shiilmac help please
 

We are a family of 5 with three very adventourous children ages 7, 9 and 11. We are planning our trip to costa rica and need your advice. My dilema is this Bosque del cabo only has avalible "casa teka" one of there garden cabanas and my wife has some reservations about the distance from the lodge especially returning at night. We also have avalibility at La paloma on Drake bay. Our main interest is wildlife viewing but also like the avalibility and access of Cano island from the Drake bay side. We love to snorkel.

We could divide our time between both.... total time on Osa 5 days or perhaps miss out on Arenal this time, and spend 4 or five days at each. We have confirmed our reservations at CNS and La Quinta.

We have a total of 14 days in country should we extend our time out on the Osa and do both? Or stay at one place and miss the other?


Thanks for your help

Dear Rosemary8, I have not yet been to Bosque del Cabo (we are going there next month, hooray) but my then-11-year-old daughter and I had a WONDERFUL time at La Paloma 2 years ago. La Paloma is very kid-friendly and the snorkeling excursion to Cano island was a highpoint of our trip to Costa Rica. We also loved kayaking up a river there. We liked Arenal as well because we were lucky enough to see the volcano, but many people go there and never see it, and in any case the Osa is much more pristine, much more wildlife to view than in the Arenal area. However, I've heard that in the "green" season the Osa is really, really wet (we were there in FEb. 2003). On our trip in Feb. this year we're going back to La Paloma for 4 days because we found the 3 days we spent last time was too short and we want to go snorkeling at Cano island again! Another option on Osa if you decide to spend the whole time there and want to try different places is Costa Rica Expeditions' tent camp. Very hot there but your kids would enjoy the platform in the trees and a stay in the tents, though not sure how that works with 5 people as tents we saw had 2 twin beds; see CRE's web site for details, and while the ocean is too rough for swimming there you can swim in river pools in the jungle. You could also check the web site of Casa Bambu, a house to rent near Bosque; the owner of Casa Bambu sets up rentals of other houses in the area and we're renting one in February for 3 days. Whatever you choose, you and your kids will certainly have a fabulous time in CR.

Emily has given good advice. When we stayed at Bosque, we were going to take the garden cabina because it was less, then decided to heck with it, we wanted the oceanview! We weren't sorry. While the garden area was beautiful and convenient to the trails, we would not have wanted to walk there after dark using our flashlights. But your kids might love doing that? Especially after taking a night hike with Phillip, they could look for "eyeshine" every night while returning for bed!

BDC is a phenomenal place with a tremendous amount of wildlife to be seen and several wonderful trails on which to see them! The Casa Bambu option Emily mentioned sounds good as well.

I wouldn't drop Arenal from the itinerary. Neither should you split 5 nights at 2 places on the Osa. In your position, I'd make a clear choice between Bosque del Cabo and La Paloma. We haven't been to the Drake Bay side yet, but if you enjoying snorkeling, the Cano Island tour would be a nice plus. Plenty of wildlife on the DB side as well. You'll know what to do! Have a great time. You'll want to return to see more anyway on another trip! It took me a good while to attain the patience to realize I COULD come back and "do that next time"! Still operating from that frame of reference! :)

Thank You Emily and Shillmac

Emily you have sold us on La Paloma, I am taking Shilmac"s advice of patience and realize yes we can come back. BDC seems to evoke so much emotion on this board it was a little difficult to let go.

Emily we are not the family in the other post

Thanks again to both of you

Dear Rosemary8, I know you and your kids will enjoy La Paloma. There were several families with kids when we were there and everyone loved the place. Besides the snorkeling and hiking in Corcovado national park, we had a great time on the free kayaks and also liked boogie-boarding from the beach below the lodge. Be sure to reserve your cabin well in advance! We like the deluxe ranchos and the sunset ranchos. And Shilmac, I know you're right that it's best to plan on LOTS of trips to Costa Rica rather than trying to see too much at one time. We live in France so I thought we wouldn't be back to CR soon after our first trip in 2003 and now we're going back there again in February this year because we love the place so much.

I think you've made a good decision. Your famiy is sure to enjoy La Paloma. Sounds like a wonderful place. Going to Drake Bay is still on our "list" so I'm looking forward to reading what you thought of LP. Have fun!

Emily

We will be in La paloma on Feb 26th departing on March 3rd I hope our paths cross, I have an 11 y/o daughter. We did wait too long to book and we will be in the owners cabin.

Again thanks for your advice

Shillmac

You are a wonderful resource ! I have yet another question as we are interested in Almonds and coral. I have read your posts and besides the innappropriate server, do you have a favorable opinion.

We plan on staying in San Jose the first night may try Hotel Bouganvillia per your advice. Then 3 nights at C&A. Followed by two nights at Centro Neotropico Sarapiquis, then two nights at La Quinta before flying out to La paloma. On our return to san Jose we will spend our last night at Vista Valle.

Do you have any suggestions, comments?

Thank You so much for posting so much relavent info on this site.

We liked Almonds & Corals. It is different, and they are to be commended on conservation/ecological efforts. Food was average--nothing to write home about. I thought it a little too pricey, but understand it is "novel" place and there's a price tag with that. Beach not good for swimming--I guess you read that.

Loved the location and proximity to Manzanillo as we loved riding our bikes into town. Both Manzanillo and Puerto Viejo--Whew!

Try to find time on your way out (or during one of your days) to go through Cahuita National Park. It meaders along the beach (much like Manuel Antonio) and is great for wildlife viewing. The beaches of the southern Caribbean are different in appearance and are among the prettiest in Costa Rica.


Please don't forget to enjoy a meal at La Pecora Nera--fabulous Italian food--bar none.

Your itinerary sounds excellent to me. Hotel Bouganvillia I have no experience with personally, but it has been recommeded to us by more than one person. I think it would be worth a try--the price seems reasonable.

If you need help booking hotels and are interested in discounts (!) e-mail Neta Talmor:

[email protected]

She owns a hotel and can book for you, passing along the discount she receives as a fellow hostelier (is that a word?). Very gracious lady.

Don't forget to post for us when you return. You're gonna fall in love! :)

Having stayed at both Bosque del Cabo and La Paloma I would say that staying at either would be great but... I did stay in Casa Teca for a couple of nights and didn't really care for it. I have always been a big chicken in the dark so a lot was probably just me. There are a lot of "different" noises out there. It is a long dark walk from the main Rancho. Eduardo was a doll and drove our dinner and drinks out to us on the back of the 4 wheeler. We also had a light that was shorting out and cutting the electricity to the whole cabin. Fortunately there were plenty of candles. We finally figured out which light it was and stopped using it on our second night. We let them know and I am sure it has been fixed. The kids might actually like running around out there at night looking at the tree frogs. There was a honeymoon couple staying there last year and they enjoyed it for the first night or two but then they said they felt like they weren't really part of the "group". Being a family that might not be an issue with you.

La Paloma is great. We stayed in a Rancho and it was very nice. Do bring a flashlight. It was still a pretty dark walk to the rancho and I got lost one night on my way back to get our flashlight! Didn't realize how dark it had actually gotten. We liked Drake Bay enough to try to buy some property there. Didn't work out. I think you have made a wise decision. You and the kids will love it. It will be easier to get to the beach for one thing. There were good waves for body surfing when I was there. Stargazing is unbelievable out by the pool.

Dear Rosemary8, my daughter and I would love to meet you and your family at La Paloma but on Feb 26 we will be at Bosque del Cabo! I wanted to try Bosque because of Shilmac and others (Shilmac, THANK YOU for all your generous advice) but couldn't give up a chance to go back to La Palaoma, so I extended our trip so that we could stay at both! At Bosque we're in El Sol, which is not a garden cabin, I think. Before that, we have 3 days in a house we rented called Casa Verde, near Bosque. Should be an adventure. We will be at La Paloma Feb. 16-19 (leaving morning Feb. 20 to drive to Puerto Jimenez) so if your dates change, we'd love to see you there. My daughter is 13 now but she'd be really happy to meet other kids of any age to hang out with and there are lots of board games in the lodge (as well as a telescope on the lodge's deck for checking out the scarlet macaws that fly by all the time). I don't remember the owner's house at La Paloma but all the ranchos we saw there were gorgeous, with spectacular views. We also liked the food at La Paloma and your kids will like the fruit smoothies at the bar. Can't wait to read your trip report! I haven't been to any of the other places you're going and they all sound wonderful. We are spending 3 days in Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge) on this trip (didn't get there last time but friends love it) plus one night in San JOse (hotel Grano de Oro) in order to go rafting on the Pacuare with Costa Rica Expeditions. We went rafting on the Reventazon in 2003 and loved it. We are splurging and staying at Xandari Plantation Inn our first 2 nights in Costa Rica, to get over jet lag since we fly in from Paris. Xandari and La Paloma are the only places we stayed in 2003 that we're going back to on this trip.I don't know the Bougainvilla but it seems to get good reviews. We liked Vista del Valle on our last trip -- great pool, great food -- but preferred Xandari (maybe partly because it was the first place we stayed in Costa Rica?) and Xandari is closer to the airport. I know you'll have a great time, Rosemary8, and I'd love to read your trip report.

Emily and Rosemary,
I've enjoyed reading your posts. It is such fun to meet up with Fodorites while traveling. It would be cool if that would work out for you.
Emily: We stayed in El Sol and thought it was just perfect.
I know all of you are going to have such a wonderful time. Enjoy every moment--especially with your children along--they grow up way too fast! :)

Shillmac, I asked for El Sol on your advice months ago and we were lucky enough to get it. Thanks! Let me know if you ever need help re. traveling in France so I can return the favor!

Wouldn't I love to ask for travel advice for France! My daughter was there back in July for 10 days, in Paris and also the country. She loved it. I came out of the deal with some lovely soaps, a beautiful scarf, and then at Christmas time, a gorgeous merino wool blanket. For the life of my I don't know how she got home with all that stuff! I wasn't the only one who benefitted! Someday. . . .

I've told my husband that when I get my espanol just a little more polished, I'd like to work on French!

Shillmac, the french countryside is absolutely beautiful. You would enjoy it.

You have only been to Bosque once if my recollection is correct, do try another cabina if you have the opportunity to get back-from the sounds of it I am sure you will. Myself and another person on this board both love the view from the Congo cabina. The room was a little smaller than some I have stayed in there but it actually made it better to see the ocean when we woke up with the doors open to it. It has the most expansive ocean view of any of the cabinas. We saw Humpbacks from our little deck there last year (not to mention all the different monkeys and toucans that went by). It is not uncommon for them (whales)to be going by in Feb. We also saw them when we stayed at the tent camp. There is an arched rock just below. That said, we are choosing to stay in our 4th different place this year. Hope to have a full report on all of them some day. dfarmer is going to catch up in just two trips with all her moves!

It is fun meeting people from the boards and we have met several. We had dinner with some just last week and will be getting together with them just before they head down again in a couple of weeks.

Dear SHilmac and Jesse, France is indeed beautiful, and we live in a particularly beautiful part of it (Loire valley) but for my daughter and me, being in Costa Rica makes us feel free, because it's so different from the world we're used to here, New World vs. Old. If you speak Spanish, you'll probably be able to understand French, though in my case, speaking French helps me understand Spanish though not speak it in any way any Spanish-speaking person understands! Jessie, thanks for the word on the cabins at Bosque; I'll try to check out Congo. We picked El Sol because all the deluxe ones were already booked and El Sol has 2 beds. Thanks again for all your help! Can't wait to do some whale-spotting!

I know what you mean--my husband refers to Costa Rica as my escape. And, yes, it is true. Free as a bird there!