doreenwol

Here is the plan - remember 2 adults and keep the 3 kids happy (9,12,14yrs). I would love any recommendations on this 9 day itinerary!
4/16 arrive San Jose 1pm
overnight in San Jose - wanted Poas
Volcano Lodge/Bosque Depaz/Peace Lodge
or Villa Blanca - but are expensive
Might do it if someone says its worth it
We were skipping Monteverde - so I
thought maybe one would be a subsitute
4/17 tour Poas/Lapaz enroute to Arenal
Over at Los Lagos or suggestion
4/18 & 4/19 - Arenal area
Canyoning if kids are old enough/hike/
Sky trek
Eco Termales or Baldi Hot Springs?
4/20 - head to Sarapiqui -
Centro Neotropica or Selve Verde
4/21 - Sarapiqui area
4/22 - head back to SJO via Aerial Tram -
Staying ?
4/23 - side trip to ?
4/24 - home at 8:00am
Any suggestions would be great!
Am I missing alot not doing Monteverde or
Manual Antonio (Don't need the beach on such a short trip). Assuming it will be busy because of Easter week?
Thanks
Doreen

sandyc

Hi,

Peace Lodge is very expensive -- but it's really something. Especially if you spring for the deluxe room. There are nice trails there and the hummingbird gallery and butterfly garden are really nice. Where I like to spend my first night or two is Rio Perlas in Orosi, also about an hour away from San Jose. It's lovely -- hot and cold pool, good food, trails, wonderful spa if you want a massage and not nearly as expensive as Peace Lodge.

Lots of things in Arenal for both adults and kids to enjoy. But I'd skip the tour to Poas. Arenal is much more impressive. I love Arenal Lodge, but your famiy might enjoy Arenal Paraiso more because there are hot/cold pools, swim-up bar, spa, canopy tour, etc. right there and it's still a nice, rustic style place -- not commercial like Tabacon. A horseback ride to the waterfall is a good tour.

Another place you might think about for adventure is Valle Escondidos in San Lorenzo. They have the highest and most open canopy tour, a wonderful canyoning tour, and you ride back on horses. You're surrounded by cloud forest, so you'll get to see it w/o going all the way to Monteverde. Food is good. Hiking trails, etc. My son & his friend loved this place and so did I. (We also love Arenal -- it's worth seeing both.)

You can't do everything in one trip, and I say you're not missing anything by skipping the beach. You can go to a beach in the states, but you can't go to a rainforest. You will all have a wonderful time.

Sandy

Melissa5

Arenal is a great place with your family. I recommend 4 nights in Arenal, which gives you 3 full days for your activities. We were there in June, rainy season, and it often rained in the afternoon but that was okay, we did our activities in the morning and were tired by the afternoon.

We loved the Lost Iguana resort in Arenal. Every room has a volcano view assuming the clouds aren't completely obscuring your view of the volcano. In June we saw lava flow every evening from our rooms at the Lost Iguana. Family enjoyed the Sky Trek/sky tram zip-line, and the Puretrek canyoning waterfall rapelling. If you're only doing one of these, choose the zip-line, it's cheaper and a better deal. The Lost Iguana can get you half-price tickets for the Hanging Bridges which we thought was a fantastic morning hike, we went slowly and stopped and looked and listened carefully, saw our first howler monkeys which my young adult kids loved finding on their own without a guide.

Also drove up to the Arenal observatory lodge one afternoon, hiked to the waterfall, and had the buffet dinner, and saw lava flow up closer. (We thought the Lost Iguana was nicer though.)



Have fun! Ecotermales was also fun and not too big. Had dinner there too and did the hot springs at the end of the day (in the day-time it was too warm for hot springs.)

nancygol

My family was in CR last summer and felt that the only place that we wouldn't return was Los Lagos It was full of tour buses and extremely spread out. The breakfasts were quite bad also. I really wished that we had stayed at Lost Iguana. IMO you could do better elsewhere.

doreenwol

Since last week I came up with a revised (I hope final itinerary). I mentioned not missing the beach, but everyone says its not just a beach and that I'm spending to much time in Sarapiqui. So here it goes, any new opinions. Remember to keep the kids
happy!
4/16 overnight at Bosque de paz or
Poas Volcano (not really enroute)
or any suggestion!
4/17 head to Arenal for 3 nts
4/20 head to MA and stay near park in
a bungalow for lots of wildlife for 2 nts
4/22 head to San Jose for 2 nts
4/23 take 4-1 tour and see Sarapiqui
for an afternoon instead of spending
2 nights!
4/24 home!

Sandyc - you mentioned Valle Escondidos
I'm assuming that is an area near
Pacuare River. I can't find anything
online as far as hotels, etc with
that name
Thanks everyone

doreenwol

This is tough. There just isn't enough time - I came up with 2 itineries - any suggestions?
4/16 arrive SJO at 1pm - Lapaz Falls
and overnight Poas Volcano Lodge
Rio Perlasini looks nice but
not enroute.
4/17 Head to Sarapique for 1 night
(float/hike/raft)
4/18 Arenal for 3 nts
4/21 Manuel Antonio for 2 nts
(do Los Angeles Cloud zip line
enroute)
4/23 - back SJO for 1 nt via Carara if
enroute
4/24 -home
OR
4/16 - head to Arenal for 3 nts
4/19 - head to MA 3 nts(LA Cloud zip
line)
4/22 - back to San Jose for 2 nts via
Carara if enroute -outskirt hotel
4/23 - hire driver for something
similar to the 1/2 day highlight
tour Poas/Lapaz/Sarapique
day trip
4/24 - home

Is the 3 1/2 route from Manuel to San Jose via Carara?
To much driving with the kids?
I believe I will hire a driver.

doreenwol

Sorry
Add to the above - 2 adults/3 kids (9,11,14)
Thanks