We are a retired couple, travelling to Costa Rica and Panama March 2025. We have 3 weeks and would like to spend 1 week in 2 Costa Rica locations, then one week in Panama on the canal. Panama will be planned later on…. We have not made flight reservations so are open to flying into any city.
My questions are
1) we want to spend each week on water, be it a lake or the ocean. We need to be close enough to a town/city to walk there for dinners and exploring ‘old town’
2) we are interested in wildlife tours, want to see the Arenal volcano, enjoy kayaking, light hiking, so possible one week in La Fortuna area?
3)we would prefer to rent an apartment or Air B&B as opposed to staying in a hotel
any kind suggestions as to where to spend each week and which airport to fly into would be helpful

We like the Arenal and Manuel Antonio areas. We fly into SJO for those.

Never been, but going first time with my cousins, who were there last year. They are beach people, so they suggested Tamarindo. They got us a place using vrbo, a few minutes walk to the beach, restaurants, and bars. We plan to also check out at least one volcano . . . I think the closest one is Rincon. We'll be flying in and out of Liberia airport. We're going mid-February, so too late to report back to you.

We ar flying into Liberia, so would rather a place within a few hours of there. We are looking at the Manuel Antonio area for week 2 as will be flying SJO to Panama for week 3. Where did you stay in MA?

Surfer girl We also looked at Tamarindo but it sounds a bit too ‘party hat’ for us old folks. Also flying into Liberia.

We like Tulemar Bungalows in Manuel Antonio. Lots of wildlife on site like sloths and monkeys, and they have their own beach. Lots of good open air restaurants nearby that you can walk to. You just have to be careful along the road.

Volcano girl ..thank you.Tulemar looks beautiful, perhaps we will consider for week 2.

It is really beautiful; we've stayed in three different styles of villas there and enjoyed them all. I'd opt for one with a balcony if you can.

My two recommendations without knowing your budget for manuel antonio would either be Villas Oasis, gorgeous rooms, highly recommend. I know you'd prefer not to stay in a five star but this hotel is super nice as well Arenas del Mar, we stayed there for a reunion and the views are amazing. I have stayed at some others but they were on main roads and can be a bit loud. Let us know where you stayed!

We have been to CR 3 times plus recently a stop on a cruise ship. La Fortuna area is a great spot to stay for hot springs, rafting, wildlife, hanging bridges, zip lining as well as the volcano & lake. We stayed at Los Lagos which had great hot springs as well as La Paraiso which also had hot springs but a bit rustic. We stayed in the Guanacaste area but the ocean there is the Pacific so not that clear. We loved staying at Puerto Viejo which is on the Caribbean & had great wildlife. Our favorite was 3 nights at Tortuguero with guides Fran & Modesto Watson. Don't know if they still guide but are the original guides for there. It was fascinating. Manuel Antonio is over rated I think so wouldn't spend much time there. So much to see in CR so no matter what you choose you won't be disappointed.