Las Paz/Poas Volcano/Butterfly Farm/Barra Honda Park/Carara Park/canopy tours/Monteverde/Horseback Riding
Jan 6th, 2005, 06:58 AM
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Las Paz/Poas Volcano/Butterfly Farm/Barra Honda Park/Carara Park/canopy tours/Monteverde/Horseback Riding
Message: OK, so many decisions and I need help!
1) Is it too much to leave San jose in the morning - see Las Paz waterfalls and Poas volcano - and then drive to Arenal for the night? Or do I need stop somewhere for the night like Arguas Zapo because I won't be able to make it to Arenal before dark?
Is it even worthwhile to make the detour to Las Paz/Poas Volcano (on the way to Arenal from San Jose) - or will La Fortuna waterfall and Arenal Volcano - pretty much be a duplicate.
Should I go to the Butterfly farm in Alajuela instead of Las Paz and just go to La Fortuna waterfall instead?
2) I haven't read about anyone going to Barra Honda Park (near Nicoya) to see the underground caves - is it worth it to go to Nicoya (on the way to manuel antonio) just to see the cave?
How long is the drive from Monteverde to Nicoya? and Nicoya to Jaco?
3) Is it worth it to see Carara park? How far is the drive from Quepos/Manuel Antonio to Carara park?
If I want to get to Carara park early do you recommend acutally staying in Carara the night before - any suggestions where? or should I just drive from Quepos early the same day?
4) I am confused about zip lines vs. canopy tour vs. sky trek vs. aerial tram vs. sky tram....
are they all the same thing but different company names? or are they actually different adventures?
Any suggestions for the best ones in Arenal/monteverde/Manuel Antonio?
5) Is Monteverde a full 2 day thing ie. Cloud forest 1 day, sky trek/zip lines 2nd day - or is there enough time to do both things in 1 day?
6) Lastly, for now, how experienced do you need to be for horseback riding tours - 4 hours/full day tours seems a lot for a beginner?
Has anyone attempted the horseback option over the mountains from Arenal to Monteverde? Can a beginner do this without dying?
THANKS!!
1) Is it too much to leave San jose in the morning - see Las Paz waterfalls and Poas volcano - and then drive to Arenal for the night? Or do I need stop somewhere for the night like Arguas Zapo because I won't be able to make it to Arenal before dark?
Is it even worthwhile to make the detour to Las Paz/Poas Volcano (on the way to Arenal from San Jose) - or will La Fortuna waterfall and Arenal Volcano - pretty much be a duplicate.
Should I go to the Butterfly farm in Alajuela instead of Las Paz and just go to La Fortuna waterfall instead?
2) I haven't read about anyone going to Barra Honda Park (near Nicoya) to see the underground caves - is it worth it to go to Nicoya (on the way to manuel antonio) just to see the cave?
How long is the drive from Monteverde to Nicoya? and Nicoya to Jaco?
3) Is it worth it to see Carara park? How far is the drive from Quepos/Manuel Antonio to Carara park?
If I want to get to Carara park early do you recommend acutally staying in Carara the night before - any suggestions where? or should I just drive from Quepos early the same day?
4) I am confused about zip lines vs. canopy tour vs. sky trek vs. aerial tram vs. sky tram....
are they all the same thing but different company names? or are they actually different adventures?
Any suggestions for the best ones in Arenal/monteverde/Manuel Antonio?
5) Is Monteverde a full 2 day thing ie. Cloud forest 1 day, sky trek/zip lines 2nd day - or is there enough time to do both things in 1 day?
6) Lastly, for now, how experienced do you need to be for horseback riding tours - 4 hours/full day tours seems a lot for a beginner?
Has anyone attempted the horseback option over the mountains from Arenal to Monteverde? Can a beginner do this without dying?
THANKS!!
Jan 6th, 2005, 07:34 AM
#2
I will answer a few questions and leave the other to more knowledgeable people.
1. Yes,I would go to see Psoa and La Paz.
There are 5 waterfalls a tLa Paz plus a Hummingbird and Butteryfly Gardens.
Depending on just when you get your car and depart from the airport , you should be able to get to Arenal before dark.
La Fortuna is a nice waterfall but after you see La Paz,you could skip this (if time is an element.)
Arenal is totally different from Poas.
You might want to enjoy the Hot Springs at Tabacon and see the Volcano from the Hot Pool.
Have not done the caves because Iam sure I would get claustrophobia...they are pretty deep down,as I checked into this.
About Carara Park....The only reason I went there was to see the Scarlet Macaw... was I lucky enough to see them .."Yes"!!!
I do not blame you for being confused about the zip lines.
The Sky Trek and Canopy tours is the same (with some added features in Monteverde like a 360 degree Observatory Tower and there is no climbing ,you get lifted up !).
The Sky Walk...is the suspension bridges.
The Sky Tram...is just that,a Tram Ride.
You ride in an enclosed "container" with seating available inside.
About the Canopy Tours(zip lines), in Monteverde,there is an 11 platfrom one (and an observatory tower),and also a 15 platform one... in my opinion ,the 15 platform one is better( eg,more exciting.)
If you get to Monteverde in the morning,you can do almost all you have mentioned....what you do not want to do is to drive out of there at night.
Yes, you can do a 4 hours horseback ride.
The horese are well trained and slooow!!
I will stop here, hopefully other will give you better ideas.
Percy
Do not forget that the Canopy Tour is a "thrill ride",do not expect to see any animals or birds at all.
1. Yes,I would go to see Psoa and La Paz.
There are 5 waterfalls a tLa Paz plus a Hummingbird and Butteryfly Gardens.
Depending on just when you get your car and depart from the airport , you should be able to get to Arenal before dark.
La Fortuna is a nice waterfall but after you see La Paz,you could skip this (if time is an element.)
Arenal is totally different from Poas.
You might want to enjoy the Hot Springs at Tabacon and see the Volcano from the Hot Pool.
Have not done the caves because Iam sure I would get claustrophobia...they are pretty deep down,as I checked into this.
About Carara Park....The only reason I went there was to see the Scarlet Macaw... was I lucky enough to see them .."Yes"!!!
I do not blame you for being confused about the zip lines.
The Sky Trek and Canopy tours is the same (with some added features in Monteverde like a 360 degree Observatory Tower and there is no climbing ,you get lifted up !).
The Sky Walk...is the suspension bridges.
The Sky Tram...is just that,a Tram Ride.
You ride in an enclosed "container" with seating available inside.
About the Canopy Tours(zip lines), in Monteverde,there is an 11 platfrom one (and an observatory tower),and also a 15 platform one... in my opinion ,the 15 platform one is better( eg,more exciting.)
If you get to Monteverde in the morning,you can do almost all you have mentioned....what you do not want to do is to drive out of there at night.
Yes, you can do a 4 hours horseback ride.
The horese are well trained and slooow!!
I will stop here, hopefully other will give you better ideas.
Percy
Do not forget that the Canopy Tour is a "thrill ride",do not expect to see any animals or birds at all.
Jan 6th, 2005, 12:36 PM
#3
gailching
Did you post this message twice !!
You are probably having trouble like I do at times to post a message.!!
Percy
Did you post this message twice !!
You are probably having trouble like I do at times to post a message.!!
Percy
Jan 6th, 2005, 12:42 PM
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Plan to arrive at Poas between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. for a better chance of seeing the crater. From there, you aren't far from La Paz. Yes, definitely you can get to Arenal by dark and even stop to see other things!
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