Fritch

Since I find this board so helpful, I thought I would post some thoughts from my recent trip:
A. Started at Finca Rosa Blanca - always a great way to begin a vacation.
B. Southern Caribbean - Drove here. Driving is easier here than other parts of the country but still challenging. Puerto Viejo was a little too "spring break" like for me. But the ATEC office there is a great spot to arrange for tours from local guides. We had a local guide named Tino who took us to the Gandoca Manzanillo refuge - he is fabulous. We stayed at Shawanda which is a great location, though I got tired of the same breakfast everyday. Sodas are good - just make sure you go to ones outside of Puerto Viejo or at least off the main road - ATEC can make recommendations.
C. Two day rafting trip with Rios Tropicales - was exciting and relaxing at the same time. Food was great. I changed my itinerary after reading postings here that I should take this two day trip and I'm glad I did.
D. Bosque de Paz near Poas - It was too cold for us and we aren't really into birds. But the food is great there.
E. Grano de Oro - nice place to end the trip. Within walking distance of groceries and Mercado Central which I enjoyed.

lrjones

Fritch:

Thanks for the great trip report. We will be spending our last night at Finca Rosa Blanca. I've really debated on this hotel vs. Xandari. I will be traveling with my husband and two young sons. FRB seems to be very popular with honeymooners, but I don't know how well my kids will like it. Thanks for any advice.

Fritch

Thanks a good question. It's very isolated in Santa Barbara on a coffee plantation and is a great place to unwind - but from an adult's standpoint. I've stayed there twice and have not seen any kids - only couples. I probably wouldn't recommend it with children but then again the staff is very helpful and friendly and may have some ideas on what the kids can do while they are there. I think they have horseback riding.

JeannetteC

I'm debating whether to take the one day or two day rafting trip with Rios Tropicales. I'm worried that if I have to get up at 5AM and drive 3 hours to the put-in, I'll be tired by early afternoon and, by mid or late afternoon, I won't want a 3 hour return trip. On the other hand, some posters say that there's too much down time staying overnight on the river... half a day on the day you arrive and a long morning before you leave the next day. Why did you like staying overnight? Were the mosquitoes and bugs a problem like they are elsewhere? Thanks!

Jeannette

Suzie2

The 3 hr trip to the put in includes time for a great typical breakfast. You will be picking up other people as well which will take up some time. We always enjoyed the ride. We pulled over once to look at a sloth that had fallen out of a tree. it is also a good time to get to know your raft mates.

We loved our overnight with Rios Tropicales. It is a lovely lodge and we did some great hiking around there. Played around in a waterfall. If you want to relax you can do that too. The following morning we did some bird watching and then just relaxed while we waited for the day trippers to show up for lunch. We knew what was coming up that afternoon as we had been on the Pacuare several times before. We were conserving our energy.

As luck would have it 2 of the rafts flipped right in front of the lodge. Everyone survived to head out after lunch.

The food was unbelievable considering that it was hauled in. Our guide Tara was great and kept us amused the whole time. I would love to do it again. My husband and I were the only ones staying there that night so there were just 3 of us in the raft the next day through some very challenging water. There had been some rain recently and the water was up and moving fast.

I have stored away a lot of memories in my 14 years of traveling to CR. My overnight trips on the Pacuare are some that I will forever remember with a smile.

ps I don't find bugs and mosquitos to be a huge problem in Costa Rica. There are times yes, just like anywhere, but they aren't constant. I am down there for about 3-4 weeks every year and sometimes I don't use my bug spray at all.

JeannetteC

Dear Suzie2,

Thanks for your insight. I've read a couple of your posts and, although I can't recall the details, I thought you were adventurous. I'm still a bit nervous about rafting a Class IV. If I go in March, Rios Tropicales says the water will be "medium." I'm not sure how scary this will be. I've rafted Class III before and, decades ago, one or two Class IV rapids that scared me then!

Bugs in Costa Rica are funny. We went in June 2001 and the first two days we stayed in Vista del Valle (outside San Jose), the bugs were everywhere. They covered our mosquito netting completely and you had to wear shoes (first shaking them out) to go to the bathroom at night. At Lapa Rios a few days later, we were similarly inundated. Lapa Rios had brooms in the rooms to sweep out the carnage in the morning. We returned to Vista del Valle three days later and there were no bugs at all in our room! We wondered if they'd all mated during one week and then died. It was quite puzzling. However, there were still plenty of mosquitoes outside. So, I was curious if bugs were a problem right on the river...maybe not.

Jeannette