Costa Rica Anniversary Trip???

[KLC77]

FLgator, don't worry about butting in. The more info the better! Keep it coming ladies. And thanks...

[*Lo*]

We also rented an SUV and I agree it is a must. The roads we travelled on were all paved though so it worked out. My FI LOVED the driving he felt like a racecar driver on all the hilly turns.

 

We made the trip from San Jose to Villa Caletas in about an hour and 20 mins. Then it was about 3.5 hours to Arenal from there. Then it took 2.5 to get from Arenal back to San Jose airport. The distance actually isn't far it's just that you have to travel no faster than at the most 40 Mph. The driving trips though are interesting because you pass through towns and it's a great scenic trip!

 

I recommend going to Arenal/La Fortuna for sure!

[nylalany]

We're going in 9 days - doing overnight river-rafting, staying at Pacuare Jungle Lodge, and then 5 nights at Florblanca Resort in Santa Teresa (Mal Pais area). We also looked into Lapa Rios, but didn't have enough time for everything. If anyone has any suggestions for where to stay in the San Jose region , as flight schedules are necessitating 3 (brief) nights there, please share!

[nylalany]

Just looked at Royal Corin though - it does look pretty swanky! I'll keep it in mind for the next trip if we make it to Arenal.

[Ask.CostaRica]

In San Jose, definitely Grano de Oro (25 min fromairport), it is one of the prettiest boutique hotels we have. Excellent CR fusion food! Superb service. I dine there once a month (sunday brunch). Lots of photos in hallways to see what Cr was like in the early 1900's.

[Ask.CostaRica]

lylalany,

 

I just noticed that you will be in San Jose for a few nites. Definitely go to the Mercado Central (8min) and have breakfast Gallo Pinto, fresh cheese and tortillas, a coffee tour (Cafe Britt), dinner at la Cascada (in Escazu 15-20min taxi - $10), not much for decor but a restaurant that is practically National Patrimony. A day trip to Irazu Volcano and lunch at Linda Vista or down below Restaurante 1914.

[FLgator]

Ask.CostaRica - I know the green season begins in May. I don't mind short periods of rain as long as it is dry enough to enjoy the outdoors for a good part of the day, so would you advise against going to CR in May or June?? Are there certain areas to avoid during the green season? We would like to rent a car, but I am worried about encountering washed out roads during those months. Thanks!

[Ask.CostaRica]

FLgator,

 

Don't worry, usually the strength of the rainy season is later (after august). Actually the nothern part of the country is barely starting to receive rain. You may encounter more in the Central Pacific area but nothing like washed out roads etc. This happens in September when we (locals) flock to the Atlantic Coast (bone dry). Don't worry, you're good to go!

[binzer]

Someone already mentioned Rancho Pacifico, and although I've never been there, I AM having my wedding there in less than a month, so I'll let you know how it goes! After a week at RP we're going to Issimo Suites in Manuel Antonio for a few days, and I think it's going to be really nice (quieter and more private than the other places in Manuel Antonio).

 

If you want to go up North, I would recommend the Mal Pais area since a lot of Guanacaste is getting pretty touristy and busy. I chose to get married at Rancho Pacifico because I wanted a quieter more "untouched" area, not to mention that I love the rainforest! I also like that it's fairly luxurious (double showers, small private pools) but not phony or ostentatious. We can also still make easy daytrips to the beach, and do any activities we want (horseback ride, atv tours, zipline, scuba, raft, etc etc).

 

Do you have a nightly budget in mind, and what amenities are important to you? What activities are at the top of your list?

 

Anyways, tripadvisor is your friend! Make sure to read through the individual reviews since a lot of the time the top ranked hotels are not necessarily the best!

 

Also, the Galapagos islands are awesome, so go if you can! The amount of wildlife really is ridiculous...it's just like on tv. I went when I was working on a sailboat, so I'm not really sure how to get there as a regular tourist :S My guess is, it's very expensive!

[nylalany]

Ask.CostaRica - Thanks for the suggestions. We're actually staying at Grano de Oro before and after our overnight rafting trip. We get in too late the first night for dinner (our flight arrives at 8:40 PM), but I do have dinner reservations for when we get back from rafting, so hopefully we'll enjoy the restaurant there. They only had standard and superior rooms available though, so we're not luxing it there. We have a flight the following morning around 10:30, so we won't have time to see any of the San Jose area.

 

Even though I'm leaving on Friday, I'm still confused about where to stay on our last night (a week from Saturday). We arrive on a Sansa flight from Tambor into San Jose around 3:15 PM, but then we have a ridiculously early flight home at 7:15 the next morning.

 

Have you heard of the new boutique hotel, Beacon Escazu? I booked that, but then read afterwards that Escazu is 30 minutes from the airport. If we have to be there 2 hours before, we'd have to leave between 4:30 and 4:45 in the morning to get there. So I'm not so sure. Now I'm thinking maybe the Hampton Inn even though it would be so depressing for our last night, or maybe the Doubletree Cariari Hilton, which works out to the same price w/shuttles as the Hampton Inn, and might be nicer. Do you have any other suggestions or comments on these? tripadvisor just confused me more b/c the San Jose area is so vast and the travelers to Costa Rica are very varied in expectations and desires.

 

binzer - did you go to Mal Pais at all? We're spending 5 nights in that area. Btw, Rancho Pacifico looks great - I can't wait to hear about your wedding.