Am in process of planning a 10 night trip to Costa Rica. Am confirmed for the first 7 nights -- traveling and staying on the Osa Peninsula.

After flying back to SJO from Puerto Jimenez on Thursday (arriving about 9:00 a.m.)would like to proceed to the Aerenal and possibly Monteverde area (mainly to go on the canopy tour with 16 zip lines run by "A Ventura Canopy" company???? However, we only have 3 nights and don't really want to skip around from lodge to lodge.

Questions:
1. do we rent a vehicle or take a bus from SJO to Aerenal / MV? 2 lifelong girlfriends traveling solo
2. Sequence of travel
3. Lodging? Aerenal Resort, Peace Lodge ?? There will be 2 of us and if staying at Aerenal would like a good view of the Aerenal Volcano. Hope it's not too "touristomo"!
4. Need advice if we will have time on Monday morning for ground transfer back to SJO from the Aerenal or MV area to catch a 2:30 p.m. back to the U.S.

Many thanks!
Ventura




Since we only have 3 nights and need to get back to SJO for our return 2:30p flight back to the U.S. would prefer to stay in one lodge vs. skipping from lodge to lodge.

I hope you get some responses as I have similar questions. Sorry I'm not able to help but hopefully topping this will bring some advice. We're going to Drake Bay (I'm guessing that's close to Puerto Jimenez?) and then heading back to SJ for 3-4 nights. So far, like you not wanting to change lodges daily, I'm leaning towards Peace Lodge. I'm curious to know how close a hanging bridge and/or zip line tour is from the lodge? Enjoy!

Also curious- does anyone know how long the drive is directly between Arenal and Monteverde?

Well - here are a few thoughts for what it's worth...

1 - Depending on when your flight leaves SJO, you may only be down to 2 nights as most people recommend you spend your last night in SJO area - at least closer than Arenal & definitely not Monteverde.
2 - I tried so hard to try to fit Monteverde in my trip (just back last week) and based on recommendations against it on here b/c of the travel time, I skipped it & plan on doing it my next visit. Sooo...I would say, if you only have 3 nights (and maybe only 2) you will most likely NOT be able to visit Monteverde....so you might want to rule that option out.
3 - i'd recommend you pick up a rental instead of the transfers when you get back into SJO at 9am & then either head off to Arenal or to Peace Lodge. the roads here are good & it gives you a lot more freedom to see more & explore more in my opinion. depending on when your flight leaves SJO, you could do 2 nts Arenal & 1 nt (last night) Peace Lodge. I will tell you that there aren't any highly recommended canopy tours in Arenal area - but they do have the hanging bridges which I think gets good reviews. We had an excellent view of the volcano from Arenal Paraiso, but the accommodations were very basic in my opinion - although the hotel grounds were beautiful. I did feel like Arenal itself was fairly touristy - but it is amazing to see & a great little town in Fortuna but there were A LOT of tourists around.

Check out my other thread with my trip report "Peace Lodge - Arenal - Tamarindo - Alajuela Trip Report" for details on Peace Lodge & an adventure company within an hour or so drive from there. We had an AWESOME experience on a canopy tour & white water rafting at Hacienda Pozo Azul. Spent a full day there with a full lunch, etc. Very good prices & not very crowded - each thing we did we were the only ones along with the guides. You could easily spend 3 nights at Peace Lodge (dinners might get pricey & boring - maybe) - one day rest & relax & explore hotel grounds, one day drive to Pozo Azul for canopy tour & any other activities (horseback riding wasnt the best in my friends opinion) & one day do the Poas Volcano & coffee plantation tour. Peace Lodge was about an hour from the airport, so you could easily get up early & drive back from there - as long as your flight isnt first thing in the am. Peace Lodge is romantic just b/c of the king size beds & hot tubs, but I think that there is a lot in that area to explore & it is very relaxing & peaceful there too.

It's a toss up - while Arenal was great (we lucked out to see the lava) you might not even see the volcano if its covered over, there are other activities to do in the area (hike to Fortuna fall, horseback riding, etc) & the chance to see the volcano. You'll have much better accomodations (imho) and definitely a better canopy tour experience staying at Peace Lodge. And, you'll still get to see the waterfalls & could see Poas (different from Arenal but still a volcano!). Much less people in this area too. And, regardless of what you do, I say rent a car/4WD so you're not limited to bus schedules, etc.
Hope this helps! Have fun!

Cannot thank you enough for the the recommendation/guidance re: Aerenal/Monteverde/Peace Lodge.

We are definitely going to rent a car and drive vs. taking a bus. Plus as you said it is less expensive. We are skipping Monteverde due to time restraints and going to Aerenal (1 night) and then on to Peace Lodge (2 nights) and then head back home.

Was fortunate and connected with Peace Lodge and was able to secure reservations for 2 nights. They were very accommodating and had a fast turnaround time re: availability. They were also very upfront re: logistics, etc.

Thus we are now flying into San Jose from Corcovado on Friday / picking up a rental care at SJO / driving to Tabacon Resort and stay o/n for 1 night -- possibly to see the volcano erupt! Ha (truly would prefer to go directly to Peace Lodge for 3 nights vs. 2) / Sat a.m. driving to Peace Lodge fromo Aerenal area to stay 2 nights.

ALSO: thanks for the info on the canopy tour in the Peace Lodge area. HOW MANY PLATFORMS. The only canopy tour I pulled up online near Peace Lodge is the "SARAPIQUI CANOPY TOUR"?? Maybe they are one in the same. Also would appreciate any guidance as to who to make the reservation through (direct or Peace) with the canopy tour co. Also if it is better to drive to the site vs. being picked up driven, etc. by the tour co -- or whoever is arranging it.

THANKS AGAIN!

PURA VIDA!!!
Ventura


FYI: service and assistance at Tabacan Resort have also been great. Very nice re: changing reservations, etc.

ANYONE KNOW THE BEST/QUICKEST DRIVING ROUTE FROM SJO to AERENAL. Looks like there are 2 alternatives out of SJO.

AGAIN MANY THANKS FOR ALL OF THE INPUT. IT TRULY HELPED!

AM OPEN TO FURTHER GUIDANCE/SUGGESTIONS.

Ventura/Christie

Arenal Paraiso has a great view of the volcano--when the clouds permit. We were able to watch the show two nights in a row from our bed. Though we did go outside to take photos.

The accomodations are simple, but not primitive. One largish room with tiel floors for sleeping with picture windows facing the volcano. Our bathroom was very nice--everything tiled, very roomy. Not sure what else we would have wanted--the A/C worked well, and we needed it. Very nice pool area with a man-made pool that fills with natural hot spring water as well as a regular swimming pool.

The restaurant was OK--we ate two meals there and 3 of the 4 dishes we had were very good while the 4th wasn't terrible, just a bit disappointing.

We liked the Monteverde area better than the Arenal area, but both were well worth visiting.

Ventura, I think you have made good choices, but am a little concerned about your plan to drive to San Jose the morning of your flight. Or have I misunderstood? It's risky. Certainly do-able, but it just takes one little accident (not necessarily yours!) or truck breakdown to cost you all kinds of time. You'll need to return your rental by 11:30 or 12:00 to get to the airport by 12:30 for your flight. Of course, you know this! We drove to La Paz this past week. My best guess is that is about 2 hours from the airport--maybe 1.5. But I always estimate a little longer.

The best way to get to Arenal is to drive west out of San Jose on the Interamerican highway and exit at San Ramon. This road takes you straight into La Fortuna (you'll be going north) and is well marked with volcano signs pointed the way. About 3 hours.

Hi Ventura - Glad I could help!

Here are some other thoughts in regard to your latest questions.

1 - Honestly, we drove from the airport to Peace Lodge on our 1st day (easy/good roads with no traffic) and it took no more than an hour. Of course, you will probably want to leave some cushion room like shillmac said. The owners at Peace Lodge can advise you when you are there about what time exactly you should leave. I'd say get your room service breakfast & then check out & start your drive. Of course, the time is how you drive, but we were driving pretty leisurely & even stopped for a snack along the way & just admired the views the whole way. You'll be fine - you have all morning to get there....and we hardly passed any cars on that drive.

2 - the company re the canopy tour & other activities is Hacienda Pozo Azul (www.haciendapozoazul.com i think). I'd recommend you just figure out what you want to do there & then have the people at Peace Lodge call & tell Pozo Azul about what time you'll be getting there - dont book it with Peace Lodge. You should drive there to save lots of money & for the fun/freedom of explioring some more. Its an easy drive with good roads.

3 - I think there were about 12 lines with 10 platforms or something like that. You can either ride horses about 30 mins to get to the 1st platform or have them take you by tractor which is what we did b/c we had other activities lined up with them in the afternoon.

Let me know if I can answer anything else! I can't wait to hear how you enjoy it!