Great dilemma to have but need some suggestions.
I'm a single female, 35, and traveling to CR (for the 8th time) and to Osa for the first time.
I think I'd like to stay at Bosque del Cabo lodge but I'd like some beach time as well and I was looking into Lost Iguana Lodge which looks great as well. I have 8 days total and since my flight doesn't arrive into San Jose until 3:30 pm I will have to wait until the next morning to fly to Osa. That leaves 7 days. I'd like some recommendations as far as how to split the 7 days. For my return flight I will have to be at the airport in SAN Jose by noon so I think that it may be pushing it to return from Osa on that same morning? Not sure about that. Worst case I would have only 6 nights to spllit between the two. I'm wondering the best way to get from IGuana lodge to BDC or vice versa, or how far apart they even are from one another.
Any information, or suggestions on how to combine these two realistically would be appreciated. I was hoping both of these places would not be catering to strictly honeymooners. I'm interested in beachtime and then the hiking and nature that the BDC has to offer. Thanks!

If you can wait a week, I can really help you out. I am leaving Friday for the Osa, three nights Black Turtle Lodge (right by Iguana Lodge) and four nights at BDC. I think it is approx. one hour between the two. BDC is sending someone to meet us in Puerto Jimenez (we want to stop at the store before heading to BDC). I don't think the transportation to either place will be difficult to arrange. We are staying near the airport in San Jose on the first and last day, I really hate stressing about making flights.

Well I'm just a couple years older than you and love BdC as a solo traveler. I often hiked their trails alone but just as often I would tag along with another couple (drinks at 6pm & dinnertime are great times to meet others). I found myself often invited to hike the trails - maybe I was being used as a buffer! I'm biased of course, being a BdC die-hard but I would do at least 4 nights there, even 5. There is just so much to do there that I think you will find yourself quite busy. I tried to do a similiar split a couple years ago with 3 nights at Lookout Inn (in Carate) and 6 at BdC and the whole time I just wanted to get to BdC - I can only find so much to do on the beach personally. The ride to Iguana will take you about 45 minutes or so, it will be a breeze to arrange, Jose or Leo can take care of it. I think if you catch the early flight out of PJ you should be fine - barring any serious rain delays or cancellations. Have a great time planning your trip!

Hi, Ladena, we spent 4 nights at BdC in July, and that was about the right amount of time for us. I agree that you should be fine to fly out early on your last day; our flight from Puerto Jimenez back to SJO was only about an hour. We had BdC arrange all our flights for us and everything went very smoothly; you can have the hotels arrange transportation for you as well. BdC caters to a wide variety of people; when we were there, there were 2 honeymoon couples, a single traveler, a family with teenagers, a gay couple, etc. If you're interested in hiking and nature, BdC is hard to beat.

There was a single woman there last year when we went and she seemed perfectly content. It's all social during meals and we also joined up on guided walks and tours. I hiked a few times by myself as well.

If you fly Sansa their airport is right next to SJO so they may be more convenient for your connections than Nature Air.

I would say maybe 3 nights somewhere like Iguana Lodge or Black Turtle and then hopefully you'll have 4+ at BDC (or maximize your time there by getting there early and leaving late). We spent 5 nights last time, and our upcoming trip the same, but if you indeed want some beach time 3 nights would be good for you. Especially since some of the tours (like mangrove kayaking and wildlife sanctuary) are more convenient to take from Puerto Jimenez than have to come back into town from BDC.

Yes Aqualime, would love to hear your experience. My trip is not until July and I have not made any arrangements.
I wouldn't mind staying at BDC all week, just wasn't sure if I would get tired of being in the same place all week. I'm used to hopping from place to place and very active. Perhaps the beach time at a place such as Iguana would be not so necessary as I'm sure I could work on my tan if necessary at BDC.
Also, considered Lapa Rios and really spoil myself but I'm thinking that Honeymooners will probably be the majority there. I stayed at Morgans Rock their sister lodge in Nicaragua and it was all couples. Beautiful place however.

Personally, I think you can spoil yourself more at Bosque. The grounds are so much prettier than Lapa Rios.

I was a little confused at first with the "Lost" Iguana Lodge. It is just Iguana Lodge no Lost. I have stayed there and their place next door several times. I really enjoy the beach there and doing some of the activities is a bit cheaper because you have less expense getting back and forth to Puerto Jimenez to do some of them. IL has kayaks you can use and it can be fun kayaking on the Golfo Dulce. There is also a kayak company down the road for guided trips.

I would personally start at Iguana Lodge if you do decide to split your time.

Unlike Tully who lives in Florida, I don't get to see the ocean unless I travel so I like to enjoy it as much as possible. I grew up on the East coast but left there years ago and I miss it. I would walk on the beach even when there was snow. Iguana Lodge and BdC are a perfect split. A whole week in either place isn't long enough for me but faced with your dilema, that is what I would do.

I just got back last Friday (yes, I'll work on a trip report). We stayed at the Iguana Lodge in town for 2 nights, then BDC for 4 nights, I thought it was a perfect split.

If you can manage to be at the IL on a Fri. night, it's Salsa/Pasta night, dinner is served in the restaurant that is open to the public rather then in the main building. Locals come and it is very lively (especially if you like to dance!).

Sansa cancelled our flight from PJ -SJ, last flight of the day, due to weather. We weren't flying home until the next day (I too, always put a buffer day in). It worked out fine, yet I missed my last meal at the Orquedias Inn, which I was really looking forward to!

We went to the beach one day from BDC, but it's a lot more work from there (walking that is).

When Sansa cancelled your flight what did you do?

The Sansa rep helped us get a hotel room in town (which we paid for), the rep was very nice in helping us. It was not the way I wanted to spend my last night in CR, but it worked out fine and was an adventure.

The owner of the hotel drove us to a restaurant, picked us up, then woke us up the next AM at 5:30 for the 6:00 flight and drove us to the airport. All for $70.00, which I did not think was too bad. The pilots were in the room next door.

Even more fun, there was a blackout around 3:00 AM, a/c went out and it was pitch dark, thankfully, we had flashlights!

When I take a late winter or early spring vacation, one of my requirements is being near the beach. Because of this, I was a little leery about booking BDC because the Golfo Dulce beaches are over an hour's hike away, and the Pacific beach is 500 feet below. I wasn't disappointed. Every afternoon, after hiking the trails during the morning, eating a leisurely lunch, and relaxing in the hammock overlooking the ocean I would head down to the Pacific beach. You can walk for miles without seeing a soul, and the only thing you hear is the wind and pounding surf. There is a nice waterfall less than a mile from BDC where you can cool off, or you can soak in one of the many tide pools. Unfortunately, the ocean's a little too rough for swimming, and you have to time your walks with the tide. It's been almost 2 years since my last visit, and I think about that beach often.

The Golfo Dulce beaches are much better for swimming. I hiked there and back twice during my stay.

I went to BDC alone and spent 6 nights there. I thought it may get a little boring toward the end, but it didn't. I was able to find enough to keep busy the whole time.

If you are looking to get in some beach time, near Puerto Jimenez ther are some nice hotels along the south eastern tip of the peninsula. Calm water and nice sand. Maybe you can go to BdC for some rain forest adventure and considering that you have to fly into Puerto Jimenez anyways, book another hotel for 2 nights at the end of your trip before heading back to San Jose.

here is a good source of info for Puerto Jimenez

http://www.anywherecostarica.com/pue...ica/travel.htm

I would love to know where the calmer beaches are on the Osa. As much as I enjoy Iguana Lodge even that area can get rough at the tidal changes and is never really totally calm.

The closest I have come is up at the inner curve of the Golfo Dulce when we stayed at Suital.

Heliconiaceae,
Your name brings back memories of my 2 week tree course down there last summer. It was quite interesting. Never knew there was a stipule until then.

Our trip to the Osa a couple years back was a split between BdC and Iguana Lodge. In my opinion it was a perfect trip!

I too am landlocked and simply do not feel I have vacationed unless I have a little true beach time.

We arranged our transfers between lodges through BdC.

Welcome back, Owlwoman, looking forward to your trip report! What a shock to return to chilling NYC temps?! Nice that you had that bit of February reprieve, though!

Hi Ladena! We just got back from our Black Turtle Lodge (3 nights) Bosque del Cabo (4 nights)trip! It was fabulous and I am glad we spent time in both places. While we were on Playa Plantanares (Black Turtle Lodge and Iguana Lodge are very near each other)we walked and swam on the beautiful beach, the water was warm and not too rough when we were there. We also did a boat trip to the Animal Santuary and a kayak trip in the mangroves, both of the trips would be great for a single traveler (your lodge should be able to arrange for you to go with a group)and are cheaper than from BDC. At Black Turtle Lodge there were two families, a couple and a single man staying when we were there, all very friendly.
Bosque del Cabo was amazing and we had plenty of beach time there. Two different days we hiked the Pacific Trail and spent time in the waterfall and tidepools (like natural hot tubs at low tide...delightful!!) Another day we hiked the Golfo Dulce Trail and arranged a ride home (there we visited three beaches, we swam at Pan Dulce). One day we hiked a couple of trails in the morning and just hung out on the porch in the afternoon. When we were there the guests were families, families with grandparents, a single guy, several empty nest couples and maybe one honeymoon couple so I think you would be very comfortable.