tripmaker

So originally I was going to book 5 nights in Osa, but if I split 5 nights between 2 places is that too harried?
3 nights at Iguana Lodge and 2 at BdC
Would 3 nights at Iguana and 3 nights at BdC be better? (I know more time there overall is a better idea but trying to do this and not stress about flights from San Jose. Allowing a night stay there on either end of trip.

RAC

Three and three is a perfect combination, in my opinion.

Flight connections in San Jose would be mostly a matter of when your flight from the US arrives.

tripmaker

RAC and volcanogirl:
The travel dates that work best would allow us to stay our first 3 nights at Iguana and next three at BdC. However that would be a garden cabina. If we start our trip later in the month we could do a deluxe cabina. But I figured we would have already stayed at the beach then the garden might be fun anyway. And the dates available with this setup do work best. Flights to Costa Rica are better priced as well. More funds for tours...
Has anyone stayed in a garden cabina?

RAC

We only walked by them--they looked just as nice as the deluxe ones overlooking the ocean. They were built by the owners of BdC for their own private use at one point, so I would imagine they'd be fine (though humidity and air circulation might be an issue). On the other hand, there would likely be all kinds of wildlife and birdlife to see there.

volcanogirl

I would do everything I could do stay in an ocean cabin, but I love the ocean. Our cabin had a great little seating area out front with big loungers and a beautiful ocean view, and we loved to relax out there - bonus was the monkeys would swing by! The ocean makes a nice breeze too; it's pretty warm and humid there. I think it's up to you if you don't mind it being warmer and don't think you would miss the ocean view. Since you said you guys want to relax and rejuvenate, I'd lean towards the deluxe cabins, but I think it's a totally personal choice.

RAC

What if you flipped it around and did three nights BdC and then three nights Iguana Lodge? That could make more sense--do the more physically active stuff and then the more relaxing stuff.

tripmaker

I was trying for Iguana first as volcanogirl also suggested but they didn't have openings that would allow us to also stay at BdC. If they had three nights at the end of March that would have been perfect.
I'm trying again with Iguana to see if anything opened for the last days. I am trying to book the flight on SansaAir for return as well--has experience been that this charter line operates on time?

volcanogirl

Sometimes they run late, and weather can affect the schedule, but it really just depends on the day in our experience.

tripmaker

Another hiccup has been thrown in: dates I had been working with for Iguana Lodge are not available. The owner had not informed reservations to block the last casita for the same dates. There are later dates that could work. We would be in a casita for 2 nights and then a club room for the last. At BdC: We ALSO would move from garden room to deluxe.
I'm wondering if this is too much moving around and if El Remanso can accomodate us after BdC then we go there. El Remanso had availability originally.
Any experience with El Remanso?
Flights have now been altered too. Makes no difference if we stay 1 night or 2 nights when we head back to San Jose before returning.
So I'm thinking we drive to Arenal and stay 2 nights before we return. I know my wife would love to see that and the hanging bridges sound fun for both of us.
OR stay near San Jose, in Alejuela, and do a 1/2 day trip to coffee plantation or sounds like La Paz may be near enough.

RAC

Going to Arenal would be a lot more moving around than switching cabins at the same resort. A lot more.

I would go for it--we stayed in the club room at Iguana Lodge and it was fine. This would also give you some time in an ocean view casita at BdC.

tripmaker

RAC: We would still spend 6 nights in Osa, and the first 3 are at BdC. It's just the last 3 I questioned. Between staying in one room at Remanso or moving around at Iguana.

We have 2 nights before leaving we could stay at San Jose or nearby
I never meant to word it as though we would cut days in Osa! No compromise on that--you guys make it sound wonderful.

volcanogirl

I'm getting so confused! We love the Arenal area; we've been there several times, and it's great. I would consider just doing an Osa and Arenal split. Those are both great areas, and Arenal has a little more in the way of creature comforts.

plumboy

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about having to switch rooms at the same lodge. I know it sounds like a big deal, but it's really not. We had to move cabins at Bosque del Cabo last time because of a plumbing issue (which was actually resolved in a couple of hours), and it was nothing at all. It was actually a nice opportunity to try out a different cabin, and we ended up liking the second one a lot for different reasons. So, I wouldn't necessarily make decisions based on that.

I really liked El Remanso. As I said, it does have a slightly more romantic feel to it, I think. It's smaller, etc. But for wildlife and the whole experience, you really can't beat Bosque. It'll be plenty romantic.

volcanogirl

plum, what wildlife did you guys see at El Remanso?

One heads up about BdC - the dining at dinner is communal, big tables where everyone can compare notes on what they've seen, good places to spot wildlife, etc. We had some honeymooners at our table that wanted to be by themselves, so they set up their own little area, but otherwise you'll all eat dinner together.

plumboy

I was only at El Remanso for two nights, not very long, so not sure if my impression are really fair. But I really didn't see much on the grounds, to be honest, especially compared to my times at BdC. Lots of birds, a skunk, a couple of monkey sightings -- but other than that, not too much. I did see peccary track and heard one off in the distance clacking but couldn't find it. But I do think it's always a crapshoot when talking about wildlife -- it's on its own schedule, that's for sure!

tripmaker

volcanogirl: We won't mind a communal table--thank you for the heads up. I figure we will be secluded enough in the garden cabinas!
Is lunch also communal and at one specific time? We may just need something packed to take with us, I will check on possibility.
Since we are traveling between 2 places in Osa I considered renting a vehicle in Puerto Jimenez--is this possible?
It would give us more flexibility when we leave BdC (I assume they only drop off at airport during times that coincide with flights and we don't necessarily need to go to the airport in between, we can go direct to next destination)
I know it has been confusing with all the itinerary changes (for me too!) The accommodations at Iguano Lodge kept changing as I was booking and it crated a difference in travel dates and flights. It happens when trying to book a popular travel month on late notice so I am just going with what comes.

volcanogirl

Gracias, senor plum! I always like to hear about other lodges and what people have seen there; it's interesting that they're all fairly close together but all so different.

volcanogirl

Breakfast and lunch were not communal - I remember particularly loving the banana pancakes and the tuna melts - yum, yum. The food was very good. I just mentioned the communal dinner thing because it's not necessarily romantic, but it is really fun to meet everyone. You can also reduce transportation costs if you happen to be going to the same place, like share the cost of the boat to the animal sanctuary, etc. We used BdC for our transportation; I think they would drive you wherever you want for a fee, but you could check with them to compare costs.

I totally understand about the changing schedule; it is really hard to book at multiple places or consecutive days and get everything you want unless you do it really far ahead of time. When we stayed at Tulemar, I booked it months in advance, and we still had to change rooms and stay in three different spots on the property.

colibri

I don't think it's necessary to rent a car. When you are at Iguana Lodge, they will arrange transport when you want to go into PJ for any meals, tours or shopping. We had them drop us off at the Bosque office in town who then transferred us up to BdC.

As the others have stated, the wildlife at Bosque is just incredible. We participated in the last Fodor's GTG in July and stayed up at Casa Miramar. From our deck we saw herds of peccaries, toucans in the trees, monkeys every afternoon, macaws flying past.

The food at both Iguana & BdC is very, very good - you will not be disappointed in your choices. At Iguana we had booked three club rooms, but they upgraded us to Villa Villa Kula which was a three story house and we loved it. You'll have a great time at both places.

Cattail

They will do a packed lunch, a packed breakfast too, if necessary. The staff at BdC were super accommodating and flexible about meals when we were there. I Wouldn't be concerned.