My husband and I and two kids (13 & 15) are planning our trip for July 2008. Here's our itinerary so far. We'd love some suggestions and comments, it's our first trip to CR.
NY-SJO: morning flight so we arrive with enough time to pick up rental car and drive to Peace Lodge.

2 Nights Peace Lodge. Waterfalls. Possible white water rafting trip. Drive to Arenal

3 Nights Arenal at Lost Iguana Lodge or Tabacon Hot Springs Resort: canopy tour, volcano tour.

Drive back to San Jose, turn in rental and fly to Osa.

3 nights at Bosque del Cabo

1 night San Jose for flight out in a.m.

Is it too much driving? Should we do Arenal before Peace Lodge?

I wouldn't say it's too much driving.

Normally I would say save BDC for last, but in this case, you could add another day to BDC by going there first. i.e., you could take flight out of Sansa after you arrive in SJO, spend 4 nights at BDC, fly back to SJO and pick up rental car, drive to Arenal for 3 nights, drive to Peace Lodge for 2 nights, drop car off and fly home.

So, depending on your exact Int'l arrival departure times you could have an additional wonderful night at BDC and eliminate the need to stay a night near SJO.

Happy planning!

I think it sounds great. If anything, maybe I would switch PL & Arenal, as PL is only about an hour away from the airport so that would be less you'd have to contend with to catch your flight to BdC.

Agree with hvc and Tully. Also, you might remember that 2 nights at Peace Lodge is going to get you one full day there. Not sure you'd have time to work in white water. You are going to have PLENTY of activity besides that.

I, too, would consider BdC first and Peace Lodge last--it would be a great way to wind down and relax in beautiful surroundings before heading home. The alternative is to arrive at the airport out of breath from last minute rushing--just not a good way to wind down a great vacation!

We did a very similar trip this past May. We arrived and went right to Arenal. I believe our plane landed around 11:30 am and by the time we got through customs and got our rental car, we were in Arenal before 3:00 pm. We did Peace Lodge before BDC, which worked well, because as Tully mentioned, it's a short drive to the airport in the morning before going to BDC, so there was no rush getting there as there would have been going from Arenal if we would have gone to Peace Lodge first. We also had 3 nights at BDC, flew back and spent the last night in San Jose. It was a great trip - you'll have a great time with that itinerary! You're going to wonderful places and will see some amazing wildlife!

I didn't feel it was too much driving at all, but my husband did. Overall all on a 10 day trip, we were only driving from location to location three separate occasions and never for more than 3 hours at a time. And the scenery is breathtaking, and the driving is adventurous! At the time I don't think he minded the driving, I think looking back on it, he feels like we spent too much time in the car. Mainly because on our typical vacations, we don't drive.

As a matter of fact, we hope to go back this July!

Thanks everyone,
this has been so helpful. A few more questions if I may...
Has anyone stayed at BDC in the houses? Is it easy to get food if you are not on the meal plan? Are there any other places nearby that you would recommend? I am putting our budget together and this will be a big one so I'm trying to have alternatives in case I can't swing it! Thanks

I haven't personally stayed at the houses, but they get wonderful reviews here. Also, as you probably know there's the option of the cabina's with loft for your teens (include the meal plan so a little more expensive).

Once you get to BDC you're fairly isolated so there's really no option for eating elsewhere. The food at BDC is fantastic and there are many of choices. If you do stay in the house, you'll need to stop at the grocery store in Puerto Jimenez before you head to BDC. I met some travellers who ate breakfast at the house, and sometimes packed their own lunch, but usually ate dinner at the lodge with the rest of the guests. It's nice to be able to socialize there so you may want to ask what prices are per meal are compared to the full day plan.

It's a budget splurge well worth while.

We stayed in Casa Blanca at BDC last month with our 14 & 19 yr olds. In answer to your question about meals. You really are stuck once you get there. There is nowhere else to go to eat and the only grocery opportunity is at the landing strip when you arrive (very small grocery). Because this was our first trip there and we didn't know what to expect we decided to go with the "meal plan" which as you know, is very expensive! If I were to go back and stayed at a house, I would buy enough at the "airport grocery" for most breakfasts and "packable" lunches(chips, sandwiches....) The reason I say packable lunches is because we thought the lunches at BDC were the best meal but unfortunately we were on excursions most of the days there and had to take a BDC sack lunch with us, which considering how much it was costing us, wasn't very good. So if you plan ahead, you may be able to squeeze out breakfast on your own and a few lunches but I wouldn't miss dinner at the "lodge"...it was the social highlight of our day.

I have been reading a lot on these boards about Tortuguero. Do you think it's too much to add it to our itinerary? Would you trade something else for it? Is it worth it to see the turtles?
I've been thinking of the Sansa one week air pass to get everything in but it's very hard to get the flight schedules. Any suggestions?

Adding Tortuguero would be too much to add to your itinerary IMO. You already have an ambitious schedule in that there's plenty to do in all areas for the time you have alotted. If you wanted to eliminate Peace Lodge it's possible, but still adds travel time to your schedule. I wouldn't suggest skipping Osa or Arenal. You could also look into the timing of the turtles/egg laying in Osa because there is a protected beach there as well. I believe there's some information about it on the Iguana Lodge website.

Thanks, I'll check that out. I had no idea there might be turtles in Osa! That would solve that issue and maybe warrant an extra day down there.

Oh gee, we loved Tortuguero in July, although we'd been to CR many times before we took the time to go there. Watching the turtles lay their eggs was amazing--very mystical experience!

We also enjoyed immensely the twice daily boat outings through the canals and rivers of Tortuguero. It was relaxing, beautiful, peaceful, all of that. And I'm a birder, so I was endlessly fascinated with being able to add new ones to my life list. Tortuguero town was very interesting.

I'd almost tell you that, since you're going there during "the season", you should make time to do it. Skip Peace Lodge--get yourselves to Tortuguero. It's just that I'm not convinced your children would enjoy it as much as the two of you might. It's a very slow, laid back segment of the country. Maybe a little two slow for a couple of teenagers! You can be a better judge of that than I, of course.

Whether you can find turtles on the Osa or not, I think you'd be very glad (after the fact) that you added an extra day there if you can swing it. First time there, we stayed 3 nights. It was okay, and we did all the things we wanted to do, plus relaxed a bit. Last 2 times we stayed 4 nights, and neither time was I ready to go! Neither time did I feel as if I'd have enough time there.

Just something to think about. . . .

Thanks Shillmac for all the great advice. Is the Tortuguera experience worth trading Osa? We are trying to pack as much in without overloading and my husband is wondering if we're losing too much time flying down south. Should we concentrate on Arenal, MA, Tortuguera? What do you think?

Shillmac, now you have me so intrigued about Tortuguero! I hadn't given it much thought before, but our tentative plans have us there right smack in the middle of nesting season. It sounds fascinating! I think my son would be fascinated! How do you plan that type of trip, it seems it has to be done through a package, like Costa Rica Expeditions. Do you know if they only depart from San Jose? And if we did this, would you still do Cano Negro? It sounds very similar...so many decision! But all so much fun!

ShellD, you and I are in the same place!!! In deciding between Tortuguera and Osa, I think we will go with Osa. I've been readin so many posts and they all say it's magical to see the turtles but, you don't always see them. And, the pace is a little slow for the teenagers. I wish the air connections were better so we could fly from Arenal to Tortuguera and Puerto Jiminez!

shelld, I can recommend for you what I believe to be an excellent tour, but you'll have to google it as I can't put my hands on the e-mail address right now.

It's Fran and Modesto Watson and the Riverboat Francesca. They are just fantastic. . .they use Laguna Lodge. Modesta and Fran have a fascinating history and he is a fabulous guide. As I said, we put that trip on the back burner for years, then decided that, since the time was right (nesting), we would like to give it a try. Some friends had recommended Fran and Modesto to us. We loved every minute of it, and the turtle experience was absolutely one of the highlights of ANYTHING we'd ever seen.

Hope you decide to go. . if you son would be interested in that sort of thing. . .it's a must!

hazelnut - I just wanted to reiterate that I didn't mean to imply Torgugero wasn't worth the trip, just that it was too much to ADD to your schedule. I haven't been there myself, but have been to Peace Lodge, two VERY different places so you'd have to choose which would best fit your interests. There's always next trip too!

We spent 5 nights at BDC and are staying the same next spring, so I urge you to keep it in your plans. It's a very special place.

thanks hipvirgochick! We've actually added a night to BDC just b/c we've heard so many fantastic reviews! I think we've got it all planned. We're going to have a 630pm flight home out of SJO. Which flight would you take out of PJ? I'd like to have a nice breakfast and take our time but if we take the 2nd flight and something goes wrong, we miss our flight home. What do you think?

That's a toughie because it would be a BIG bummer to miss your flight home. Seeing that it is rainy season, I would err on the side of caution and opt for the earlier flight (hopefully, you can get an early one in ). I think Sansa has more flight options out of PJ, so if you're only looking at Nature Air times you could check Sansa as well.

Yes, definitely look into Sansa, With such a late flight out of SJO you can definitely extend at BdC, always worth it! I have the schedule for July 2008, it'll be a bit of a layover but flight 617 will put you into SJO at 1:25 (leaves at 12:27); the next flight arrives at 3:43 and that would be cutting it too close.