Costa Rica Spring Break

[Anonymous]

Share your itinerary. Fam of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids 10 and 13). Planing on going over Easter break.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for... but here is a post of mine regarding our trip over spring break 8 years ago:

We went during spring break 2017 and stayed in the Pueblo Real Resort in Quepos (by Manuel Antonio) and had a WONDERFUL time. Here are some of my recommended things to do (though we were a family of 4 with a rental car, so we relied less on tours/transportation)...
- Loved, loved the Waterfall Tour with Paddle9 -- they took us to some great places!
- Had some fun meals at Rancho Leon and La Langosta Feliz
- Went to Matapalo Beach several times and really enjoyed hanging out with the locals
- Rainmaker Park -- my kids had so much fun on the suspension bridges and swimming in the river below the waterfall
- Driving up to Cloudbridge Nature Preserve -- we rented an SUV for this day, as we wouldn't have been able to make it up there in a sedan!

A few suggestions...
- Get to Manuel Antonio National Park early in the morning. (Seriously, be in line with tickets by 7:50am. We bought our entrance tickets the afternoon prior.) You don't need a guide. Just enjoy walking along the trails and head for the beach to see the Capuchin monkeys and iguanas. You'll easily see agoutis and deer along the way. Stop where there is a gaggle of people and you will probably see howler monkeys and a sloth.
- It is really hot and humid. Bring bug spray, water bottles, and a hand towel to wipe sweat in a backpack wherever you go.
- Be prepared for a long wait in the customs/immigration line when you arrive. We flew in that Sunday and had to wait almost 2 hours.
- They take dollars everywhere, but you will get a better deal if you pay in colones. (They definitely round up to their advantage when giving you the amount in dollars.) There are many easily accessible banks with ATMs that allow you to withdraw in either dollars or colones.
- Pick up some meals from the local sodas (fast food type places) and go get ice cream at one of the heladerias. There are several awesome pizza places and fried chicken places down there too.

[Anonymous]

Are you going to San Jose or Liberia? That’s the first decision. We went to San Jose and stayed at si como no at Manuel Antonio for 4 days. We did kayaking in the mangrove forest, a night tour, a guided tour of rain forest ending at beach, visited a butterfly preserve, swam in pool and at beach. Then 2 days at cloud forest at villa blanca and sort of just hiked around and explored.

I would have liked to go to the volcano area but we didn’t make it.

I have dreamed about going back to go to the oso peninsula but that’s more expensive and difficult to get to. But looks great, especially if you’re willing to take one of those tiny planes to get there.

[Anonymous]

We went to Tulemar in Manuel Antonio last year and it was literally our most relaxing vacation ever. We got a house (we’re a family of 5, so it’s easier than a hotel) and had them plan all our activities and arrange transport from San Jose.
I had been to Costa Rica before and had seen the whole country, but didn’t want to organize all that with the kids. We had such a great time and did: tour of Manuel Antonio, surf lessons, horseback riding, zip line, sailing/scuba.

When we went 20 years ago we did a bit of beach time in the west, Corcovado national park, Manuel Antonio, arenal/monteverde and then tortuguero. It’s an amazing country and the people are just the absolute nicest. Corcovado was our favorite part the first time, but it’s hard to get to!

[Anonymous]

Flew into/out of San Jose an stayed at the marriot hacienda the night after/before flying. Rent a car from there. Stay a beach resort somewhere. Drive all over the country. I recommend against an itinerary.

[Anonymous]

We are going in June but: flying RT to SJO. Two nights at the Peace lodge then five nights at Tulemar.