Oops--I think I just posted this in the wrong place, so I'm trying again!

I'm about to start trying to make reservations for our trip April 24 - May 9 and would like some input please. It's a trip we had planned last year but had to cancel. Is it too late to start trying to get reservations for April/May? I hope not! I'd also like to know if this is a good way of doing our trip or should we reverse some hotels for easier driving. We're into seeing birds, wildlife, nature & photography.

1 night near SJO--get in late
3 nights Villa Lapas (want to do a Carrara tour early one morning; also a mangrove tour early morning) Is 3 nights too much there?
3 nights Monteverde (Monteverde Lodge or Fonda Vela--can't make up my mind) Want to go to Monteverde and Santa Elena early morning
3 nights Arenal (again can't make up my mind--either Lost Iguana or Volcano Lodge) Want to do Hanging Bridges, Cano Negro
3 nights Selva Verde--La Selva early morning, Sarapiqui private river trip
1 night Peace Lodge--early morning hiking falls trail
1 night near SJO

Also, does anyone have any tips on keeping my husband's camera equipment dry? We're bringing Nikon D200 and about 3 or 4 lenses. My binocs are waterproof so I'm safe!

Thanks everyone--I'm so excited we're finally getting to go!

cano negro is definitely the best tour from la fortuna!
in monteverde do a night tour or go to santa elena in the morning. i dont know monteverde lodge, but fonda vela is nice:

http://monteverde.typepad.com/montev...ome/index.html

cano negro is definitely the best tour from la fortuna!
in monteverde do a night tour or go to santa elena reserve in the morning. i dont know monteverde lodge, but fonda vela is nice:

http://monteverde.typepad.com/montev...ome/index.html

Do you have an early AM departure? If not I would stay the final 2 nights at Peace Lodge. You are only just under an hour from the International airport at PL.

Staying 2 nights here would afford you the opportunity to also visit Poas Volcano and possibly the Doka Coffee Plantation. Not to mention some very nice relaxation at the end of an active trip.

Sounds like a wonderful trip.

Enjoy!

Our plane leaves SJO at 9:50 a.m., so I think we would have to be at airport by 8:00 a.m. Plus we have to return our car before that, which means getting there around 7:30 or so. I'm not sure if staying at Peace Lodge would be worth it then for the second night. I wish we could find a later flight because that way we could add more on to do at that location like you said--I'll have to keep looking.

Thanks!