for!
Both places are high above the beach, and you can access the beaches at Manuel Antonio easier. Bosque del Cabo more high end/expensive, RIGHT in the rain forest, but very beautiful. It is all-inclusive as you are pretty much confined to the property. Excellent guides on the property for tours of the forest, night hikes, or birding.
Manuel Antonio would allow you to take a quick shuttle down to the beach, the national park has several beaches inside it, the Naranjo River is nearby for white water, there are some good horseback tours available, and of course, the ziplines. Lots of restaurants to choose from. Lots of hotels to choose from. Take a look online at Tulemar Bungalows and Costa Verde II (adults only). Have a great time!
Oh, by the way, both areas will get rainfall in the afternoons and during the night. Usually fairly brief. It doesn't tend to interfere. Bosque is perhaps a little rainier.
Jun 8th, 2006, 08:14 AM
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Thank you so much for your input! IWe are now able to capture another night to make it 6 nights and 7 days. Is it unrealistic to do a luxury resort at a north pacific beach and then go to MA?
Jun 8th, 2006, 08:27 AM
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It would not be unrealistic if you could fly into Liberia (within 30 minutes of the north Pacific all-inclusives) and fly out of San Jose. If you want to do that in addition to Manuel Antonio, then arrange your airfare in that way.
If you fly in and out of San Jose (north Pacific coast is about 5 hours away) you nearly always have to spend the first night near the airport--UNLESS you can arrive around noon. You'd still have a long drive after a long flight, but I've done it and it IS doable. When you're excited, the adrenaline kicks in and you don't feel so tired!
The problem is that you just lose a lot of vacation time transferring yourself here and there. That's 5 hours of your vacation transferring to Guanacaste. Granted, it's an interesting drive, particularly if this is your first time, but there are more excited things to do!
Expect travel time between Guanacaste (northern Pacific province) and Manuel Antonio to be 5-6 hours. Manuel Antonio back to San Jose is 3 hours. Again, if you have a morning flight, you'll want to spend the last night near the airport.
You could also reverse the itinerary, flying into San Jose, going to Manuel Antonio, finishing up in Guanacaste, and flying out of Liberia.
A better idea might be to fly in and out of San Jose and then book a couple of nights at someplace near the airport like Peace Lodge, either at the beginning or end of your trip. Also you might be interested in Vista del Valle or Xandari or Finca Rosa Blanca, all high end properties near the airport. There is a wealth of beauty in this area--and activity. La Paz Waterfall Gardens (Peace Lodge), Poas Volcano, Doka Cafe Plantation, Pacuare white water rafting, etc. You can always fly down to Manuel Antonio, thus saving yourselves a little time.
If you fly in and out of San Jose (north Pacific coast is about 5 hours away) you nearly always have to spend the first night near the airport--UNLESS you can arrive around noon. You'd still have a long drive after a long flight, but I've done it and it IS doable. When you're excited, the adrenaline kicks in and you don't feel so tired!
The problem is that you just lose a lot of vacation time transferring yourself here and there. That's 5 hours of your vacation transferring to Guanacaste. Granted, it's an interesting drive, particularly if this is your first time, but there are more excited things to do!
Expect travel time between Guanacaste (northern Pacific province) and Manuel Antonio to be 5-6 hours. Manuel Antonio back to San Jose is 3 hours. Again, if you have a morning flight, you'll want to spend the last night near the airport.
You could also reverse the itinerary, flying into San Jose, going to Manuel Antonio, finishing up in Guanacaste, and flying out of Liberia.
A better idea might be to fly in and out of San Jose and then book a couple of nights at someplace near the airport like Peace Lodge, either at the beginning or end of your trip. Also you might be interested in Vista del Valle or Xandari or Finca Rosa Blanca, all high end properties near the airport. There is a wealth of beauty in this area--and activity. La Paz Waterfall Gardens (Peace Lodge), Poas Volcano, Doka Cafe Plantation, Pacuare white water rafting, etc. You can always fly down to Manuel Antonio, thus saving yourselves a little time.
Jun 30th, 2006, 04:38 AM
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There are luxury places in Manuel Antonio and the places in Osa -- or I recommend Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge -- will give you an entirely different experience. You won't miss a resort. I really don't think going to Guanacaste is worth taking the time for this trip.
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