Viper

My wife and I have tentative plans in early April to visit CR. Right now we have 4-5 days at the Villablanca Cloud Forest Hotel in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest and then heading over to Tamor Beach for 4 days at Tango Mar. Does this sound good to anyone? I went through a CR travel group in Chicago. How is the LA Cloud Forest compared to Monteverde; Tamor vs. other Nicoya Penninsula beaches.

shillmac

We have driven through the LA Cloud Forest several times. Can't compare it to Monteverde, but there are a lot of things within driving distance to occupy you for a few days. I'd say 3 at the most. It would be nice if you could get up to Arenal (only about 1.5 hour from where you will be) for a couple of nights.

Tambor is a very laid back part of the country. Fewer tourists than on the northern beaches. Montezuma is nearby and is an interesting little town to visit. Tambor town is very small. It is a nice area, and you should enjoy your time here. Do let us all know your opinion of Tango Mar--it doesn't get reviewed on Fodor's very often. Few people spend time at Tambor--most go on over to Montezuma or MalPais (including Leonardo DiCaprio this week!), but we liked it there a lot.

It will also be interesting to hear about your stay at Villablanca--it that the former president's hotel and property?

marthag

Shillmac......when you say "Can't compare to Monteverde", do you mean that you haven't seen Monteverde, or that Los Angeles "can't compare" because it is an inferior experience to Monteverde? I'd like to go to Los Angeles instead of making the long drive to Monteverde, but if it is considerably less impressive, I'll go to Monteverde instead. Thanks for any insights you can give me.

shillmac

I meant that, for me, there is no basis for comparison because I've not yet been to Monteverde. However, it is no secret that Monteverde is the #1 cloud forest in CR--I would assume so by the large number of tourists who choose to go there. The LA cloud forest will give you an idea, although on a smaller scale, of what this type of ecosystem looks like. A cloud forest is exactly that--a forest in the clouds--cooler, wetter, very other-worldly.

Percy

The Los Angelos Cloud Forest is okay, I have been there.
It is not comparable to Monteverde, which is larger, is at a higher elevation, and has more activities to do there.

When I was in Monteverde the clouds were so low you could not see the treetopsin many places and there was a light misty rain falling.

It is a tough long bumpy ride to get to Monteverde.

Relaxing 4 days at Tambor seems okay to me as there are tours to take from here and places to visit.

Personally I think 4-5 days at the Los Angelos Cloud Forest is too much, also 4-5 days in Monteverde is too much...but that is my opinion, other I am sure will disagree.

Percy