My husband and I are celebrating our 30th Anniversary . We plan to go to Costa Rica in Oct.?

Question

After all the research I have done, believe the Osa region is where we want to visit. We want to experience the rainforest and also the beaches. Can anyone tell me where best romantic place to stay ?Also what is the best way to travel in country,ie rent car,bus ect.? Thank you for your suggestions.

Answer 1

You do know that october gets the largest amount of rainfall near the Oso in October? you are coming at the WORST time of year!!!! We had friends staying here with US at that time last year and were very disapointed that there were so few nice days! They did get to see some great mud slides though......

too bad you aren't coming down in Dec - March...the BEST times down here on the southern pacific.

BUT, you can get almost anywhere by bus...and they are cheap. You do NOT want to rent a car and drive from San jose.

You COULD how ever take a small flight, Sansa, that is right by the internationl airport in San Jose, and fly, for about $75. a piece to a closer destination (Pal Mar Sur is only a couple of hours to Osa). Driving from San Jose means driving through the city which is almost impossible for newbies!! If you make it through the city you still have two mountain ranges ahead of you...known locally as "the mountain of death"...for good reason.

If you fly Sansa (you can book that online) just know that you are limited to the amount of luggage....only 35 pounds I believe. But when coming here you should really pack lightly anyway. It's everyone's big mistake. You jsut don't need much. A couple of changes of clothing, nothing fancy, swimsuit and flip flops, walking shoes.

Dont bring any make up, hair appliances, iron, etc. You are just wasting luggage space on things you don't need nor will use.

keep all your fancy jewlery at home too.

Romantic place to stay? There is such a wide variety of hotels, hostels, B&B's...since you are coming during the OFF season you won't have any trouble finding a place. I'd suggest you make it to your destination then check it out from there.

If you were coming to my area, just North of the Osa, I could recommend some lovely hotels in different price ranges.

You could fly sansa to Quepos and rent a car THERE. In Quepos you will find the HIGHLY recommended national park, Manuel Antonio. It is a MUSt if you are wanting to visit a rainforest.

From there you can easily travel down the southern pacific coast without getting lost and being able to see and do a lot along the way....

Good luck and have fun. I hope it doesn't rain on your parade!! But, if it does, you're celebrating with your honey of 30 years, so just find a hammock and enjoy the beauty all around. Congrats by the way!!

Answer 2

The Osa region is long way from the Juan Santamaria Airport although you may take a local flight 45min to the osa peninsula
7 to 8 hours by car, but there are many rain forest regions much closer try volcano arenal area (it is active right now and very beautiful at night to see the lava flow) and is right smack in the rain forest and there are many romantic hotels in the area, to travel to a beach the nor then part Guanacaste are the best beaches. Yes by all means rent a car buses are not very specific hope this helps and may you enjoy my country

Answer 3

While I agree that Manuel Antonio/Quepos may be the most romantic spot, I would not advise travelling to Central America in October--unless you find rain romantic of course. This is the rainiest month of the year in most places. If you go in October go as late as possible in the month.

Answer 4

Costa is beautiful!!!! But the most gorgeous romantic place ever is Fiji!

Answer 5

I don't have any suggestions, but I do want to say congratulations for staying married so long. I hope I make it that far without killing mine! Hahaha

Answer 6

Hello, I hope this will help you to know more from Costa Rica,
I'm a travel Agent and Centroamerican too, soo I'm proud of my land and thank you for choose to visit a wonderful country like this!!!
be free to email me for more questions, at [e-mail],
or visit my web site
www.aatcheaptravel.com

Why Go:
Trip Ideas
Costa Rica:

Smoking or Non-Smoking?
Visitors to Costa Rica tend to be on the wholesome side. Too bad some of the country's volcanoes still smoke like chimneys.
Do you like your terrain smoking or non-smoking? If smoking's okay, take a day trip from San Jose to the Poas volcano. Hike the lush trails below the summit. Spy colorful hummingbirds flitting about the visitor center. If you're lucky, you'll see one of the crater's smoky, steamy mud geysers--it's been known to blow a mile high.

If you prefer your volcanoes dizzying, not smoking, try Irazu. At 11,000 feet, the summit is the only place in the Americas where you can see both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans at the same time. Pack a lunch and stop at the picnic tables just below the crater--don't worry; this one hasn't erupted since 1965.

Don't leave Costa Rica without catching a breath of fresh air in the Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Preserve. This is the best place in the country to catch a glimpse of the elusive and ethereal quetzal. You'll know the parrot-like bird by the two-foot long undulating tail--and by the trail of verklempt birdwatchers it leaves in its wake, overjoyed to have spotted this extremely endangered species.



Recommendations & Suggestions:

BEFORE YOU GO: San Jose


ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
-A valid passport is required for entry into the country of Costa Rica. Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa.
-Non-US citizens, please contact the nearest consulate or embassy of the country to which you are traveling to determine your entry/visa requirements.
-U.S. State Department passport, visa and travel advisory information may be found at www.state.gov/www/services.html
-Upon arrival in Costa Rica, you'll be given an Immigration Card to complete and sign. Be sure to keep the card in a safe place, because you'll need to turn it in upon departure from Costa Rica. There is a US$26 exit tax charged at the airport. Hint: You can pre-pay the departure tax at the airport the day you arrive to avoid standing in a long line to pay the day you leave.
-US citizens are allowed to bring back $400 worth of merchandise duty-free.

LANGUAGE:
Spanish is spoken in Costa Rica, but you will find that many people speak English, especially in the tourism industry.

CURRENCY:
-Currency is the Costa Rican Colon, which currently trades at about 420 colons to one US dollar (CRC$420=US$1).
-24-hour ATMs are widely available in Costa Rica and usually provide the best exchange rates.
-Major international credit cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants.
-Traveler's Checks are accepted at most large hotels and stores, but you may have trouble cashing them at local boutiques and restaurants.
-Tipping for service is 10-15%, although some hotels and restaurants automatically add a gratuity to the bill.
-Shops in resort towns are often open late to accommodate tourists.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION:
-Taxis from the airport cost about $12 to downtown San Jose.
-Rental cars are usually $40-$80 per day.
-It is highly recommended that you avoid driving on Costa Rican highways at night due to a variety of hazards. Road rules are the same as in the US, though Costa Ricans drive more aggressively. Most road signs use international symbols.

ELECTRICITY:
-120 volts/60 cycles, which is compatible with the US.

HEALTH & SAFETY:
-Use hotel in-room safes for your valuables and passport
-Just as you would when traveling to an unfamiliar area, consult any major guidebook or check with your hotel about any areas to avoid or precautions to take, and use common sense
-It is highly recommended that you avoid driving on Costa Rican highways at night due to a variety of hazards
-You probably won't have a problem, but note that some theft has occurred recently in national parks, involving hikers or their parked cars.
-Water in many first class hotels is potable, but you should confirm this with the front desk--if in doubt, drink bottled water.
-Bring sun block and drink lots of water in the Caribbean heat.

OTHER: Bring binoculars -- one pair per person. You will be glad you have your own personal pair of binoculars when trying to quickly spot a monkey, toucan, or macaw.

CALLING CUSTOMER SERVICE:
When calling Customer Service from Costa Rica, dial 0-800-0-114-114 prior to the toll-free number printed in your confirmation e-mail.




Casinos in San Jose


You can find casinos in most hotels in San Jose including Barcelo Amon Plaza, San Jose Palacio, Corobici, and the Hotel del Rey. There are also several independent casinos downtown in the Amon Plaza area. Dress for most casinos is casual or dressy casual.



Costa Rica Sun Tours
APDO 1195-1250
Phone: [phone]


The easiest way by far to get to Costa Rica's volcanoes from San Jose is to book a tour. Costa Rica Sun Tours runs regular day trips to the Poas and Irazu volcanoes, as well as many other adventure destinations. Custom tours can also be arranged.



Costa Rica Transportation Mini Bus
e-mail: [e-mail]


Driving in Costa Rica is not for the faint of heart, and it's difficult to rent a car in any case. It's best to leave the driving to someone who knows the roads well, like the drivers at Costa Rica Transportation. If you don't want to take an organized tour of the Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Preserve, you can hire a mini bus with a driver to take you there from anywhere in the country. Prices start at $99 per carload.



Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Preserve
3.6 miles southeast of


The Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Preserve supports an incredible diversity of animal and plant life. Lucky visitors might spot jaguars, tapirs, ocelots, and the majestic resplendent quetzal. The 2.5 million-acre park has many short day-hiking trails, but also has several huts for overnight backpacking trips. Explore waterfalls, rainforests, and gorges.



Ram Luna
5 km de la Iglesia de Aserrí


If you're in the mood for adventure, try dinner at Ram Luna, where diners defy death with every bite.

Ram Luna is perhaps the best mirador restaurant in the San Jose area. These restaurants are built by enterprising locals on the nearly vertical sides of the extinct volcanoes that dot the Costa Rican countryside. The food is fine, but what you'll remember forever is the view of San Jose twinkling below you as you dine--there is no better place to take in the vista than from the precarious cliff-side perch of Ram Luna.