You are both always so helpful about CR- My husband and I are finally returning to CR this January- spent 10 days there 01/04 and now only have 5 days. (arrive SJO late 1/27 and depart 2/1). We already stayed at Xandari- this time there is std room at Peace Lodge avl. for all 5 days. Is it a good enough location for entire time if we want to do zip lines, canopy tour, hiking and rafting? Hubby wants to stay 2 places but not sure if worth the extra driving (we'd hire a driver). ALso is food decent enough at Peace so as not to tire of it if there whole time? We enjoyed the food last time- guess we're not NYC foodies, but still enjoy good food- What 2nd place would you recommend? We like nice places- loved Makanda at MA last time, and Xandari was also great. Thanks! Jill

I know I am replying to my own msg, but I have another idea- what do you think of one night either at Xandari or other hotel close to airport (due to late arrival) then 2 nights at Lost Iguana, and 2 nights at Peace Lodge?

Thinking we could do zip line and hiking around Lost Iguana, and do rafting and hiking/canopy tour from Peace Lodge....whaddya think?

I'm not Shillmac or Suzie but have been to both places...
While I do like Peace Lodge and can't wait to take my wife there - 5 days would be a bit much I think - I like your idea of 2 nights there and 2 nights at Lost Iguana - another place I will go back to...
the drive between isn't that bad.
Another option for returning is Vista del Valle Plantation Inn - only 20 mins from the Airport but on the way back from La Fortuna.

Cheers,
Andrew

Thank you . We have suddenly decided to try to go this December 1-6th due to heavy work load anticipated for January. We are waiting to hear back from Lost Iguana. Peace Lodge has room but would require us to switch each night due to what's available. Heard great things, but is it worth it if we have to switch each night?

Sorry I tried not to butt in here, since you were specifically looking for advice from Suzie and Shillmac. However it is obvious that Shillmac must be out of town and I know that Suzie is up to her eyeballs arranging two of her own fast approaching trips.

And then I noticed you have asked several questions in other topics -
maybe I can offer a little help.

We stayed at Peace Lodge for 2 nights at the end of our 2004 trip. Although I was amazed at this place and certainly enjoyed our time - I would never consider this hotel or location for 5 days. The rooms are truly unbelievable. You can view the standard room online, this is what we had and it was incredible. The breakfast was good, had lunch away, the dinner was ok not truly delicious but we did not go hungry. Others have reported of a restaurant very near to PL that is very good. They do offer several tours that could keep you busy. We stopped at the Doka Coffee Plantation, Over to Poas and explored all of La Paz Waterfall Gardens twice in less than 2 days.

I think your idea of going to Arenal and ending at PL is a good one. Arenal 3 nights and Peace Lodge 2 nights.

Another consideration - If I had 5 nights to spend in CR and had to choose one place and not budget my money too tightly - my first desire would be to go back to the Osa Pen and stay at Bosque de Cabo. This was a truly remarkable experience.

I also read somewhere that you asked about Punta Islita. Although I have not been to this hotel, it does look truly stunning on the internet. And yes if this fabulous Pacific Sunset view is enticing to you, then you could certainly fly there stay a few nights and then back to Peace Lodge for your final nights.

You also asked about switching rooms at Peace Lodge every night for 5 nights? I guess it just depends on how much you want to stay here. I would assume they would move your luggage for you. For just a couple of nights, it probably wouldn't matter.

I would stay at Peace Lodge for a maximum of two nights. Anymore is overkill, in my opinion.

Colbert's is the name of the FABULOUS restaurant near Peace Lodge. It's about 10 minutes away. The food is primarily French as the chef trained at Le Cordon Blu in Paris. It was by far the best meal we ate in Costa Rica. And, the price was extremely reasonable.

We absolutely detested the food served upstairs at Peace Lodge for dinner. It was really overpriced and hardly edible.

The rooms and grounds at Peace Lodge are stunning, by the way.

DFarmer, didn't mean to leave you out- just thought of the other two names off top of my head...thanks for the great input. The Bosque place looks great, and consensus seems to be not to stay at PEace more than a couple of days. Now considering flying (assume we'd have to fly from SJO to Bosque?) to stay there and perhaps one night at PEace on way out.
Andrew- thanks for tip on restaurant.

If we don't do Bosque, is Lost Iguana nice enough to stay 3 nights and 2 at Peace? FYI, we are 38 and 43, and like fun activities (plan to try Pure Trek rappeling down waterfall in Arenal) and go rafting down Pacuare. (Did Reventazon last time after record rains- some of it was Class V- went with all guides and us- it was outrageous!). Sorry to ramble- just lots of great memories coming back and I am so excited to return.

Jill, as you have found, there is plenty of good advice on this board from a lot of people.

Donna, you are so right. I just came out of my closet for a breather from trying things on (all these new meds have really put the pounds on). Thanks for helping out with the question. You have definitely become the Costa Rica pro I knew you would be. Your answers are always right on and thorough.

I am in full agreement with all of you about only 2 nights max. We enjoyed it more than we thought we would but enough was enough. What we really liked about staying there was being able to wander around before and after hours without a million other people. It really is a beautiful place.

I also agree, if going to the beach is not an issue, that Arenal would be the perfect place to get some of that adventure! I really enjoy La Fortuna and Arenal which is really surprising as we don't really like the tourist areas as a rule.

Andrews idea of Vista del Valley is an excellent one. You can get to most of the places you want to go as day trips. A little more planning (and a little less sleep) might have to be done because you would have further to go each day to do those things but it is an idea if you don't want to move around.

Kennedy, thanks for the name of that place. I will have to make a note of it for future reference for us should we get back up that way. I suspect we will to see all the changes they have going on. We have eaten at a cute little Costa Rican restaurant along that road but didn't know about Colberts. We thought the food at Peace was okay for a couple of nights but overpriced.

Jill, have a great time. Sometimes those last minute trips are the most fun.

Thanks, Suzie. I don't know anything about your personal situation, but hope you are ok. I've been reading your comments since 2003 when we started planning our first trip to CR, so I know you are a great person.

As it stands now, we are booked 2 nights at Lost Iguana and 3 nights at Peace Lodge, only having to move once. If we plan to go rafting down Pacuare for a day, and do horse back ride to zip line a day, and visit the Hidalgo hot springs (Ecotermales), do you think we'll be ok for the 3 nights instead of 2 at Peace? Or is there some other place for the last night worth going to? We thought 2 places would be more restful. Are there good hikes near Peace?

Also, are we better off using CR Expeditions to finalize our tours and transportation to avoid any hassle, or are we fine going thru each hotel for that? We used CRE last time and every single thing was taken care of, and no glitches (that's the way we need to travel- hubby stresses when traveling) so bearing that in mind....

thanks again. I am SO excited. Jill

Jill not a problem, just didn't want to seem intruding.

Well it looks like you have a trip!!! I think the split between Arenal and Peace will be a nice short trip.

Someday do get down to Bosque del Cabo it is truly wonderful. And yes I certainly would fly.

Thanks Sue - have a great trip! I know you need it.

definitely not intruding - I appreciate your input and everyone else's too. It's much more comforting booking the trip having read this board than doing it ourselves.

Can you tell me if there will be much difference in weather going first week of Dec. than 3rd week of Jan. (our last trip was then and we had no rain and it was only cold in Monteverde at night). Thanks.

jdp867--I wholeheartedly agree with all the great advice you've received. We haven't stayed at Peace Lodge, but I do think the Arenal/Peace Lodge split is a good idea. It just offers a broader range.

We've traveled in Costa Rica a couple of times in late December and late January--never early December. It's probably anyone's guess, but the rainy season is "officially" over by December 1. I would expect it to be dry for the most part, unless there are just a couple of clouds hanging around for a last hurrah!

I hope you have a fabulous time--it is just around the corner! Let us all know how it went! By the way, we have our names in common. . .Jill

Oh gee, not another Jill !!!

Oh,Oh I'm in big trouble now.(LOL)
Percy

And I know 2 Percy's. . . .it's a burden to bear but I'm a strong person! Actually, jdp867 is probably a young Jill. I'm an OLD Jill--we are a rare commodity!

Thanks. The only glitch so far is that we cant take the Class III/IV raft trip down Pacuare (accd;g to CR Expeditions) Will contact Rios Tropicales as suggested by Peace Lodge-does anyone have experience with that outfit?
Shillmac- there's an expression we learned last time in CR when a guide named Andy met my husband Andy- can't remember it, but it means one you share a name with- it was a great word. There are not many Jills in the world, but the ones I've met are strong, confident women

I'd like to think so! BTW, Rio Tropicales has a great reputation. We still haven't done the Pacuare, although it's been on our itinerary a couple of times. Some day. . . .

Jill (Shillmac),
We got great advice from Rios Tropicales- they have a new run down Rio Toro from Arenal, so we are doing that (Class IV/III) while at Lost Iguana. We are going to do the horseback/canopy combo tour based out of Peace Lodge for one of our days. Does anyone have a recommendation for the 2nd day? Is there good hiking around La Paz? Thanks. Jill

Great! That's good to know--don't forget to do a trip report when you come back! Check out Poas (early morning) while in the La Paz area--there is some hiking there. Also, you could venture on over to the Caribbean lowlands near Sarapiqui for a little something extra to do. La Paz is very centrally located for doing all kinds of things.

Jill,
Thanks for the tips. We'll definitely check out Poas on our last full day- we left that day open so that's a great idea. I'll try to do a timely trip report, but with the holidays approaching right after our return, it might be slightly delayed! Thanks for all of your great advice, everyone!

Jill

Buen viaje!