If we choose just TWO places to go, would Arenal and Tortuguero be good choices for people who just want to do some hiking with 7 year olds, see animals and enjoy nature? or should we try to do Monteverde instead? This would be Easter week, a very busy week and due to our cancellation of our trip to visit relatives in Japan....VERY little time to plan

There's not going to be a lot of hiking in Tortuguero; it's primarily canal based, so you'd spend a lot of time touring in a boat, kayaking, and things like that. You can't swim at the beach, and there aren't really roads there. There is a lot of wildlife though. I'd go with Arenal and the Osa myself. You can hike the Hanging Bridges, do a volcano hike, and hike the waterfall and swim at the bottom. Your kids would love the natural hot springs too. The Osa has more wildlife than any place we've ever seen - saw monkeys, sloths, toucans, scarlet macaws, and even an anteater - it's great for hiking and wildlife, and there's an animal sanctuary you can visit. We got to hold a sloth and a baby monkey there, and we saw dolphins on the trip over. Have you seen this video? Check it out to see if it's something you might like.

http://www.bosquedelcabo.com/home/index.html

You don't say whether you have a full week or not, emmagus. This could make a big difference. I fully agree with volcanogirl that the Osa is Numero Uno for hiking and wildlife. With limited time, you could spend the entire time in this area and not feel shortchanged. Alternatively, you could spend a day or two at either end of your trip in the Orosi Valley or another close area to San Jose, and the rest of the time in Arenal.

I never heard of Osa, I will check it out. Thanks for that good advice. We have vouchers so depending on what flights we can book we have up to 10 days. we can't afford 10 days so i think one week is probably what we have.

easter week will be chock a block on all beaches

and spring break for tourists so do reserve.

www.hotelvillacaletas.com my fav around airport/for beach

Private wonderful will not be crowded

www.arenal.net www.monteverdeinfo.com

if time.

Tortuguero har to get to more canals not much hiking.

ok if time.

Have fun,

Is Osa going to be packed also (beach with both locals and tourists)? Is it possible to get to from Osa to Arenal by driving easily? It looks like a really long drive?

I would not drive we got a driver to arenal and back to san jose then a hopper plane to Osa. Manuel antonio is another nice area more touristy.

For distances and driving times, look here: www.yourtravelmap.com

I think that Arenal and Tortuguero would be fine. There IS hiking in Tortuguero, although it is mostly water-based and only accessible by boat. There are trails through the Tortuguero National Park (the land part) and there is a hike to the "hill" - a turtle shaped area near Tortuguero. You will see lots of wildlife here also - monkeys, lots of birds, turtles, caimans, etc.

The Arenal area has lots to do and a wide variety of places to stay. www.arenal.net It is easy to get transportation from Arenal to the boat landing at Pavona for your boat trip to Tortuguero through Pura Vida Tours in La Fortuna. You could then arrange transportation back to San Jose or to the airport.

For independent travel to Tortuguero, www.tortuguerovillage.com

For package deals to Tortuguero, www.tortugueroinfo.com

While the beach at Tortuguero is not suitable for swimming - way too rough - it is a gorgeous beach for walking and many of the hotels have pools.

I agree with the advice above - hire a private driver or drive yourselves between SJO and Arenal and then head back to SJO and fly to the Osa. The video that I posted is for that area. Sansa Air and Nature Air are the intra-country airlines if you want to check their websites. If you want something easier, do Arenal and Manuel Antonio, although I suspect MA will be crowded. Costa Ricans head to the beach for holidays. MA has a beautiful beach inside the park and easy access to wildlife, although it's pretty tame and used to tourists. The Osa would give you a wilder experience.

O.K. last question....maybe just Osa is enough for 5 nights? It looks gorgeous and like there is a lot to do with a lot of nature. But I am not into those all inclusive posh resorts (I am sure they are great, but it just isn't our thing). And I am not into really rough camps with kids. Is there something in between and with a pool that anyone has stayed at and can recommend?

Everything also looks BOOKED so far.

I would check availability at Bosque del Cabo, if nothing there check at El Remanso. Both are all-inclusive in the fact that food is included - but only because driving to get food somewhere else would involve an extremely bumpy hour drive. Definitely not like the AI's up on the north, beautiful cabinas but not what I would say is posh. Very much there to do to keep you occupied for 5 days or more. Very wildlife intensive, lots of hiking to do but with small luxuries like a small pool and bar, excellent food etc. Easter may be fully booked though, I would inquire asap.

In the Osa, try Cabinas Jimenez in Puerto Jimenez. The price is great, and you can get a family room (the one we were in had bunkbeds for the kids). It's really low-key, there's a small (quite small) pool, swimming in the gulf with local families, and lots of possibilities for day trips to beaches and hiking. Don't expect luxury, but it's not a "rough camp." Right on the edge of town, several good, small restaurants. We loved it.

No doubt, most places that are desirable will be already booked for Easter week. One of the reasons I suggested Tortuguero and Arenal. Not quite as crowded. Kids will love the boat ride through the jungle to Tortuguero.

The week leading up to Easter, Semana Santa, is a huge vacation week for Costa Ricans. The government basically shuts down. It is traditionally a time when families re-unite and head for the beach. Add to that, the people coming from other countries and you have a pretty good crowd.

Another option--much cheaper and closer--would be the Sarapiqui region, which has fantastic ecoutours and wildlife sighting. Chocolate plantation tours, amazing birds, etc. It's about 2 hours from San Jose and about 90 minutes from Arenal.

Yes - agree with RAC. Sarapiqui is an excellent option and probably not as crowded as the beaches.

Osa seems so great but I am not sure we can get this together this quickly. The places are either booked or incredibly expensive (man, I need a new career that makes more money apparently). I am still trying since we have the refund now from our Japan trip so i can even switch airlines and am no longer bound to American. Or we could try to go in the summer (how would Osa be to travel in the summer?)

me again....cabinas Jimenez has an opening but I did read someone on tripfinder complaining that it is really loud (opposite a nightclub??). Is this true or just someone trying to smear this place?

Bosque del Cabo is booked, I imagine. It's pricey, but not an all-inclusive resort in the traditional sense of the word. I love it, and I'm not into resorts either. Really, the only things that are inclusive are the meals (though there are alternatives), and the expansive trail system. You can hike (or get rides) to and from the beach, and there's a great little pool for the kids. The last time my husband and I were there, a couple of families were having a wonderful time there. Very kid-friendly.

Early summer is a fine time to be on the Osa, maybe a bit of rain, but pleasant.






















Th

We've traveled to the Osa during summer and loved it. I wouldn't got in September or October when it gets really rainy.

Emmagus, we stayed at Cabinas Jimenez 4 nights. On one of the nights (Friday or Saturday) there was indeed loud music coming across the bay from the music club well into the night. We noticed it, but it didn't really bother us. The room had an air conditioner, so we closed the door and windows and turned on the air con, and slept just fine. The other nights were very quiet.