cobaltumbrella

Hi!

I am visiting Costa Rica, on my own and for the first time in June from the 18th to the 25th. I am traveling on a budget and when I arrive into San Jose it will be 11:30am. My departing flight back to the states is early on the 25th so i plan to make it back to San Jose the 24th and stay overnight in a hostel.

I had so many recommendations of where to go and a few expected ones (Arenal, Cloud Forest, Manuel Antonio). I am realizing after speaking with more folks that the Osa Penninsula is where i should actually be going. I am definitely eager to have a rainforest adventure mixed with some mind-clearing spiritual r & r and beach-side exploration).

Now i have attempted to independently research where i could stay (hostels/cheap but safe accommodations) and where i should go/explore, but i'm a bit overwhelmed!

Any thoughts or help in planning this would be fantastic!

Also is this realistic? am i missing out if i spend all of my days in Osa...or should i rethink this?
any ideas with my itinerary are greatly welcomed. i would wing it all if i didnt have the time restraints!

thanks!

kristin

RAC

PabloC--not cool to tout your own travel agency while purporting to give travel advice.

Cobaltumbrella--I don't mean to pry, but what is your rough budget, including internal transportation, lodging, food, etc? "On a budget" means different things to different people.

cobaltumbrella

thanks for responding guys!

Pablo C- thanks for the tips! i have inquired about itineraries through some agencies and i usually get responses that are the BIG three destinations and not much intention of providing me with alternative options. Sooo that is why i have joined some forums and began asking ya'll for your experiences. Part beach time and part rainforest/wildlife exploration would be my perfect week! I dont want to feel like i need a vacation post my trip, but i also would lose my mind just lounging the whole time. i need to adventure.


RAC- my budget basically is tight, i haven't figured out an exact budget, but i'm looking at hostel accommodations, food from sodas or a rice & bean diet, and the rest on transportation and activities...$800 but that's flexible? I know at that time of year i can get RT tickets Sansa air sjo to Osa for $180...which is possible for me to swing if i keep everything else thrifty.
However, i am overwhelmed with all the other beauty in the country and though i have been told i can experience everything i need to in the Osa, i also heard that food and accommodations are expensive. After further research, if i dont head to Osa, i have been told that i should choose two places for a week's adventure. Some say the Caribbean side....others have thrown out numerous towns and beaches in the central valley and Nicoya.
everything i read always says Arenal and Monteverde or Manuel Antonio. I'm afraid i will be disappointed.

RAC

With that budget, I would look at probably either Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay.
(For the below, we've stayed at Iguana Lodge and Finca Maresia)

For Puerto Jimenez:

Lower end of budget: maybe Cabinas Jimenez (in town, right on water)

http://cabinasjimenez.com/
http://cabinasjimenez.com/hotelscostarica.html

Higher end of budget:

Iguana Lodge (club room is $118 a night in June, on beach outside of town):
http://www.iguanalodge.com
http://www.iguanalodge.com/reservations/rates.php

Drake Bay:

Lower budget:
Finca Maresia:
http://www.fincamaresia.com
http://www.fincamaresia.com/english-1/rates/

Upper end of budget:

Not sure, maybe check tripadvisor reviews

cobaltumbrella

Thanks RAC! So would you say its smart to just head down there and spend my entire time in the Osa....or would your recommend a different adventure somewhere else in the country?

RAC

To me, the Osa is the best of the best. The big challenges for the Osa for new visitors are (a) expense; (b) logistical (very remote) and (c) going to somewhere so wild and remote as a first-time experience--other places like Manuel Antonio combine the modern vacation experience with a taste of nature.

But, before doing so I would price out the cost of which tours/activities you want to do, etc. If you stay in Drake, I would definitely recommend The Night Tour and a day trip to Sirena Station inside Corcovado.

Just a caveat on the beaches there--it's not a typical relax by the beach area--the beaches are usually remote and more of a black sand that's somewhat coarse.

You could also look at the Nicoya peninsula, (Montezuma, Malpais, Santa Teresa, Samara, Nosara) which would be more beach but not have as good of wildlife.

Another area to look at would be the Caribbean, but I haven't traveled there so I can't offer advice.

cobaltumbrella

hmm yes, i have considered all of that. I have a friend of a friend who lives in Puerto Jimenez who offered his help and friends if i come down there. is it reliable? who knows....i may end up getting some cheap if not free tours and even cooler, friends!
kind of a shot in the dark especially since it's so remote. if i wasn;t going alone, i probably would have already made my decision.

i do want wildlife...but im so afraid that Manuel Antonio will be too much of a tourist trap! I had a friend recommend Montezuma and spoke very highly of the marine life and his experience. So i'd be down for exploring that.
at this point i'm considering Arenal and either Montezuma, manuel antonio, or cahuita(carribean side).

volcanogirl

We just got back from Manuel Antonio and really loved it, but based on what you've said I think it may be a little more developed than what you're looking for. In general, it's kind of a pricey area too.

RAC

Arenal is the most touristy area in the country (La Fortuna is a cheesy tourist trap). I'd pass on there if you're looking for an escape from the modern world.

Cahuita on paper sounds very close to what you're looking for.

cobaltumbrella

would any of you guys be able to recommend an alternative to Arenal? another place that could provide me with a rainforest experience and wildlife? maybe then i could chose Montezuma as my second place, i could get beaches and marine adventures.

Cahuita does sound good huh? my only deterent is it being the green season...i read it is rainier on the Caribbean side.

cobaltumbrella

any thoughts on Tortuguero National Park?

RAC

Tortuguero is just down the coast from Cahuita--very good wildlife and rainforest there.

Arenal is actually not a good wildlife area, unless you stay on the far side of the Volcano (Arenal Observatory Lodge area).

Much better for actual rainforest and wildlife is Sarapiqui area--about 2 hours from San Jose. Also much less touristy and much cheaper.

I don't want to be condescending, but any rain forest area during the rainy season is going to be . . . rainy. I would choose which location is most appealing to you and just make it work.

Generally, during the rainy season, mornings will be gorgeous which is when you do your hiking and wildlife spotting, then in the afternoon it rains and you do yoga/meditation/read a book/take a nap.

volcanogirl

We love the Arenal area, but more for all the cool adventure activities, the waterfall hike, the Hanging Bridges, and the Penas Blancas river float and Cano Negro tours. The Lost Iguana is set away from town and has quite a bit of wildlife, but it's probably more expensive than what you want. Agree that there's not much to the actual town itself.

Tortuguero has great wildlife like RAC said; most people stay at lodges and eat all their meals there, spending time on the canals to view wildlife and going to view the turtles; other than that there's not a lot to do in the area. I don't think you'd see a lot of turtles in June.

Selva Verde is a great place to stay in the Sarapiqui area that RAC mentioned. La Selva also has great wildlife.

Cattail

Also, Rincon; great for wildlife, adventure and volcano, but not so much for undeveloped beach nearby, unless you don't mind camping. I