Nosara or Samara or Mal Pais...
 

My husband and I are travelling to Costa Rica in March with my kids 14 and 17. The plan is to stay in one spot for 2 weeks where there is lots to do and take day trips to Arenal and Monteverde, etc. We wanted to do some snorkelling and kayaking and hiking and fishing and learn how to surf...
Where would be the best place to stay in Guanacaste where it's not too crowded and offers lots to do.
Thanks

All areas you mentioned are good for 3-4 days! 2 weeks. . .no.

Here is the thing: Costa Rica is an incredibly diverse country with many areas each worthy of 3-4 days. Because of the terrain, these locations are not short trips apart. They involve 3-6 hours one way in going from one to another.

If you stay in one place for 2 weeks (and I understand your thinking), #1: you will not have enough to do in that one area to keep you entertained; #2: you can't even DO a "day" trip to Arenal and Monteverde due to distance and travel conditions.

Arenal is one of the most popular locations in the country, if not THE most. The reason is because there is a tremendous amount of things to see and do there. Same is true of Monteverde, only the road that goes there is incredibly difficult. A day trip to either locale would allow you about 2-3 hours to see an area for which most people allow 3 nights.

To be honest, many travelers to Costa Rica would give an arm and a leg to have 2 whole weeks! Enough to allow them to see and enjoy fully 3-4 parts of the country. So here goes my suggestion:

You need to go down to the Osa Peninsula. There you will find: incredible wildlife, surfing, kayaking, fishing, beaches, horseback, rainforests, the whole works. I would stay 2 weeks on the Osa in a heartbeat.

Look into Bosque del Cabo for the ultimate in wildlife, nature, etc. The hiking is excellent and the property offers all the things you mentioned you'd like to do.

Combine with that a stay at Iguana Lodge for a visit to the Animal Sanctuary, kayaking, fishing, etc.

If you wanted to add another hotel, 2 weeks would give you plenty of time to do so. I could stay at Bosque del Cabo for a week easily.

You would need to stay your first and last nights near the airport and schedule domestic flights down to this area.

If that option (which is truly your best) doesn't appeal to you, I'd suggest: 4-5 nights MalPais (or same at Nosara); 3-4 nights Arenal; 3 nights Monteverde. March will be a busy month. . .

Have a great time planning--I hope I haven't offended you, but Costa Rica is just different from other places in many respects. And that is why it is so incredibly popular! :)

I agree 2 weeks in an of those places would be way too long . I know a lot of people do not care for it but i would recomend Tamarindo, Arenal and Monteverde.

I would go to the volcano first then 2 nights in Monteverde and the rest in Tamarindo or at least somewhere between Tamarindo and Papagayo.

We go for 2 weeks every year and usually stay in 3 different areas.

I agree the Tamarindo area would be a decent choice--we only wish we could've seen it 10 years ago! It was a pretty cool little place when we first went there 8 years ago. These days, we like staying nearby and going to Tam for an afternoon and dinner, but with the highrise business going on, we don't care to stay there. Some of the changes that have taken place there and also at Arenal have just been amazing--I just don't care for the highrises in Costa Rica!

There are several great places to choose from in the area from Tamarindo north to Playa Potrero. For surfing, though, Nosara or Tamarindo (and several beaches within a short drive of Tamarindo).

tasmith - since it apparently can't be found using the search function, I'll link you to the report of our 10 day CR trip last summer with our similarly-aged kids that included 5 days taking surfing lessons at Nosara:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35045117

We liked our itinerary, including Nosara, but I agree two weeks there, even with day trips, may be too long.