ronsat

We are arriving at San Jose airport at around 2:30om - and are wondering:
- which is the best route to La Fortuna
- is there a good place to stay on route, say, about 1 hour along the way.

Thanks

ronsat

Also, do you really need an International Drivers License?

hsmithcr

You do not need an international driver's license.

For a place to stay, I recommend Airport Hotel B&B - www.margarita.cr.com. It's about half an hour from the airport in the direction you will be traveling. Once you leave the Alajuela area, there's not much. You might find something in San Ramon which is about an hour away but it is not a tourist area. Also try www.hotelbuenavistcr.com

volcanogirl

I don't know your budget, but Xandari is a nice spot for the first night. www.xandari.com. We usually go straight from SJO to Arenal though.

Hoyas

We took the road up to Arenal from San Ramon and it worked well. Remember it is dark by 5:30 pm, so by the time you get your car etc it may be a bit late to start driving. We stayed at the Marriott near the SJO airport and drove to Arenal the next day. Arenal was dormant as of 2 weeks ago.

CostaRicaGuides

You can also stay at hotel vista del valle closer to San Jose but on the way to Arenal, it is a very nice property as well Lands is Love in Bajo Rodriguez.

JimiToucan

You should be able to make San Ramon before dark.

One place to stay is La Posada in San Ramon. Hwy 1 to San Ramon, RT on the one way street to Arenal, watch for signs to La Posada. Turn LF at the sign La Posada, half way up the block on LF. Price is cheap for what you get. Good breakfast. Carpets, rare in CR, Big Screen TV, also rare, and check out the doors. Every one is different and hand carved. Locked gate parking.

If you are looking for a place to stay in Arenal, La Fortuna, take the road north toward Arenal and just after you get out of La Fortuna, maybe 1 km, keep an eye out on the right for Villa Vilmas, small sign, clean, very nice, pool, spa, reasonable. Vaca Muca resturant is just south across street.

Have a great trip. We're leaving on Jan 27 for two months.

ronsat

Thanks for all the info. Seems like San Ramon will be our first stop.

Pat_Hewitt

I agree that you should stay the first night near the airport. Figure that you arrive at 2:30, and have to get through customs and immigration. This can be quick or insufferably long, depending on what other flights are arriving at the same time and how big they are. So figure an hour after landing, before you go to the offsite rental car office to start that process.

It will be at least 4:00 PM before you hit the road, and will certainly end up on the road after dark. Are you sure you want to drive in a foreign land at night, after a full day of travel?

What if your flight is delayed, and you get in late? Are you prepared to start a 3-4 hour drive at 7:00 PM?

There are lots of hotel choices near the airport. You can save the price of a day of car rental too.

I really like Orquideas Inn, a hotel that has many favorable reviews in this forum. Good restaurant, friendly open air bar, happy staff. You can start fresh the next day.

Plus if you are driving in the daylight, you can take the scenic route to Arenal. The San Ramon road is the quickest way to Arenal. But I think the road through Grecia, Sarchi, Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada is one of the prettiest in the country. In this case the old cliche about the journey being as important as the destination certainly applies. I have made this drive dozens of times, and still enjoy it.

Hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer any more advice.

Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
Travel Professional

Shooie

I agree with Costarica Guides--either Vista del Valle or Lands in Love are on the way. I'd have the car rental company bring the car to the hotel the following day and save the hassle and a day's car rental. (Lands in Love might be too far from the airport for that.)

DMary

Pat: we have a rather large group - all family - traveling from SFO, LAX, SAN and PHX to San Jose, CR in late March - we're planning to visit Arenal and then down to the Zancudo Lodge for some R&R and fishing.
Question: Should we hire a driver/Bus or rent a car for our trip to Arenal from San Jose and back?