Post knee surgery ~ lodging & hiking Osa+?
Aug 30th, 2009, 07:33 PM
#21
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Hey we will be arriving same day Joyce!
Perhaps we can hobble over to the bar together for a drink before dinner? lol
Am stongly leaning towards El Remanso for 3 nights prior to BdC. The Casa Poniente rooms & suites are very tempting.
Perhaps we can hobble over to the bar together for a drink before dinner? lol
Am stongly leaning towards El Remanso for 3 nights prior to BdC. The Casa Poniente rooms & suites are very tempting.
Aug 31st, 2009, 04:07 AM
#22
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I think El Remanso would be a great idea. Now, I haven't stayed there yet but have always heard good things. Much smaller than Bosque but similiar and they have a good amount of land. Possible that the trail down to the Pacific may be a little easier from there as well. When down on the beach after the Pacific trail I saw a trailhead not long after with a Privado sign that I assumed must've been their trail down there. Another plus is it would cut down on your transfer time, as it's only about 5 minutes driving.
Great that 2 fodorites will be at Bosque at the same time. Always fun to try and figure out who is who!
Joyce other than the Pacific Trail (all up & down) and the Golfo Dulce Trail (majority down, some level, 1 or 2 'ups') most of the trails are pretty level. Now all of them do have a couple sections of going up, but none too long or strenous.
Great that 2 fodorites will be at Bosque at the same time. Always fun to try and figure out who is who!
Joyce other than the Pacific Trail (all up & down) and the Golfo Dulce Trail (majority down, some level, 1 or 2 'ups') most of the trails are pretty level. Now all of them do have a couple sections of going up, but none too long or strenous.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 02:54 PM
#24
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OK I booked a suite in El Remanso.....and BdC was able to accommodate me in Vista Mar too!
I decided to splurge for total 5 nights of Osa ocean views.....for the sake of my knees of course!! HeHe
So I will see what I can find out about the trails @ El Remanso next.....I think their website states 6 trails with only details being 2 to waterfalls and one to beach?
Either way, I'm happy for the close proximity and therefore 5 minute transfer giving me more time to explore & relax.
I'll have more questions as I loom closer to departure and decide on my activities the other 12 days in CR ..... only 98 days to go!!
I decided to splurge for total 5 nights of Osa ocean views.....for the sake of my knees of course!! HeHe
So I will see what I can find out about the trails @ El Remanso next.....I think their website states 6 trails with only details being 2 to waterfalls and one to beach?
Either way, I'm happy for the close proximity and therefore 5 minute transfer giving me more time to explore & relax.
I'll have more questions as I loom closer to departure and decide on my activities the other 12 days in CR ..... only 98 days to go!!
Sep 3rd, 2009, 03:40 PM
#26
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You'll have a great time. I was going to suggest (along with all the other great suggestions) that you might want to consider saving Bosque for another time when you could get more than 2 nights there. Glad Vista Mar worked out for you as well as El Ramanso.
We stayed at Finca Exotica in June. It was base for our hike into Corcovado. We hiked to La Sirena station (7 hours, 15 minutes in; 6.5 hours out). Not a day trip. We spent 2 nights inside the park at La Sirena. It was great. You could do a dayhike to La Leona station, about 4 kilometers from Finca Exotica. But that's barely inside the park; would make for a nice hike, though, entirely along the beach. And of course, you could hike further from there according to your time and comfort level.
We thought Finca Exotica was a bit pricey, but we liked it well enough. The food was good. The night we returned from our big hike into Corcovado, the owners, Marcus and Gabriela, invited us and a couple of others who had come in while we were gone to their very open "rancho" home for a really delightful dinner. Marcus is an architect, and they have all kinds of plans.
Chris and Martine, who own StepOut Experiences and did the video for the BdC website, work with Marcus and Gabi. They also are involved with Finca Exotica. Martine showed us around the organic garden and we helped pick leaves for the dinner salad. It was an interesting property, and we loved the open cabinas, A frames. Outdoor showers.
As for Rio Celeste, we hiked Tenorio and Rio Celeste back in 2006 while staying at La Carolina near Bijagua. We had a guide for the day. The hike was not strenuous (we are in our 50's, moderate condition, and would remember a rough hike!), nor was it muddy or difficult in any other way. We were there in July, rainy season. I understand that, during the dry season, the river is at its bluest and is beautiful. Not as much wildlife as Cano Negro, but for hikers, it is a good trip. I wouldn't discount it for sure.
You have a nice itinerary--enjoy!
We stayed at Finca Exotica in June. It was base for our hike into Corcovado. We hiked to La Sirena station (7 hours, 15 minutes in; 6.5 hours out). Not a day trip. We spent 2 nights inside the park at La Sirena. It was great. You could do a dayhike to La Leona station, about 4 kilometers from Finca Exotica. But that's barely inside the park; would make for a nice hike, though, entirely along the beach. And of course, you could hike further from there according to your time and comfort level.
We thought Finca Exotica was a bit pricey, but we liked it well enough. The food was good. The night we returned from our big hike into Corcovado, the owners, Marcus and Gabriela, invited us and a couple of others who had come in while we were gone to their very open "rancho" home for a really delightful dinner. Marcus is an architect, and they have all kinds of plans.
Chris and Martine, who own StepOut Experiences and did the video for the BdC website, work with Marcus and Gabi. They also are involved with Finca Exotica. Martine showed us around the organic garden and we helped pick leaves for the dinner salad. It was an interesting property, and we loved the open cabinas, A frames. Outdoor showers.
As for Rio Celeste, we hiked Tenorio and Rio Celeste back in 2006 while staying at La Carolina near Bijagua. We had a guide for the day. The hike was not strenuous (we are in our 50's, moderate condition, and would remember a rough hike!), nor was it muddy or difficult in any other way. We were there in July, rainy season. I understand that, during the dry season, the river is at its bluest and is beautiful. Not as much wildlife as Cano Negro, but for hikers, it is a good trip. I wouldn't discount it for sure.
You have a nice itinerary--enjoy!
Sep 3rd, 2009, 06:32 PM
#28
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Hi Mom,
How interesting to hear that the wedding party had booked out BDC in the days before Dec.13.By coincidence,my plans put me into BDC in one of the cabinas for 4 nites starting on the 13th.We will all have to exchange some stories at dinner over an Imperial!
How interesting to hear that the wedding party had booked out BDC in the days before Dec.13.By coincidence,my plans put me into BDC in one of the cabinas for 4 nites starting on the 13th.We will all have to exchange some stories at dinner over an Imperial!
Sep 4th, 2009, 01:06 PM
#29
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Hi doc - love the nic! ;-)
Great to hear another Fodorite will be @ BdC; so that makes 3 of us (joyceL stated same arrival in this thread).
I will post a shout out on the forum maybe just after Thanksgiving so we can plan to belly up to the bar together.
Great to hear another Fodorite will be @ BdC; so that makes 3 of us (joyceL stated same arrival in this thread).
I will post a shout out on the forum maybe just after Thanksgiving so we can plan to belly up to the bar together.
Sep 4th, 2009, 01:46 PM
#30
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you are a wealth of info shillmac!
I really liked the look of Finca Exotica. Their cabina cost is half that of BdC & ER, although transfer from PJ is twice as much. Of course it is difficult to compare lodging as they dont have ocean views or acreage.
I am guessing your opinion of it being "pricey" is regarding value compared to your other Osa experiences. I would also guess that staying @ BdC is much like having a balcony cabin on a cruise; one nevers enjoys even an excellent inside cabin after cruising with your very own balcony to lounge on!
But I reasoned that the appeal of staying in Carate is being nearer to Corcovado, and so for me, better left for a future time when I am better able to explore the park fully.
I DID read your trip report including the Corcovado adventure - quite a good read!
You are quite the trooper so I will heed your advice and keep Rio Celeste in my tentatvie plans.
The time you take to share experiences is much appreciated.
Tina
I really liked the look of Finca Exotica. Their cabina cost is half that of BdC & ER, although transfer from PJ is twice as much. Of course it is difficult to compare lodging as they dont have ocean views or acreage.
I am guessing your opinion of it being "pricey" is regarding value compared to your other Osa experiences. I would also guess that staying @ BdC is much like having a balcony cabin on a cruise; one nevers enjoys even an excellent inside cabin after cruising with your very own balcony to lounge on!
But I reasoned that the appeal of staying in Carate is being nearer to Corcovado, and so for me, better left for a future time when I am better able to explore the park fully.
I DID read your trip report including the Corcovado adventure - quite a good read!
You are quite the trooper so I will heed your advice and keep Rio Celeste in my tentatvie plans.
The time you take to share experiences is much appreciated.
Tina
Sep 4th, 2009, 04:47 PM
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You are very welcome. Of course, price is always relative, and the mental comparison is always up and running. Let's just say that even though BdC costs a LOT more, it offers a lot of bang for the buck.
I suppose Finca Exotica prices aren't THAT out of line. Everything has a value, and I'm sure proximity to the park adds to the value of most of the lodgings in Carate. And it IS a unique place. Everyplace we stayed on the Osa this past summer (except for 2 nights inside the park and 2 nights at Iguana Lodge) had only half walls or was otherwise quite open. We loved that! But I'd be the first to say: it isn't for everyone. I have friends who would die of horror in such circumstances. Needless to say, they aren't all that interested in visiting Costa Rica either, so there you go!
Definitely think you should hang on to your interest in Rio Celeste. . .
I suppose Finca Exotica prices aren't THAT out of line. Everything has a value, and I'm sure proximity to the park adds to the value of most of the lodgings in Carate. And it IS a unique place. Everyplace we stayed on the Osa this past summer (except for 2 nights inside the park and 2 nights at Iguana Lodge) had only half walls or was otherwise quite open. We loved that! But I'd be the first to say: it isn't for everyone. I have friends who would die of horror in such circumstances. Needless to say, they aren't all that interested in visiting Costa Rica either, so there you go!
Definitely think you should hang on to your interest in Rio Celeste. . .
