Think I have the perfect 12 day Costa Rica Itinerary...How would you improve it???
 

This November, I will have 12 days and 11 nights in Costa Rica and plan to spend 3 nights Arenal, 2 nights La Paz, 5 nights Bosque del Cabo, 1 night Alajuela area. =D>

Here are the details --I feel pretty good about it, but wonder if since I am departing so late on the last day (leaving at 5:25pm, whether it makes more sense to stay an extra day on the Osa and leave straight from there and skip the night near the airport...)

Also, if this were your itinerary, how would you tweak it to make it even better (realizing that yes, 'better' is a relative term!)

PS: thanks ShellD, Tully, CMerrell and Shillmac, as I have pored through your posts for advice! >:D<


Wed 21 Arrive San Jose at 9:55 am, pick up rental car at airport and drive to Arenal. Stay overnight at Lost Iguana Lodge.
Thu 22 Lost Iguana Lodge
Fri 23 Lost Iguana Lodge
Sat 24 Depart Arenal and drive to La Paz, stay at Peace Lodge
Sun 25 Peace Lodge
Mon 26 Leave La Paz and drive to San Jose. Drop off Rental Car and catch plane (Nature Air or Sansa) to Osa Penninsula and transfer to Bosque del Cabo.
Tue 27 Bosque del Cabo
Wed 28 Bosque del Cabo (day trip to Corcovado National Park)
Thu 29 Bosque del Cabo
Fri 30 Bosque del Cabo
Sat 1 check out of BdC and fly to San Jose, check into hotel in Alajuela (I am iffy on this part)
Sun 2 Depart San Jose at 5:25 pm

((r))

looks good to me. in La Fortuna/ Arenal make sure you do a day trip to Cano Negro Reserve:



http://costa.rica.typepad.com/la_for...ome/index.html

I think it looks great. The last night could go either way - I've spent both 5 nights & 6 nights at a time at BdC and was fine with both. It's nice to slowly ease back into real life with a last night in Alajuela but on the other hand one more night at BdC never hurts either.

The only suggestion I might throw out there is the trip to Corcovado. I would definitely wait and book when you get there as you may decide once there to skip it. I don't know if there's actual facts to back this up but I've heard you see as much wildlife at Bosque as you do at Corcovado and it certainly seems like it. The drive there is a pretty rough 1 - 1 1/2 hours, then you have another 1+ hour walk along the beach to the entrance. So I guess what I'm saying is to keep it in mind & decide once there.

Again, really nicely planned, it's a keeper! ;)

Your itinerary sounds wonderful. Enjoy!

Well there is always someone with a different opinion - so here is mine!!

Although your plan sounds great - If you are trying to omit your final overnight near SJO, you could reverse your trip. With a 9:55 AM arrival you can easily head straight to the Osa on Sansa.

Stay 5 or 6 nights at BdC. Fly back to SJ, rent your vehicle, head to Arenal for 3 or 4 nights, then back to PL for your final 2 or 3 nights. Peace is only an hour from SJO.

Me again! Just read another of your posts and thought I would throw something else into the mix.

You mention in the other post that you want some beach time.

So how about this:

Arrive SJO 9:55 AM, fly to the Osa. Stay 2 nights at Iguana Lodge - directly on the beach. Transfer over to BdC about 45 mins away, stay 4 nights. Head back to SJ, rent your vehicle. Drive to Arenal, stay 3 nights. Head to Peace Lodge, stay 2 nights.

We split an Osa trip between Iguana and BdC a couple of years back. Iguana Lodge gave me my needed beach time, while BdC gave us lots of hiking and wildlife. All in a relatively close proximity. Time at Iguana also affords you an opportunity to partake in some of the water activities, such as kayaking, fishing - without the added 45 mins(each way) back and forth to BdC.

Don't mean to confuse, just an idea!

I agree BdC is awesome. But we much enjoyed our time at Iguana also - good food, good people, easy access to beach, lovely but small grounds.

I have been traveling to the Osa for many years now and have stayed all over the Carate area as well as inbetween and at Iguana Lodge as well. I always save that for last so I can bring the warm fuzzies home with me and I do go directly to the airport for my 3pm flight home.

That said, Donna's idea is excellent. Peace Lodge is very special and will definitely relax you for your unhappy trip home. You will be thinking of those beautiful grounds and those jacuzzis all the way.

Thanks everyone --very, very helpful comments. I think I just may take your advice dfarmer and spend a couple days at the Iguana Lodge to get some pure beach time (perhaps i will do any "trips" from there since its more centrally located than Bosque del Cabo). In fact, since I fly out so late from San Jose on Dec. 2nd (5:30 pm), I just might leave straight from Puerto Jimenez (and take a morning flight). I guess the only concern would be whether a flight was cancelled, and it might not be that relaxing to do all that travelling right before i have to catch a flight home.

I did actually consider flipping the trip and doing the Osa first, but even though I know you absolutely cannot predict the weather, I heard that the weather is much better in December than November in the Osa, and I figure I would rather push my time at the Osa as close to Dec as possible.

How 'reliable' are the Nature Air flights? We plan to check out of Bosque on the same day we need to fly out of San Jose (departure at 5:25pm), so will be leaving Bosque early in the morning, catching Nature Air to the airport.

I think Donna has made an excellent suggestion as well. I was a little sad at leaving Bosque del Cabo last Thursday, and it was nice to remember that we had a couple of days at Arenal to look forward to as well. It softened the blow! And splitting your time between Iguana Lodge and BdC seems ideal. She's given you great advice--it seems like a perfect itinerary (or a nice improvement on an already good one!). But your thoughts are legit as well--either way, it will be an awesome itinerary!

You could afford to leave Puerto Jimenez on Nature Air on the 11:30 (or is it 11:45) a.m. flight. Give you plenty of time. I get the feeling Nature Air is a bit more reliable than Sansa. We were back in the vicinity of the airport by 1:00 p.m. That gives you a little time to "ease" your way out of BdC! :)

Kit - no matter how perfect your plan - I guarantee that you will - hear of or see something else that you wish you had planned. That is just one of the reasons that so many of us continue to go back and back and back.

All of our domestic flights have been very reliable. However, weather is the biggest factor and unfortunately unpredictable. There have been numerous posts where travelers fly out of remote areas of CR to meet their International flights with no problems. It is truly a personal decision.

We have flown both Sansa and Nature Air. Do you know that Nature Air is approx 30 mins in good traffic to SJO? And that Sansa is on the grounds of SJO?

One time we got back to SJO a few hours earlier than necessary and took a cab to lunch and then to a souvenir shop to kill a few hours.

I agree leaving BdC is a sad time - yep I actually shed a tear or two!

Sometimes people are concerned that staying near SJO will be a waste of their precious travel time. We on the otherhand love that last night at some place like Orchideas or Vista del Valle - where you run into other travelers both coming and going - lots of conversations about what you have done and what others are going to do.

And - I have to be in the office this morning, but if you would like to see some pictures of Iguana, I would be happy to post our link. Just let me know.

Which ever way you do it - you truly do have a lovely trip planned!

dfarmer, I would love to see pictures of the Iguana Lodge --I have decided to visit for 2 days... Thanks so much!

Depending on which type of accomodations you are staying at Iguana Lodge - but if you don't have their meal plan, then I would highly recommend eating one of your dinners at Jade Luna (about 2+km away - available by taxi) http://www.jadeluna.com/ It was a great dinner

Here is a link to some of our Iguana Lodge pictures. I am certain some things have changed. But I found upon arrival that the website pictures were very accurate. Have fun - wish I were there.

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9CaM3LRu4YeA

Would this also be a good itinerary for a family of 6 (2 adults/4 kids ages 3-14)?

Thanks!

Kippy6, although I don't have an answer to your particular question (but know that others who have already visited will), I wanted to post my updated and final itinerary since it changed over time (thanks to fodors). \:D/

Wed 21 Arrive San Jose at in morning. Take shuttle to Arenal and check into Lost Iguana Lodge ((S))
Thu 22 Lost Iguana Lodge, Arenal
Fri 23 Lost Iguana Lodge, Arenal
Sat 24 Check out and fly Nature Air to San Jose --> stay at Orquideas Inn
Sun 25 Check out and fly via Nature Air to Puerto Jiminez and then transfer to Iguana Lodge, on the Osa Peninsula ((r))
Mon 26 Iguana Lodge, Osa
Tue 27 Iguana Lodge, Osa
Wed 28 Check out of Iguana Lodge and transport to Bosque del Cabo :(|)

Thu 29 Bosque del Cabo Fri 30 Bosque del Cabo
Sat 1 Bosque del Cabo
Sun 2 check out of Bosque del Cabo and fly to San Jose in morning. Depart San Jose for US in the evening. :((

It's a fabulous itinerary. What fun you'll have!

hello Kitamaria, I see that you will be at BdC for 3 of the days that we are there. We arrive at BdC on Nov. 25 and depart Nov. 30. Hopefully we get to meet you.
We will probably be in Arenal for a day or so when you are there. :)

Kitamaria and Crlover, we will be there the 26th of November - 30th - Look for the parents with the girls 7 and 9 - one of whom is a major bug-o-phob!
Campjuie

Hello campjulie. Sounds like the 4 of you will be there the whole we are with the exception to our first day. :)
I m sure we will be seeing alot of each other from reports on here.

Is that your real name "Julie"? The reason i ask is that is my wifes name :)

Anyone else going to be there at that time??