Osa Peninsula vs. Manuel Antonio
 

We are traveling to Manuel Antonio (Mango Moon B&B) for 4 nights in March, and then on to Bahia Paraiso near Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula for 3 nights. The last night we're staying in a B&B in San Jose at the Grano De Oro.

My question is, should we just stay 3 nights in Manuel Antonio and extend the Osa for one more night? Additionally, has anyone heard of these hotels? They were recommended. What activities do you recommend in the Osa and Manuel Antonion and how should we plan our time?

Thanks

NDrake (my middle name really is Drake) similar to Drake Bay.

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that we'll also be at Mango Moon in March (10-15). It's been tough to find much on the hotel, but recently there was a rave review posted on tripadvisor.com.

Re: NDrake (my middle name really is Drake) similar to Drake Bay.

I bet you don't pronounce Drake as they pronounce it in Costa Rica:

DRAH-kay.

We stayed at Grano de Oro a couple years ago. Great little hotel. Good restuarant on site. I didn't care much for San JOse though. I enjoyed both Manual Antonio and the Osa. I'm more comfortable in MA, simply because where we stayed in the Osa was more of an 'all-inclusive' type experience, even in such a beautiful setting I get antsy after about three days, with being told when and what to eat. I prefer a choice of restaurants. Jean

We really loved Drake Bay (Cabinas Las Caletas) because it was so beautiful down there. Enjoyed Manuel Antonion also.

Didn't get a chance to stay at Grano De Oro in San Jose because our travel agent mixed up our reservations. Stayed in the generic Trip Corobici instead.

Don't use a travel agent ever for vacations. We used her for just our last night in San Jose, and made the rest of the reservations on our own, and she messed them up.

NDrake,

how was the weather on Osa Peninsula? I just talked to someone who told me it's raining heaviliy down there.
Did you hike in Corcovado?
thank you. Boleslav

We were there March 9 for three days. The weather was terrific. So sunny that, like the locals, we had to get out of the sun from Noon-2 pm.

We had a picnic at that time on Cano Island during a snorkeling tour. Except the owners of Cabinas Caletas took me fishing near the island.

Yes, we hiked Corcovado National Park. It's much more beautiful than Manuel Antonio. The trees are huge, and the wildlife is amazing. I wish we had the time to do the night tour (The Bug Lady) which was recommended but were too tired in the evenings from such active days.

It rained one whole day when we were there in Manuel Antonio, but we were rapelling down a waterfall, so the rain didn't really bother us. The rest of the week was beautiful.

I enjoyed the boat ride down the Siepre River to Drake Bay/Osa Peninsula. I wished I had the time to kayak/fish that river. I'll go back some day soon hopefully. (our pictures will be on Trip Advisor under the Cabinas Caletas review soon.

NDrake - how was the rapelling tour & who did you book thru? I'd like to do this tour & haven't been able to find much info about booking it or with whom. Thanks!

We booked the rapelling tour (called Canyoning) through the Mango Moon hotel in Manuel Antonion. Our guides were named Eduardo and Eric.

It's not a huge waterfall, probably 30-50 or more feet. But it was fun and the guides were very hospitable. They really catered to us. We played name that tune in the SUV on the way back. They stopped to show us a crocodile in the river on the drive back.

They are supposedly just getting their canyoning tour businees off the ground, but we found this tour to be as enjoyable as the tours of Manuel Antionio National Park.

If in Drake Bay, I heard the night tour with the Bug Lady is fantastic, but we ran out of steam and decided to stay in that evening.