Need advice, help please
 

OK ....in less than 4 weeks we are off to Monteverde for 3 nights (Fonda Vela) then on to Arenal for 3 nights (Arenal Observatory Lodge). We will have a rental car for that leg of the trip. (TriColor). We have not been to either areas before.

What type of clothing do we really need for MV? Light weight fleece? Warm clothes? Or just a few long sleeved items? It will be the last week of May when we are there.
We've got all of the quick dry things, zip off pants etc , just wondering about warmth? Hubby was thinking he would take his Capilene long pants/undershirt . is that overkill?

Any must see/must do? And any good places to eat in MV?

Same questions for Arenal...must see/must do? Recs for meals?

We will do a few guided birding hikes and also Eco termales, but other that that no planned tours yet.

Back to Orquideas for a night , leave luggage etc.
Has anyone left laundry at Orq to be done while you are gone for a week?

Off then to the Osa!!! A first stay at Iguana Lodge (looking forward to it) then to BdC for a week. First time in a Cabina, our previous trips there have been in Casa Blanca.


So any and all advice readily accepted! Thanks

We went to Monteverde March 08, generally wore sweatshirts or jackets in the early AM, then it was warmer in the afternoon, T-shirt weather. We had no rain - actually we were in a drought, guides were very worried and we never saw one cloud in the cloud forest, just sun and blue skies - LOL! May be cooler end of May, light weight fleece wouldn't hurt.

We took guided hikes both at MV reserve and the Santa Elena reserve which is higher up and not as crowded. Hope you see the quetzals at MV Reserve, they often hang out in the avocado trees in the parking lot.

In MV reserve we saw three quetzals, howler monkeys, toucanets, hummingbird nest, tarantula, so not as much wildlife as other destinations but a very interesting reserve.

Don't miss the Hummingbird Gallery right next door to MV Reserve, saw 8 different species in 30 minutes. We also took a night hike at the Children's Eternal Forest, saw some wildlife but it was quite neat to hear the sounds of the forest at night, worth going. Hidden Valley and some others also offer night hikes.

At Santa Elena we saw more quetzals, a three wattled bellbird, peccaries, coatis, lots of hummingbirds.

We liked Stella's Bakery, had lunch there a few times, good place to shop across the road at CASEM, a women's co-op. Dinner at Treehouse Inn was ok, Morpho's gets great reviews along with Johnny's Pizzeria which was closed when we were there. There's an ice cream place which is great - Sabano's or something like that and a good restaurant near it, just can't remember the name.

At Arenal we did Cano Negro one day, the Hanging Bridges another day. Sky Trek gets good reviews for zipline, I wasn't too crazy about my experience on the zipline at Arenal Paraiso in the rain. We loved Eco-Termales.

Enjoy your trip!

Hi Toni! You're going to have such a great time. . .we've GOT to get back to Monteverde sometime. Do eat at Johnny's Pizza while there. Personally, I'd do just long sleeves. I'm not a very good source for MV--it was hotter and drier than heck the time we were there in July.

Talk with Liseth at Orquideas. I know she will make sure everything will be as you want it, laundry, etc.

Arenal--we really like El Novillo and also Don Rufino's in town. We never were too crazy about La Choza (sp?) on the edge of town, but others like it.

Maybe one day we can get together at BdC with our grandkids! I'm thinking Isabelle will be ready in about 3 years when she is 7--unless she is still wanting me to carry her then! :)

Forgot to add at MV we went back to the Hummingbird Gallery every evening just before dusk to watch the hummers stocking up for the night. After they were finished one or two kinkajous would come down out of the trees, climb down the feeder chains, drink the nectar and head back into the forest. Totally cool. They just ignored us, we sat on the benches and watched them. After they left, the bats would fly in. We'd usually leave at that point!

If you are into plants, the Orchid Garden right next door to Arco Iris is small, but beautiful. White faced capuchins and green parrots were there amongst hundreds of tiny orchids.

We were in Monteverde in July, and the evenings were downright cold. We had on sweatshirts and fleece, and we sat by a roaring fire in the dining room of our hotel. It rained a lot while we were there too, so we were glad to have our ponchos. My sweatshirt and shoes never did get dry. We ziplined at the Original Canopy tour, did a great night hike at Hidden Valley - saw a sloth, fox, and agouti, coati, porcupine, tiny snake, insects and a tarantula, and a raccoon which thrillled the Brits! During the day it was warm, and I wore t-shirts and capris. We did a guided hike early in the morning in the reserve and saw a quetzal which was great. We liked Pizzeria de Johnny - they had great salads and a cute environment. Fonda Vela's restaurant was actually pretty good too.

In Arenal, do the Cano Negro tour with Sunset tours, hike the Hanging Bridges, zipline at Sky Trek, maybe visit the waterfall, and do dinner and hot springs at Eco Termales. We liked the food at El Novillo for steaks and also liked La Choza de Laurel. It sounds like you have a great trip planned!

You have great advice here so even though I don't have much to add -- just wanted to say have a great trip!

When I was in CR in May and early June the only time I needed an extra layer was in the evening, and then I only needed something light with long sleeves, not necessarily even long pants. I mostly wore tanks and shorts (PV, Osa, Arenal, Vara Blanca).

We did encounter A LOT of mosquitoes in Osa and other areas on that trip, so if they love you like they love us, take DEET!

I think the others have covered the basics for you, parrmt. Sounds like a really fun itinerary!

We actually had cool-ish, rainy weather when we visited Arenal a few years ago. I was glad to have a lightweight fleece jacket there, and it sounds like it won't come amiss in MV either. The trip will be here before you know it! :-)

Not in Monteverde but in bajos del toro which is similiar, maybe even a little warmer, and I was downright cold, especially at night! A light fleece would've been perfect.

Looking forward to your thoughts on Iguana. Do you know which cabina you will be in at BdC?

Great info and prompt replies as usual! This forum is A+++++ isn't it.
colibri...I may be camping in the car at MV to see the quetzals in the parking lot!!! We are planning on Eco-termales for sure. Hoping to see kinkajous as well! Great info thanks!

Jill, that would be great..another generation at Bosque. Esp. since I am missing the GTG at BdC! I did see on the Orq. website that they do have laundry service. Liseth is always so helpful.

VG, we are at Fonda Vela , I think you recommended it to us, I am really looking forward to it.

Hip, for some reason mosquitoes don't like my blood ...aren't I lucky... but we always have repellent just in case.

cam, hoping we have some dry days, but we will be prepared for rain.

tully, I think we are in Sol!! Rec. of course by Jill :)

Again thanks to all of you for food and clothing recommendations. I knew I would get the experts!

And I will post a report and pics when we get back. Esp the ones of the Puma at BdC!! :)) on the Titi!

We really liked Fonda Vela - are you in a new junior suite? Those rooms are nice - seemed pretty posh for Monteverde. We had a little sitting area with big glass windows that looked out on the garden - saw lots of birds there, even a big toucan which was pretty neat! Our guide at the reserve pointed out a quetzal in the parking lot before we ever even paid him. I think we got our money's worth! When we did our night hike at Hidden Valley, our guide told us that they saw a puma there once, just one time in several years. It was up in a tree and posed for pictures before trotting off. Can you imagine?!

VG, I asked for a new junior suite, I plan on emailing all of our accomodations prior arrival to make sure they know we are coming. I will again request a newer suite. I just ordered an
expensive pr of binocs. Just so I can see that elusive Qutezal. Our old ones I told hubby he could use!! hahaha

I will ck out hidden valley, not sure I have info on that one
Thanks

I was at the OKC Zoo with daughter and granddaughters Saturday looking longingly at the mountain lions, thinking "I'm gonna SEE one of those out and about!" IT COULD HAPPEN! :) DD thinks her children's grandmother is a nut.

Don't forget your camera, Toni--expecting GREAT photos! :)

Toni, you're cracking me up. If you hire a guide, he/she will most likely have a scope that your husband can look through while you get the good binocs! We had another great quetzal experience ziplining - came face to beak with a quetzal while we were on one of the platforms.

Just returned from Monteverde 3weeks ago so I decided to chime in. Stayed at Fonda Vela in Junior suite #42 and loved it.I especially enjoyed meeting Paul Smith the original owner of Fonda Vela-you might get to hear him play one of his handcrafted string instruments if you eat at the restaurant.Also enjoyed walking the hotel grounds,you will probably see more birds than in the parks-look for the resident foxes behind the restaurant at night.Saw Quetzals just about every day at both of the major parks. Restaurants; Pizzeria de Johnny: Great pizza-we had the "anything else". Nice place. Chimera: Tasty Tapas and nice staff.Liked everything except the chicken with chocolate sauce. La Maravilla: Good casadas-had all and liked every one. Can be very busy at lunch. El Marquez: The place to go for seafood.Had the mixed seafood and the seafood soup- it was awesome! Fonda Vela: Mostly had appetizers while enjoying a cold Imperial-No worries mate! Panaderia Jimenez: Downtown bakery- apple and pineapple strudel with fresh MV coffee-a great way to start your day. The road up to MV was greatly improved over a previous trip,and remember to gas up before going up the mountain-the only place in MV to get fuel is out of a local garage. Hope you have a wonderful trip!If you would like to see some pics. they can be seen at: http://picasaweb.google.com/artiejay...009Monteverde#

Beautiful photos, artie! I really liked all the cool insect pics.

Jill, I fervently hope you do see a Costa Rican "Mountain Lion", and that I happen to be there when you do! ;-)

Of course you will, Cam. There will be quite a team of us-- I'm sure she'll/he'll walk right into that! :D

Toni, had to laugh about the binocs. My husband bought me a very nice pair for my birthday 3 years ago. Not REALLY expensive, but in the $250 range, good ones. His that I bought him before we married are just awful. So last year, I got a crazy notion and ordered myself a new pair of Swarovskis. Justified it by telling him it was so HE could have new ones--my bithday binoculars! Good thing he's a good sport. :)

vgirl, I didn't remember about you seeing the quetzal while ziplining. That is so cool. I could look at them all day. I saw a new wren this weekend! :)

Artiejay - your Monteverde photos are gorgeous, makes me wish I was back there right now. Thanks for sharing.

artie, wow, your pictures are beautiful! Thanks for posting them. We completely missed the foxes at Fonda Vela, but we saw one on our night hike, and it was so cool.

shillmac, the guide practically had to shove me off the platform. I was just standing there staring because the quetzal was so gorgeous. Our guide said they hadn't spotted any for two weeks, so for us to see more than one felt really lucky!

We had a funny experience at Fonda Vela with our mini frig. It wasn't working, so we called the front desk, and they told us that the frig in that room stops working 2 or 3 days a month, and it just happened to coincide with our stay! That just tickled me for some reason.

Jill, you know I will do my best to get some good pics w/"our" camera! :)
Yes, my new binocs are Nikon Monarchs also in the $250 range, WOW Swavorski's! I am impressed! I know for sure we will see the pumas w/our big binocs..hahaha
What was your new wren? We have the Carolina wren daily (hubby's fave)We get about 23 species regularly to our feeder. Plus the occasional transient/traveler.
Here is who is visiting now daily, they are nesting, they
eat and drink. They are so wary...the pics are from in my living room about 6 feet from the door, also through glass etc. You breathe or move and she is gone!

http://www.ovies.smugmug.com/gallery...24344032_Y3RyL



artiejay, what great info and the fotos are truly wonderful. I think that the quetzal pics are the best I have seen. Beautiful!

Did you use a guide? Or did you see them on your own? Thanks!!!

VG, that's funny about the mini-frig, I did not know there was one. Hope ours works.

Again thanks all!

volcanogirl, you're a traveler, not a tourist. Remember that thread? Only a traveler could find the sense of humor in that. . .going with the flow and laughing at the glitches (be they not TOO inconvenient).

Every now and then we all read a review by someone who just raves on about one problem after another--and gives all the hotels horrible reviews. Nothing good to say. You just gotta go looking forward to having a good time no matter what (within reason)--it usually works!

Toni, I think it was a Carolina Wren, although central Oklahoma (where I saw it) looks to be at the western edge of its habitat. It could have been a Bewick, but the eye stripe was so obvious. That's what I clearly saw in a short amount of time--only to discover that several have that. The Carolina's just seems to be more distinct. And the song was REALLY loud for such a little bird--also typical of several wrens. Wish I knew for sure.

The binoculars, well, hmmm. . .I had no business spending so much $$, but I do enjoy them. Sometimes I wish I had gotten them a little more powerful for distance (they are 8 X 32's), but they are really lightweight and I was looking for that. They are exceptional for in the forest. I called Eagle Optics (as gannetmusic recommended) and the guy whom I spoke with said most who worked there had the 8 X 32's. Are yours 10 X 42's? That's what my other pair is. These should last forever. If my little granddaughter stays as interested as she is now, maybe she'll enjoy them one day. I'm very good at justifying expenditures. . .