Deb15July

My understanding is that most rental cars in CR are manual and I can't drive a stick shift, but DH can. We're trying to plan a trip in May and I guess that is the "Green Season", aka...rainy! Apparently roads get much worse during this time and I don't know if it is advisable to attempt to drive some of the routes that we are contemplating. I have no trouble with public transportation as long as it is not totally off schedule.

That being said...I'd like to see the Arenal area, Monteverde/Santa Elena, and the Osa peninsula. We have 8-10 nights.

Please advise on the best way to cover all these locations without feeling like we are just moving from place to place without the benefit of getting a good feel for the surroundings. Is the itineray doable?

volcanogirl

If you don't want to drive, you can take Interbus or a private driver to the Arenal area. Jeep Boat Jeep with Desafio will get you between Arenal and Monteverde. Lots of people make these drives though. May is just the beginning of rainy season.

Nature Air or Sansa will get you to the Osa; most people fly to this area.

If you only have 8 days, I'd pick two locations, but with 10, I would do all three.

qwovadis

www.mapache.com www.tricolorcarrental.com

rent an automatic and drive more to see and do.

Arenal 2 das Monteverde 2 days

then down the coast to PJ on the Osa 4 days

www.lookout-inn.com at www.corcovado.org

drive back via San Isidro Cartago to SJ

www.mapcr.com

Have fun,

Deb15July

vg and qw,
I need to do some more research. I forgot the minor detail that I have trouble on winding roads in the mountains unless I'm driving.

I've read that I should fly to Osa. Does that make sense? The maps are sooo misleading because things look really close and then you find out you're facing a 3 hr drive.

volcanogirl

Definitely fly to the Osa - too much time to drive there. Just going from Puerto Jimenez to our lodge, we encountered cows in the road, small streams to drive through, construction, and trees across the road. It's a long way; I'd definitely fly it.

Deb15July

Sorry VG,
You did mention before that we should fly to Osa. I looked at some trip times today and it is amazing how long it takes to get anywhere.

Where did you stay in the PJ area?

volcanogirl

We stayed at Bosque del Cabo on the Osa; it's a really popular spot on the boards. Great wildlife and hiking.

Deb15July

vg,
Yes I really would like to stay at BdC. I kept seeing posts about it and thought it was a destination (which I guess it kind of is!), but couldn't find it on the map. Finally figured it out.

I know we want to go in May, but we still don't have the OK on my husband's vacation time. Do you know if it books up way in advance during the "Green Season".

hipvirgochick

deb -- BDC books very far in advance. It wouldn't hurt sending them an e-mail now to see what's available.

volcanogirl

Agree with hip; I called BdC eight months before our trip, and the cabin I wanted was already booked. It was fun to get there and tell the people they had booked "my" cabin - they requested it before I did for their anniversary. I ended up loving the one we got though. Check out the video on their web page if you haven't had a chance to see it yet. Will give you a good idea of what it's like.

Deb15July

vg,
What month did you travel when the cabin you wanted was booked? My biggest problem is that I have a very hard time sleeping in a double bed...so it looks like I need a Deluxe Cabina.

Hip,
I was thinking that an email would not be a bad idea. Guess I'll do that right away...we won't know if DH's vacation request is approved for about a week.

volcanogirl

D, we were there in July - the height of green season, but we didn't get a drop of rain.

tully

May is my favourite time and will be heading back to Bosque at the end of May this year as well. June and July are nice as well, as is November. Okay heck, any month is great Can't hurt to go ahead and email Bosque now with tentative dates and get at least some space reserved. It will take a day or two back and forth just to get that initiated and then they will send you a form, to send cc info to hold the space (isn't charged) but the actual money due (half your stay) isn't due til 60 days prior to arrival. So you will have some wiggle room. Also helps to get your Nature Air or Sansa flights booked early as there are only a few flights a day and the planes are small, though May isn't horribly busy usually. I always suggest a tleast 4 nights on the Osa, and more if you can manage it. May work best to do 3-4 nights in Arenal and 4-5 nights at Bosque with nights in and out near the airport at a place like Xandari.

Deb15July

OK...I think we will need to fly to Osa as several posters have recommended. I'd like to include Arenal and Monteverde as well. Is a rental car necessary for the northern locations? Not sure if we can get away with a driver or private shuttle from San Jose north and then just excursions from there.

I've also read the Osa should be saved for the end of the trip. In that case we would need to fly back to San Jose the day before departure in order to make the flight back to the US. That makes it necessary to spend at least one night in the airport vicinty.

Also, what is a good price for a flight from Atlanta to Costa Rica in May?