Okay, I know that the Christmas week is not enough time, and too many other tourists (and Ticos at the beach). But that is a long week off this year, for us, so I have been thinking about doing SOME of CR.
I know that we really would like to do an overnight raft trip on the Pacuare River, so it looks like the first three nights will probably be San Jose area- Pacuare River-- San Jose area.

1. So question # 1 is should we stay in SJ proper, or do the Rafting Tours pick up from some of the nice places in the surrounding hills supposedly 15 minutes away?

2. With this short time period, I think I'd rather do something like Villa del Valle in Grecia or Villa Blanca outside of San Ramon or Tabacon Springs, and visit the beaches on another trip. SO the next couple (or three) nights would be Cloud Forest, Volcano, butterflies, etc., and isolation at night.

Probably rent a car for those three nights, and depending on what flight times we can land, drive back to the airport on the a.m. of departure.

Can't do it all in this short of time. Is this sensible enough without being too conservative?

1- Most Rafting companies will not pick up at hotels to far..maybe hotels around the Airport no more.

2- Villa del Valle or Villa Blanca way to far...you may have to drive to a meeting place...like hotel Corobici or Cariari

You can easily get to Arenal Volcano...enjoy your overnight rafting trip and then go to Arenal..is very simple and makes a lot of sense...even you can have your car dropp off at the take out from your rafting company..and from there Siquirres drive to La Fortuna about 2 and half hours...enjoy ARENAL!!

You can do it...go for...and please buckle up!!

R.A

CocoPazzo,
For your rafting, you should probably stay in SJO--as you say, for pick up purposes. You'll only be there overnight and it would make sense to stay there. I recommend the Hotel Don Carlos--very nice area, and reasonably priced.

As for the rest of your time, Villa Blanca or Vista del Valle would both be nice areas. You can see and do a lot from either area. I think Vista del Valle or even Peace Lodge at La Paz Waterfall Gardens would be excellent for daytripping in the area. At any rate, you should make time to see La Paz. It is lovely. Try to have a meal at Colbert's, about 5 km from La Paz. Excellent little French restaurant. From this area, you can also drive over to the Caribbean lowlands near Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, nice little sightseeing tour, full day. Doka Coffee Estate is a fun place to visit, as is Poas Volcano where, if you arrive early, you can usually see the crater. While in this area, try to visit a couple of the little towns like Sarchi, Grecia, Zarcero especially pretty with its little topiary garden in front of the church. Sarchi good for souvenir shopping. . .Grecia just a pretty little town. All have lovely churches, town squares. . .

Arenal is also a good destination for 3 nights or so--about 2.5-3 hours from the airport. Roads are very good between SJO and Arenal. In that area, you can do ziplines, hike the volcano, see the lava (if you're lucky), go to La Fortuna Falls (and the town of La Fortuna by the volcano), Hanging Bridges, horseback, and any number of OTHER stuff! Good luck--it's all good. For that week, you need to start booking hotels right away.

In the Arenal area, I'd suggest Arenal Paraiso. Nice location. . .nice property, reasonably priced.

Shillmac--
Thanks for the reply. Not sure where we will base ourselves for three nights "in country" but hope it is somewhere that allows good daytrips, home before dark, and then some pleasant way to spend the evening. Rest and recuperation may well be needed, after a full day of touring, though, so a quiet bed may be most welcome.

Yes, I hear you. We go to bed SO early in CR--lots of nights, anyway. Sometimes around 8:00. Of course, we're up with the chickens (or the monkeys) depending on location. . .!

Stayed at a place last year called La Carolina (very remote, no electricity, base of Volcan Tenorio). After dinner at 6:00, there just wasn't a darned thing to do! We'd just go to bed--7:30 or so, even. Up by 5:00 to check out the early a.m. birds. . .

It's strange, but restful. . .
Then there was that one vacation with friends on the Pacific side that found us going strong at 3:00 in the a.m.! Came home from that one really dragging! Not sure I could do it these days!