Quick Trip to Costa Rica?
 

I am thinking about flying down to Costa Rica for a long weekend (Sept 3-7). Allowing one day each way for travel, that leaves me 2-3 days for something to do while there. Can anyone suggest an itinerary or activities for a short trip? I realize that a longer stay would be more desirable, but if that is all I can do now, what would be some ideas? I am interested in wildlife, canopy ride in the jungle, horseback riding, white water rafting sorts of activites. I am willing to try to cram a lot in a short time. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.

I would HIGHLY recommend Peace Lodge. Pick up a basic 4WD & drive about an hour (at most) to Peace Lodge. On property there are waterfalls, butterfly gardens, etc and within 30 minutes is Poas volcano. Within an hour is Hacienda Pozo Azul which can take care of all the adventure activities you mentioned - they are AWESOME & have great rafting & canopy tours. Peace Lodge is pricey - but very worth it. With your car, you could venture out at night for some less expensive dining options & some variety - otherwise stick around the property & dine there (or get room service for no extra fee). You will be sure to feel rested, relaxed & that you have seen & done A LOT! Since it is still reasonably close to the airport (about an hour) you most likely can avoid your last night in SJO!

Thank you so much for your recommendation! I will check it out! I will be traveling alone so might prefer to find an alternative to driving myself.

There are a number of excellent hotels in all price ranges in the Alajuela area minutes from the airport (starting with vidatropical.com) that can easily arrange all of the activites that you mentioned as day trips

sorry meant to say starting with vidatropical.com at the low end on up to xandari.com luxury spa.

Enjoy! Let us know where you decide to stay. I know you can arrange a private driver to take you to Peace Lodge & then from there the hotel can make arrangements (I think) for transportation to Pozo Azul as they work closely with them. The only thing is that you might not like the option of eating every dinner at the same place (again, room service....but no variety of going out & exploring). However, if you like the idea of relaxation too - then this might be the place for you! Their sites are
http://www.waterfallgardens.com/lapaz-peacelodge.htm
http://www.haciendapozoazul.com/

Thanks, everyone, for some great suggestions. I am looking at all of the web sites and trying to decide what to do. The flights I am looking at land in CR shortly after 8PM and depart before 9AM to go home. Not sure if this would work if I stay at Peace Lodge. But I will continue to look at the sites you suggested and see if I can come up with something that will work. Many thanks!

You should also consider a two-day Pacuare white water trip. You spend the night in a rustic lodge along side the river. One of the companies even has a short canopy tour near their lodge. Everyone who has done the two day trip raves about it.

Check out the Orquideas Inn in Alajuela. They have a web site. It's a lovely place with nice rooms for any budget, and the have a tour desk as well, they can arrange anything you want to do. We even had them drive is around San Jose for a City Tour. I think they charged us about $20 for an hour or so driving around. They have a nice little pool, beautiful gardens and fun bar. Great food at the restaurant , and only 10-15 minutes from the airport! They can arrange pick up and drip off for about $10, the same that a taxi would charge.
Oh, I almost forgot, they have an excellent full breakfast buffet included in the price of the rooms. Last but not least, it's a nice place just to hang around if you decided you didn't want to do anything one day.

I agree with Ally! Las Orquideas is hard to beat for value. Ten minutes from the airport. Wadi, who works tours out of there will assist you with whatever you want to do. It would be the perfect place to begin and end your trip!

My suggestion would be a one day rafting adventure on the Pacuare. On the other day, you can get a fabulous overview of Costa Rica doing the Highlights of Costa Rica tour. It includes:
7:00 pick up
7:30 breakfast working coffee plantation
8:30 Poas Volcano--beautiful and includes excellent guided hike
10:00 brief stop at La Paz as well as a coffee/snack break at the hummingbird gallery on the road
12:00 lunch at La Selva (rainforest area)
2:00 hour long jungle cruise on the Sarapiqui River
3:30 souvenir shopping in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
5:00 return to SJO through Braulio Carillo National Park

This tour takes you through a great deal of diversity and I believe it does a great job of letting you see a good cross-section of Costa Rica in one day. Ecoscape Tours offers it. You wouldn't even need a car with this type of agenda. Have fun!

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I am still researching what to do. After contacting Peace Lodge I was a bit dismayed to learn that they do not discount for the single traveler, since I would be eating one breakfast a day, not two and would only require one entrance fee to the park, not two. I thought that staying there might be more convenient especially if I want to be closer to Arenal for the night tour. I also had thought about packing in quite a bit in two full days there: Canopy Adventure (Pozo Azul) one day and half day rafting (Pozo Azul) in the morning with the Arenal volcano tour in the afternoon/evening on the other day. I would depart for home the following morning. Am I crazy?

So then I contacted Las Orquideas and would gladly stay there if I could do the tours that Peace Lodge offers. Is this feasible? Thanks.

Wanderlust123, I don't know if this will be helpful info for you or not, but at Las Orquideas there is a tour guide named Wadi and he specializes in all kinds of tours. . .whatever you want to do, basically. We haven't used him, but have heard from others that he is very good. We talked with him a bit the morning we left and he gave us his card. If I can locate it, I will post his e-mail address. But you can get in touch with him through the hotel website.

Thanks! I have been put in contact with a rep from Wadi Tours. Will let you know what I end up deciding.

I was wondering, sclubb, if you booked your activities at Pozo Azul directly with them. I only have 2 days in CR and would like to be able to combine the canopy ride with the rafting all in one day. Do you know of a way to do this if I don't have my own car? Thanks.

Wanderlust - have you tried contacting them directly? their website is www.haciendapozoazul.com. we did book directly with them - but basically, peace lodge called them ahead of time so they were aware of our arrival & what we wanted to do. they called only the morning we were going. i asked the guide while we were there if people could just show up & he said yes (but if you could call to do so). we did the canopy & the rafting in 1 day - including a full lunch in between in their dining room. i am not sure how you could do this without a car - but i would imagine they could arrange something. at least i know peace lodge will arrange whatever you want to do - just let them know & they will figure a price. it sounds like this wadi tours will also do the same thing - but i am thinking (not sure) you will be quite a bit further away if you stay at the orquidesas hotel so the costs to get to/from pozo azul will probably be higher - may average out in the end since peace lodge is much higher in the room costs. Keep in mind that people are very happy with their canopy tours & rafting other places, so you may not need to go the whole way to Pozo Azul. I was just personally VERY impressed with their services, their rates, their staff, etc. And, having heard from some others in the country that they are one of the safest companies made me feel secure too.

Yes, I did try to contact them directly yesterday but no reply to my email inquiry yet. I would also really like to go to Arenal to see things there. Wadi is offering a full day (and evening) option if I so choose, and I would like to see the red lava so I need to be there at night or early morning, I understand. But I am afraid that with it being the rainy season I would not be able to see the lava and am wondering if trying to go to Arenal in the two days I am in CR is a good idea or not.

Wanderlust123,
Seeing the volcano at Arenal is a bonus. Many go and never see it, but the entire area is worth your time--the hot springs are lovely, and there is so much to do nearby. I don't think you would regret your time there.

I think either place - Wadi Tours or Peace Lodge will accommodate any of your requests including transportation for a price. I know PL will take you to Arenal too. So, I think it probably comes down to budget and/or what sort of accommodations you want to have. Either way, enjoy! FYI - I remember now I had tried to email Pozo Azul & got their response AFTER my trip! I don't think they will arrange your transportation but they will allow you to do the canopy & rafting in 1 day.

I think from the quotes I am getting that the cost would equal out - the tours are cheaper at Peace Lodge and the lodging is cheaper at Orquideas Inn. So it is rather a toss up. Wadi offers a tour to Arenal that would include a bit of hiking, horseback riding, canopy tour, hanging bridges and time at the hot springs / local culture -- and hopefully, if conditions permit, a view of the lava. The second day would be devoted to rafting somewhere. Not sure if rafting would be best use of my time or if I should take the suggestion of shillmac to do the Highlights of Costa Rica. I love the looks and sound of Peace Lodge so am having trouble chosing. And this is only a 2 day trip! You can imagine what I go through planning longer ones. Again, thanks to all of you for your help and I do read and consider all input.