o.k., it is not hard to understand your level of knowledge on CR by reading your posts. You also seem to be willing to guide the weak yet eager, such as myself. Not to belittle anyone else's advice, so please jump in, but throw something at me regarding the following if at all possible:

day 1: arrive Panama City
day 2: PC
day 3: TICA bus early to San Jose (don't really want to but cannot find any economically viable options), arrive 4 am next day???
day 4: arrive early, 4 am, Nature Air to Arenal, stay (suggestions?)
day 5: catch early Nature Air to Tamarindo, stay
day 6:more beach, local trips (within 25km)
day 7:more Nicoya and surrounding area
day 8: catch early to LIR to connect with Int'l back to Miami (risky???, 2.5 hours b/t Natures arrival and depart on return flight)

any sweet places with decent low season rates at Arenal and Tamarindo would be greatly appreciated along with the suggestion if 1 night at the volcanoe versus three at the beach is warranted. Thank you so much for any attention you may be able to give me, sincerely, from Raleigh, USA.

Hi n2cartography,

My initial impression upon reading your itinerary is that you have an awful lot crammed into your week.

I have not yet been to Panama so can't really comment on the time you have alloted for Panama City, but I can't imagine that much travel for only one night in Arenal. It's such a great destination. There is so much to see and do there.

Three days allocated for the beaches around Tamarindo is probably good, but the rest of your trip sounds really rushed. Have you already purchased your airfare? You might actually be better off spending your entire time in either just CR or Panama rather than trying to see both. Both countries have so much to offer.

What kind of room rates are you looking for. If you give a desired range, people will likely chime in with suggestions.

Good luck with your planning.

Wow, I guess it's do-able (and I've gotta admit we hop around more than most), but for the life of me, I can't see spending one day in PC. I guess you have 2 nights there, so a day and a half, maybe? I don't know anything about the Tica bus, but sure, it will be a long haul. Your split itinerary is going to cause you to have to give up a full day in transferring from PC to SJO. I guess you can see a lot of country, but still, it's a whole day and night. Aren't you going to be exhausted by the time you arrive in SJO? What time is your Nature Air flight to Arenal?

Are you pretty determined to do it this way? If so, then I'll just go with the flow and suggest (as you mention) an economical hotel for Arenal: La Pradera near La Fortuna--about $55 per night, last time I checked. There are others in the area, such as Gringo Pete's hostel in La Fortuna. Talked to some girls last year who thought it was above and beyond the average hostel.

Tamarindo, stay at Pasatiempo. It's a fun place, short walk to the beach (5 min). There's a local "jam" night on Tuesdays.

Not sure what all you're wanting to do while in the area, but you could enjoy checking out the MANY nearby beaches such as Avenelles, Negra, Grande, Conchal, Brasilito, Flamingo, Potrero, Penca, Sugar Beach, etc.

Your departure plans should be fine unless there is a delay of some sort with Nature Air. Early in the day, I wouldn't think so.

Like cmerrell, I'd rather see you fly into SJO, spend 3 nights Arenal. Drive to Tamarindo, spend 3-4 days there, fly out of Liberia. There is a LOT to do at Arenal. It is simply a great area.

Good luck--good thing you're young? LOL!

Who is this shillmac !

oops ,I'm in trouble,how do you erase this !

Percy

Wow...I join the others in wishing I were young enough to punish myself with this type of schedule! LOL. Do you have to go to PC? If so, it's a nice, fairly modern, big city with beautiful history and varied sections. Be careful in the Casco Viejo area after dark...in fact, DON'T! Historic area but theft is very high. Tone down the "gringo" look so don't wear shorts and Hawaiian short! Keep your high priced camera very protected and leave the jewelry in the hotel safe before you leave. Taxi in and out of the area...don't walk. Get my point? With one day in PC, opt for at least a couple of hours at the Miraflora Locks and Museum.
I think Panama and CR are separate trips with both full of wonder and beauty. My wife and I are 50's so the surf scene has passed us by. We spend more time in National Parks and stopping at little soda in the small towns and countryside when we can find one just to breath in the local spirit. We lie the LaFortuna area and have stayed a few times at Areanal Paraiso and have enjoyed it every time. A bit higher priced but we paid it anyway. 2 night minimum there! Plenty to see and do. We typically opt for Quespos Town rather than the NW shore simply because we are Parrotheads and this place reminds me of a poor man's Key West from years ago. Beach is OK at Manuel Antonio and if you want the local surf beach, Jaco is not too far up the coast. Reminds me of a "Daytona Beach" type place....on CR style.
schillmac,, I always enjoy your posts and you seem to always give great advice! If you live in CR, next trip down I'll buy you lunch!

wow, really helpful posts from all of you, thank you so much.

Perhaps I can refine my rushed intentions by clarifying that this trip is designed to allow me to "dip my toes in the water before I jump in later on." Don't get me wrong, it is also intended for adventure but will be first time south of Mexico.

Yes, did buy tickets arriving in PTY and leaving ouf of LIR. Why did I do this???? I'm wondering the same thing more and more now that my travel plans become more developed. I guess I didn't want to make the trip and only cross one border, it's kind of like collecting merit badges for me, cannot go to summer camp and get just one badge.

So...I'm locked into the PC to CR thing. I know its crammed, but I do like to hop around, love fast paced travel, just used to doing it Eurail style, easy.

You are right Shillmac, the bus trip will saw a day off the trip, leaves PC at 11 am and arrives San Jose at 3-4 am. The Nature Air flight to Arenal is at 11 or so. Not thrilled about being dumped off at the bus station at 3 in the morning in San Jose but I will be with two buddies, we are pretty well travelled, saavy enough and probably a lot bigger than most Latino men.

I know there is a lot to do in Arenal and I really hope the skimpy allotment of one day allows me to guage future considerations more appropriately.

Thank you all for the tips on lodging, I'd say our budget is 75-100 USD per night on accomodations. I want to stay near the airports if possible.

Any thoughts on relations of the airport to main areas of interest in both Tamarindo and Arenal? Any advice of ease of getting taxis in these places and the costs?

Yes, we must have the split schedule but thanks for the feedback cmerrell. Hansboomer, thank you for the info on PC.

Percy, you are, indeed, in trouble!
Are you feeling better?

Hansboomer, if our paths ever cross, you can indeed buy me lunch! My husband never turns down a free meal! We'd be glad to return the favor sometime. Wish we lived there (well, no I don't, unless our granddaughter were there with us!), but we are just sojourners there whenever we can manage it for as long as week can eek out a stay!

Your style and ours sound quite similar; I've noticed that in several of your posts. Perhaps one day our paths will cross--we're all about the same age--trying to get it all crammed in before the walkers (you know which "walkers" I am referring to?) catch up with us!

n2cartography,
I should have done what you did and probably saved money! We are spending a week in Panama at the end of our Costa Rica time this summer, but I put that into the itinerary after we'd already booked ourselves in and out of SJO. So having to fly back to SJO to come home.
Poor planning on my part!
You'll have a very good time regardless of your itinerary. Lots of fun places to stay. If you find yourself needing lodging near the airport, you might like Orquideas Inn (moderate, very fun bar)--about 15 min from the airport in Alajuela. For a shorter rest, great host/hostess, and excellent breakfast, we like Hotel Villa Bonita, about 5 min. from the airport, in Alajuela.

You'll enjoy your time on the bus, but hate that you'll be on there for 8 hours of darkness. Yuk! Hopefully, you'll be able to sleep. I'd get restless leg. . oh man, that's not fun.

You and your buddies be careful, particularly if your bus comes into the Coca-Cola station. Get yourselves a taxi and have them take you to the Don Carlos for a good rest. I don't know what might be closer, but the DC is in a great part of town and will cost you about $70 or $80. I definitely think you'll need a few hours of sleep. Worth the price. . .

You'll need to be at the airport by 10:15 and it is about a 20 min drive from that area of SJO. You can get about 5 hours of comfortable sleep. Good breakfast here as well.

Just a thought. I don't know of a lot of hotel in SJO (personally), but this one I can vouch for!

Enjoy yourselves!

Week can eek? It's official--I've lost my mind! That's thinking ahead. . .

WE can eek out a stay. . .

By the way, don't go roaming around ANY part of SJO at night either--I don't care how big you are! Taxis are easy and cheap. . .hmmmm. . .sounds like some kind of metaphor. . .or simile!

Hi shillmac:

Yes,Thank You I am finally feeling better.

Just booked for 15 days to the Baltics in August.

Will let you know all about it.

Take care
Percy

Can't wait to hear!

Just a thought....what about upon landing at PTY taking a flight to Bocas del Toro? Runs about $60 or $70. Then fly out of Bocas on Nature Air to San Jose (don't know cost but guessing around $60-$80). You'd gain a day & get to visit a really nice place (from what I've heard!).

Good idea, Tully! We did this last summer. I think it was about $120 one way down to Bocas on Nature Air. We returned by water taxi/taxi to Costa Rica.

Tully,

thanks for the suggestion, I did look into that option in a bit of a different manner. I was considering the flight from PTY to Boco and then crossing the border via some other route to get to Jiminez (this is when I was including some time in Corvocado in the trip). But..., the flights did not seem to be available out of Jiminez on Nature Air so I decided to scrap that notion. I did not see on Nature Air's site whee they offer any flights from Boco to SJO in the low season but I must admit this would be fantastic if possible. I'm not a rocket scientist but I do know that $120 is much less than the $185-220 range on the PTY-SJO flights being offered. I'll dig in again. Thanks agin for all of your advice, I hope we meet some people like you down below.

shilmac....I love the suggestion of using the Orquideas Inn as the jump off and last night in and out of CR. It's a great little oasis and even the little path around the grounds are a nice walk. That little "staircase" up the hill can be tricky in the rain though! You REALLY should try AmaTierra on a trip down. 2-3 nights only. The Parque Turubari just 15 minutes away is as good a park as there is in the entire country. It is private and you have NO FEAR of leaving things in the car. If you go to AmaTierra, hug Bob and Jill for us. They are so sweet and the local staff is wonderful. Beautiful balcony for eating meals and the food is EXCELLENT. We love the little pueblo of San Pablo and the campo is very peaceful there. We are looking at property to but and build our retirement home there. It would be fun to bump into you and hubby on the road! We are trying to figure out a place to go in the next couple of months....never been out of Venezuela in S.A so I'm digging.......

Had to chuckle. . .we were regular visitors at AmaTierra when it was La Finca que Ama under previous ownership (Neta and Arbel). Lots of memories there and we are very good friends with them. I don't think I could bear to return there because we would miss them so. I know Jill and Bob have done well with their version of that property and I am so glad that it is in good hands. Otherwise, Neta and Arbel would never have sold it. Great place. Certainly share your enthusiasm and wish more people would make time (and it does take extra time) to visit down there!

We saw our first fer de lance there! Jorge had just killed it. . .it was in an area where we works all the time there east of the hotel, so he really didn't want it around. . .

The meals we had with Neta and Arbel were absolutely the best we've ever had in Costa Rica, hands down. They were simply fabulous, and I DO miss eating there as well!