Hello! <BR> <BR>I am taking my first trip to CR in the beginning of Feb (for 7 nights) and need some suggestions on planning my itinerary. I am traveling with my boyfriend and we are both very active and interested in doing some hiking. Here is what I am thinking: <BR> <BR>Monday: Arrive in San Jose around noon, drive to La Fortuna (4 hours?) - stay two nights. <BR>Wednesday: Drive to Monteverde (4 hours?) stay two nights. <BR>Friday: Drive (fly??) to Quepos (how long is this drive?) and stay 2 nights. <BR>Sunday: Drive back to San Jose for departure on Monday. Stay overnight somewhere outside San Jose (possibly Vista del Valle) <BR> <BR>Do you think we are trying to do too much? The other thought is to go to the Osa Penisula for 4-5 nights and one other location. <BR> <BR>Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! <BR> <BR>PS - we are renting a 4x4. <BR>

Nancy. Here is the problem. It is not recommended to drive all the way up to Arenal/La Fortuna on the same day you arrive, since you are scheduled to arrive at noon. You need to allow for the fact that your flight may be delayed, you have to collect your luggage (unless you only have a carryon), plus time to go through customs, pick up your rental car, exchange money, etc. Even if all goes as scheduled, you probably won't be on the road until close to 2 pm, and you may not be able to make it up to La Fortuna before dark -- and you DEFINITELY do not want to drive in CR after dark. Even locals told us not to do it. I personally would plan to spend your first night either near San Jose or the airport, or at least someplace closer to San Jose than Arenal is (even Quepos is a shorter drive, or a quick flight). <BR> <BR>I do think you're trying to do too much in 7 nights -- particularly too much driving for too little time in each place. If you are spending most of the day driving from one place to another and only staying 2 nights in each place, that really leaves you only one full day in each. Also, I personally think the Osa Peninsula is much more spectacular than Arenal and Monteverde, so yes, I would substitute that. <BR> <BR>If it were me, I would catch a late afternoon flight to Quepos on the same day you arrive (you will have to take a taxi from the international airport to the Pavas airport for in-country flights, but that's not a big deal). Allow yourself as much time as possible for this connection to allow for possible flight delays, getting your luggage, etc. Alternatively, you could plan to drive it, either the same day your arrive or the next morning, but flying is so quick and easy and cheap (cheaper than a rental car), and you really don't need a rental car in Quepos anyway because taxis are cheap and plentiful. Then I would stay 2-3 nights in Quepos, and fly to the Osa Peninsula (there are direct flights from Quepos to Pto. Jimenez) for 3 nights, and stay the last night near the airport if you have an early flight out (yes, I highly recommend Vista del Valle). <BR> <BR>This is just my opinion. I was not as impressed with Arenal/La Fortuna as the other parts of CR that we saw, but I know some others feel differently. We did not go to Monteverde, so I can't compare that. <BR> <BR>If you have read other threads/trip reports on CR, you probably already know that we stayed at Si Como No in Quepos and liked it, and stayed at Lapa Rios on the Osa Peninsula and thought it was the experience of a lifetime. <BR> <BR>Good luck with your trip planning.

Hi there! I spent a month in Costa Rica and traveled all over. My favorite spots were Braulio Carrillo preserve, Poas Volcano and Carara preserve. All different and beautiful in unique ways. I'd suggest picking a couple of places to visit to minimize driving time. The roads and drivers down there are not like the US. It can be slow going at times. Well, have a good trip.

Thank you both for your help!! I really appreciate it! <BR> <BR>Nancy

I BEG TO DIFFER WITH NANCY. THOUGH I DID SPEND MY FIRST NIGHT IN SAN JOSE I WISH I HADNT. AND AS FAR AS DRIVING NOT ONLY IS IT CHEAPER TO GO BY BUS BUT YOU ALSO DONT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE INSANE DRIVERS OR GETTING ANYWHERE AFTER DARK. <BR>BUT YOUR ITINERARY SOUNDS DOABLE. I SPENT ONE DAY/NIGHT IN MONTEVERDE THEN ANOTHER IN SAN JOSE TO SEE VOLCAN IRAZU WHICH I SHOULD HAVE TRADED OUT FOR ARENAL. AND SPENT 2 DAYS/3 NIGHTS IN MANUEL ANTONIA AREA. THIS PARK IS ESPECIALLY NICE BECAUSE THERE IS SOME GOOD HIKING AND IF YOU REALLY WANT A TREAT TAKE THE TRAIL TO PUERTO ESCONDIDO AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE BLACK SAND BEACH WHICH IS RELATIVELY PRIVATE.I SATYED THERE SO LONG ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS WAY TOO DRIZZLY(IN AUGUST) TO ENJOY THE FIRST DAY I WENT TO THE PARK. BUT I WAS ABLE TO DO SOME HORSE BACK RIDING TO A BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL AND STAYED IN AN EXCEPTIONAL MOTEL OFF THE BUS LINE... EL MONO AZUL. A NEW YORKER RUNS THE PLACE AND HER STAFF IS EXCELLENT. <BR>AFTER THAT I WENT BACK TO SAN JOSE TO SHOP AND TAKE A WHITE WATER RIVER TRIP. THE THING WITH THE BUSES IS THAT THEY LEAVE EARLY MORNING OR AFTERNOON AND IF YOU ONLY TAKE CARRYON YOU SHOULDNT REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GETTING ON A TAXI OR EVEN TAKING A CITY BUS WHICH IS VERY EASY TO CATCH FROM THE AIRPORT TO COCA COLA STATION WHICH I BELIEVES HAS BUSSES GOING TO LA FORTUNA. <BR>THIS SITE HAS AN EXCELLENT SHORT GUIDE BOOK ON CR. <BR>GOOD LUCK! <BR>http://www.worldheadquarters.com/

When I went to costa rica, i flew all night and arrived early in the morning. Then i drove as far as Canas, on the way to Arenal and spent one nihgt there. It was not much but since it was new, I liked it. The people were friendly and the weather was hot. Driving was tough. Lots of banana trucks and narrow roads. <BR> <BR>But do what you think is best. And never look back. <BR> <BR>