Anonymous
Post 04/03/2015 11:13     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Not the OP but going to Costa Rica. Will we regret only exploring San Jose for one day?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2015 10:43     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Anonymous wrote:We stayed in the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma and LOVED IT.


And by "resort" I mean "yurt on the beach." It's an amazing place.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2015 10:42     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
We stayed in the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma and LOVED IT.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2015 10:37     Subject: Re:Costa Rica, 9 Days?
I didn't know weather could vary so much. Is there a preferred area of CR for May travel?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2015 09:38     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Anonymous wrote:Which airport? How much driving are you willing to do?

The classic itinerary if you fly into San Jose is (in any order that works for you):

Monteverde/Santa Elena for the cloudforest. Be sure to do a nighttime guided walk. The guides will show you beautiful bird sleeping in trees, scorpions, tarantulas, etc., and you'd never be able to locate those things on your own.

Arenal for the hot springs, volcano, rafting, horseback riding, etc. Splurge on a nice hotel with its own hot springs.

Manuel Antonio for the fantastic nature and the beaches. Definitely get the guide again (only use the official national park rangers) for the walk to the national park beaches. They'll help you spot and photograph wildlife that you'd never ever see if they didn't locate it for you.

If you have more time you could hit the west coast beaches and if you're more adventurous, the Caribbean beaches.

Enjoy! We loved very minute of it.


If you want to see unspoiled wilderness and wildlife, go to the Osa Peninsula. If you want to go ziplining, rafting, visit herpetariums, etc. this is a good itinerary.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 18:24     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Looking for a relaxed beach vibe and we don't surf...

Would we enjoy jaco? Or better to get to puerto viejo
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 18:08     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
OK, someone glossed over what 'green season' means. As soon as you step out of your air conditioned hotel room, you will be bathed in sweat and remain that way until you enter a pool, the ocean or return to your room.

Jaco is a cool surfer town.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 15:42     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Anyone have recommendations on the carribean side?
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 15:08     Subject: Re:Costa Rica, 9 Days?


Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens in La Fortuna/Arenal area is heaven on Earth. We loved everything about and didn't want to leave. We would have cancelled the next stop on our itinerary and stayed here longer but they were fully booked. Wonderful hotel with excellent staff.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 15:03     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Anonymous wrote:Anyone have suggestions for Jaco?

Is Uvita too remote to try to travel to during the green season?

Any experiences taking the buses?


We stayed at the Marriott outside Jaco last year. It is a good little town although we did not end spending much time there. The beach is nicer then the Marriott. Also, several good restaurants - our favorite was Graffiti.

Couple good dive bars to get a drink and watch the spectacular sunset - The Point Bar & Grill.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 11:56     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP poster-where did you stay?


Lost Iguana in Arenal and split our week between Arco Iris and Capitan Suizo. If you like resorts you might like Capitan Suizo but it's not huge.



Meant to say split our time in Tamarindo
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 11:55     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Anonymous wrote:PP poster-where did you stay?


Lost Iguana in Arenal and split our week between Arco Iris and Capitan Suizo. If you like resorts you might like Capitan Suizo but it's not huge.

Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 10:20     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
PP poster-where did you stay?
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 10:11     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
I'm the PP jealous poster. We went in dry season but know people that went in wet season and both were fabulous trips. I don't think there's a bad time to go. Please don't stay in a resort (definitely not an all inclusive one) in coaster Rica. There is too much to see and do and you will be doing yourself a disservice. Your kids are the perfect age to do all the adventuresome stuff. In Arenal, we did the following: zip lines, ATVs, rappelling (and yes we saw young kids doing it, much more fearless than I was), white water rafting (this scares me with young kids but depending on the level could be fine), hot springs, "safari" float (slow float down a river and they point out all the wildlife, much more my speed over white water rafting for kids). Might think of more later. In Tamarindo/beaches, we did surf lessons and jet skis.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2015 09:26     Subject: Costa Rica, 9 Days?
Check out Lapa Rios on the Osa Pennisula if you are looking for something wonderful and full of nature and off the beaten path.