May 3, 2007
Summer travel plans starting to make sense: Costa Rica is looking better than Europe right now
Spirit Air has an interesting sale where some flights are 1 cent each (plus taxes and things).
When I searched for something that was more my style (New York's LaGuardia to San Jose, Costa Rica) in late July / early August the cost was $149 round trip (plus taxes and things). That's great!
It's especially great since my wife and I just spent hours trying to come up with a European vacation plan. We looked at London, Madrid, Prague, and more. We diddn't come up with anything under $3,000 for 9-10 days (including airfare for 2 plus the hotel but not meals and things). So if my writing seems sloppier than normal it's because we just spent hours looking at different vacation ideas.
I know at least one thing I have to do in Costa Rica is see the Arenal volcano and stay in the Tabacon resort there. Rooms with a view of the Volcano start at $245/night so what we save in airfare might get quickly used up on hotels... I have a few other tips but I haven't worked them into a real plan yet. I'll probably need help from a Lonely Planet Costa Rica or something. That Lonely Planet got mixed reviews but Let's Go Costa Rica has no reader reviews. Frommer's Costa Rica didn't do so well with the reviews either.
In addition to a night in San Jose and a few nights by the Arenal volcano, I'd like to work in some trips to the rain forest, possibly the Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Cano Negro Rio Frio boat ride.
I haven't figure out what will work yet. I do know that the Arenal volcano is pretty far away from San Jose so I'd like to find something in between.
Posted by James Trotta at May 3, 2007 6:51 PM | TrackBack
1) you don't have to stay at tabacon to see the volcano you can go for the day and use the pools etc.
2) I like the lonely planet guide i have used it for 3 trips and it has alot of good info
3) try to get to Manuel Antonio beach-heaven on earth
4) Get out of San jose ASAP
5) Monte Verde is cool but there are rain forests EVERYwhere and it is a long trip to get there..
check the buena vista lodge or the Borinquen(if you want fancy) up in Guanacaste/ Rincon de la Vieja and you can do the canopy tour--FUN have a great trip you'll love it!
Here is a good link for some really helpful people, who own a quiet place in the rainforest area between San Jose and the Pacific Coast beaches. I'm not sure if it helps, but we've loved working with them, so far. They know all about the country and reciprocity with many other hotels, including one in the Arenal area. They can also hook you up with private transportation, if you're interested.
http://www.amatierra.com/
Posted by: Roberta at May 3, 2007 10:35 PMI just returned from Costa Rica. Stayed at La Mansion Inn Arenal, right on Lake Arenal. Was about a 30-40 minute drive from La Fortuna & volcano, but we really liked it & it was kind of nice to be away from the beaten tourist path right near the volcano. We were supposed to visit the Eco-Thermal hot springs, which is a private hot springs that our hotel recommended as better & less crowded than Tabacon, but you must book it in advance. They dropped the ball and didn't book it for us so we went to Tabacon for an evening. Was nice, but yes was crowded. Next time, I would book Eco-Thermal hot springs myself in advance.
Our hotel also offered a tour of Selva Leone Virgin Rain Forest. They have special permission to go on these privately-owned grounds, so there are no other tourists there and you have the whole countryside to yourself. They took us across the lake by boat, then 2 hours on horseback, lots of walking, then more horseback. So there was no need to spend time driving all the way to Monteverde, which can kill at least 1/2 day I understand. We saw no one else save our guides...we were on private land. Got to hike to a waterfall and take a swim, too, and they cooked up a Tico barbeque for us. Required no driving, just a boat ride across the lake!
Posted by: Susan Keller at May 3, 2007 10:46 PMWow - it sounds like everyone here has had some great experiences in Costa Rica. Thanks for sharing. I'll certainly look into the hotels (and hot springs)you're recommending here and if anyone else wants to add something, please do!
Posted by: James Trotta at May 4, 2007 2:59 PMI went this past January and spent the week on Tamarindo Beach. It was beautiful and there was something different to do every day. We took surf lessons, got massages on the beach, went snorkling and ate some of the best fish I've ever had. The one thing you have to do when you go to Costa Rica is a canopy tour. We booked a day trip through our hotel to go to Buena Vista Lodge. The whole day package included the canopy tour, guided hike through the rain forest, natural spa w/ volcanic ash mud baths, a few trips down the waterslide (which was built out of concrete down the side of a mountain... Not so much fun for me, more like slightly painful) and lunch was also included. They also do horseback riding throughout the grounds, which we also did. It was an amazing experience that I would love to do again.
Posted by: Valerie at May 5, 2007 1:37 PMI spent 2 nights at the Tabacon Resort last August and it was a wonderful resort in the rainforest. The staff was great, the rooms were clean and the food was yummy. You get into the hot springs for free as often as you like while you stay there. If you stay at another hotel and just pay for a day pass at the hot springs, it's $55 per adult without food while you are there. So, consider these costs into the nightly rate at the Tabacon resort.
We also stayed near Tamarindo Beach and can't wait to go back and stay in that great little surf town.
Posted by: Jennifer at May 5, 2007 7:14 PM