francetrip

We will be two families of 5 each (kids 11 to 16) staying at Manuel Antonio next March. Any specific suggestions on activities to fill our 4 days there?

Thanks for your help,

Sue

shillmac

Your group might enjoy horseback riding with Finca Valmy tour group. They get rave reviews, but we haven't personally tried them. Had plans to do this this past June, but others in our group weren't too high on it, so we passed it up--again! Of course, I'm assuming you have plans to go through the park. . .closed on Mondays, early in the day best, with a guide ideally.

Mangrove tours and kayaking also available, as is river rafting (Savegre River). By the way, the horseback tour includes a visit to a waterfall. Have fun!

queue

Francetrip-- I posted to your driving post as well. I suggested a link to my friends post from our trip last year...

My three favorites in MA was:
1. rent surf boards [and lessons for the kids] on the beach down by MA. You can get beach chairs, and the locals bring beer and drinks by.
2. Hire Roy as your private guide to Damas Island - mangrove swamp (boat ride through narrow mangrove channels, monkeys, tropical birds, snakes, crocks, etc..)
3. Deep sea fishing out of Quepos...plan ahead. Use the Magic Moon charter booked through Luna tours. We caught 11 sailfish and 1 blue marlin....an unbelievable day.

JorgeOfTheJungle

I might have to disagree with the ordering of Queues faves, but not with his content.

The body surfing on the MA beach was the best I have ever done. Although dislocating my shoulder on the first night put a slight damper on the amount of time I spent in the surf.

The deep sea fishing experience was truly awesome. The pictures, videos and memories we have from that day are priceless.

I also like the vibe of Beisanz beach.
Definitely a nice feel to it. But the snorkeling just outside the cove really wasn't worth the effort.

Jorge

francetrip

Thanks for the tips.

Shillmac, I read on another post that you will be at Bosque de Cabo in March of 2007. Courtesy of yours and others tips, so will we. We will be there dates of March 11 to 16th. Any overlap?

Cheers

shillmac

Hey, francetrip, that's great! We'll be there the 11th through the 15th. What a cool coincidence! We'll be occupying a couple of the deluxe cabinas (Mariposa and another) as well as one of the standards. There will be 6 of us. Looking forward to meeting you there!

Buen Viaje!

francetrip

Shillmac - Too good, what a coincidence! We will be in the two houses. Come over any time!

It seems like an eternity away, but will see you there!

Cheers

shillmac

I know--it does seem so far away. I keep reminding myself that it will be here and then gone so quickly--as usual! So I savor the anticipation! We'll stop by your houses on our hiking--will you be taking your meals in the restaurant?
Are you staying in Case Blanca and Casa Teca?

shillmac

Oops--that would be Teka. . .

I was just rereading your original post. There are 10 of you! So I'm guessing you are staying in Blanca and Miramar. You guys are going to have a blast!

We'll be with our daughter and son-in-law; our son-in-law's mother; and our son. We'll have 4 cabinas all together--3 deluxe and one standard. I've had them booked since April, wanting to be sure we got the ones we wanted. Leonardo told me back then that they were already starting to schedule December, 2007--20 months early. Amazing, isn't it?

francetrip

It is amazing and thanks to this forum we booked the the two houses back in April or May as well.

We have done a fair amount of travelling with our girls, but never to the tropics. We are looking forward to it. It would be great to get your advice on how to best take advantage of our stay at BdC. Hopefully the five nights will long enough to enjoy paradise!

I am still amazed at how the internet makes the world so small and accessible, not to mention the odds of being there at the same time. My family seems less impressed.

Cheers

shillmac

Hi Sue,
You know, the first time we stayed at BdC (only time), we were there for just 3 nights. I was afraid that we wouldn't have enough time to really enjoy it, but we were in the country for a month and trying (somewhat) to watch our budget. Those 3 nights were a splurge for us. As it turned out, we had plenty of time to do every single thing we wanted to do--plus relax some. We hiked all the trails, spent an afternoon down on the Golfo Dulce beaches, hiked to the Pacific side a couple of times as well as the Zapatero Trail, the Titi Trail, and the others. We went on a morning hike with Philip, who is a fantastic guide, went on a night hike with him (a highlight for me), and did birding early one morning with Eduardo. Those activities satisfied us and we even had a few hours left in each day to sit on the verandah and just enjoy the view and the animals that would come right up to the cabina. And then, there were those 2-3 showers we took each day just because we were so amazed at the sensuality of an outdoor shower with all the beauty surrounding us!

This time we're adding an extra night. I think your 5 night stay will be perfect. Perhaps you can enjoy some surfing lessons or dolphin watching, or kayaking. . . .I just know you are going to have a wonderful time!

Tell everyone in your group to take plenty of socks! We backpacked to BdC and had packed only what our little packs could hold. Socks is the one item we didn't have enough of! And they are necessary with all the hiking! We washed them out, but believe me, they don't dry. We'll probably take advantage of the laundry service in Puerto Jimenez this time. Send our stuff out to be laundered on the 2nd or 3rd day.

Yes, it is a small world these days. And true, it is difficult for our children to imagine it any other way; but we remember the old days, don't we?? I'm sure I remember much farther back than you! My father died in 1967, and I often think of how amazed he would be--totally incomprehensible!

See you in March!

5swissmiss

We took our 9yro daugter last April on the Finca Valmay horseback riding tour. It was an amazing trip (a little muddy and wet going through the streams) and a very long day of riding (at least 3+ hours in the saddle).The lunch afterward was great, and the pool refreshing after a long day of riding. We went at the beginning of our stay in MA...and were very sore for the rest of it

francetrip

This is not the first that I have heard of the raves for Finca Valmy. What is it in particular that makes it such a great day? Being a total city slicker, I know three hours in the saddle would literally be a stretch! But of course, kids love riding horses.

Please let me know why it is so great!

Thanks

tully

Finca Valmy is a very nicely run business. Valentin came & picked me up in MA, I think it was a 20 minute drive or so. Others had canceled so it was just me on the tour, so I was happily surprised he didn't move me to a later tour or give a shortshift of a tour. Val is very knowledgable about all the birds, plants, animals, trees that you will pass and you really get the feeling he loves what he does. Afterwards, you go back to the finca where he shows you all kinds of fruits and then you relax by the pool and have a wonderful meal.

I'd also rec Canopy Safari if you (or your kids) want to try ziplining, plus there are 3 rappels. I've gone with them twice and had such a blast, and I'm scared to death of heights! Very professional, I felt very safe and eventually was pushing my way to the front always wanting to go first.

Now Jill...you know you're going to have a nice lounge (or 2) in Mariposa's lovely bathtub! Too bad I was solo, could've fit a couple more people in there. And like I've said before, how many times do you get to take a bath watching monkeys watching you?! Definitely take the pre-dinner night hike with Eduardo. I swear I had a frog magnet on that night, every frog he picked up would leap out of his hands and wind up on me!

shillmac

LOL, Tully! Now HOW many people do you wish you had in that tub with you??!!

Actually, Mariposa is reserved for our daughter and husband--perhaps we could trade them cabinas one night! Are the tubs outdoors too?

We'll for sure do the night hike. Did it with Phillip last time. Speaking of Phillip, do you remember how old his daughter in Nicaragua is? I'm thinking 5 or 6 maybe by now? Thought I'd take a gift.

Did the frogs make you yell? Hope they don't jump on my daugher--she'll emmbarrass us all! Also, she is terrified of bugs--still at 30. Hoping her insect experience down on the Osa will be minimal!

tully

Jill, yes the tub at Mariposa is outside too, right next to the shower. They did it in a lovely blueish tile chip and it is pretty big! I could've fit maybe 2 more smallish people in there!

Yes I did yell when the frogs jumped on me! Eduardo would be holding it and saying "now if you look at his eyes you'll see...." then bam! stuck to my chest, then another ended up on my hip. And I love frogs, just startled me I don't remember Phillip's daughters age, but 5ish sounds about right. And they love dvd's there too.....I "accidently copied" a dozen of the most recent releases and Kim was real happy. I remember her telling me on my first trip that Leonardo was pretty tired of Little Women, lol. I can't wait til you go so I'm sure you can't, what a blast you'll have and so will your daughter & SIL. Hopefully Jose will be there to sing a couple nights, just be careful he makes some wicked drinks!

shillmac

I'll e-mail you before we go for more "tips"! My crew will be happy to meet Jose!

Just got in from Puerto Rico--had a great time. Toured with my daughter a couple of days over on the west side--more rural, definitely more "Puerto Rican". Had gorgeous weather. Lots of fun. . .gee, back to work tomorrow is going to be tough!