Lol... You said it hipvirgochick... Not me. I was only thinking that some people ought to check their meds.

I know that if some of these people were my guests, I would need a xanex.

I think that I may need one, too, just to read this thread :)

Great idea... Let's all get together in Puerto Viejo and take one. That would be the most fun.

Now that would be a trip worth remembering......or not. LOL

LOL :)

See hip, you just must go late May not June! Think of all the ah...fun... we could have!

My hubby & I are seriously looking at going to PV in May. Who's gonna be there? Where should we stay

I;m going late May, planning to stay at Banana Azul and ride bikes and stuff:)

And stuff? lol
You're gonna love it. :-)

I for one totally support what Colin says. He has always been a wealth of honest information on the Puerto Viejo area. Some people need to chill.

Oh Shooie... Where have u been all my life? My direct honesty has got me in trouble a few times, but I have connected with real great people without having to go through all the b&$. I have decided that since I can count the rest of my life in months, I am going to cut back on the "small talk" ;-)

Too funny... I am currently in Chang Mai in Thailand and I rented a scooter for the 6 days I am here. If anyone ever thought that riding a bike in Puerto Viejo would make you "frazzaled", try touring by scooter in a city with millions of people and they drive on the opposite side of the road you are used too.

Many times while I have been touring around ( and loving every second of it) I thought of this forum exchange and have wondered if I am the one that should check my meds ;-). I have been logging about 40 kms a day.

As long as I am alive, I will be back in Puerto Viejo on March 10 th. Cheers, Colin.

Haven't been on this forum for a while, but just noticed this topic today...a little late...we were in PV last summer and loved Caribe Town. The owner, Jessica, was extremely accommodating and the beach across the street was beautiful. Also, I rode a bike back and forth to town while my son/husband did zip-lines. No problem for me. Wish we were going back, too! Trying to go to Germany this summer instead.

OMG- look what I missed when I was away in Costa Rica???? I'll be
staying at Banana Azul next February. Can't wait!!! See you then, Colin!!!

Hey, I see so many old Fodor Friends here--fun post! LOL!

Hello all of you! Hip, Volcanogirl, Tully, Sparkle, costaricalover, trevorjoyce, shooie. . . .

Colin, we haven't met, but I've heard so much about you--we WILL meet one of these days!

We have something in common--that conversation you told about where the young couple was being advised regarding the horrors of San Jose would have irked me just as much. Good Lord, it's part of the adventure! I have heard so many people going overboard to scare the crap out of people who are asking for advice. Very irritating and unnecessary.

The blanket statement, "The roads are all terrible and filled with potholes that will swallow your car!"---it just isn't true. Some roads are really nice, others moderately good-moderately bad depending on how one wants to look at it, and yes, a few are pretty rough--go slower and enjoy the view out the windows! Ridiculous.

Bike riding around Puerto Viejo? Can't imagine being there and not biking between PV and Manzanillo We love it! I GUESS it is a little risky--we are very careful. Most areas of Costa Rica, nope, wouldn't do it. Puerto Viejo. . .it's perfect and tons of fun! Everybody does it! Come on. . . .

Out and about after dark? No way. Very few areas of Costa Rica I'd do that. More because of the pedestrian hazard than for fear of mugging. It's not fun driving after dark either. We do it more than we should (live there part time), but we never enjoy it and are always glad to get home safely. Last time we were in Puerto Viejo, 2 years ago, we used a taxi to the restaurant; there just aren't any shoulders to walk on.

Sparklegem, you have plenty of experience in Costa Rica. You'd be fine in Puerto Viejo (probably, LOL!). As a woman travelling alone or with a young daughter, I'd prefer beaches with a few people on them. I tend to be pretty cautious, try to make smart decisions based on facts and not blanket statements, but usually err toward the cautious side. Volunteering at the Jaguar Center sounds wonderful!

I'd like to mention to you a local guide, Abel Bustamante, who does a fabulous job for all kinds of guiding. I have done birding with him several times--great fellow. He is on Facebook, pretty sure you can google him as well.

Have fun! Would love to see you at the BDC GTG in 2013!