Costa Rica Travel Expert Wanted?

Question

I have a trip planned to Costa Rica in December and wanted to get feedback on my schedule as I have limited time there. Also had questions on how to get from one place to the next and if I need advance planning?

Dec 25 Arrive at 10AM San Jose---Somehow get to Arenal. Suggestions on transportation?

Dec 26 Arenal

Dec 27 Arenal

Dec 28 Arenel to Monteverde How do we book transportion?

Dec 29 Monteverde

Dec 30 Monteverde

Dec 31 Monteverde to San Jose in the morning and flight leaving out of San Jose at 5pm

Other questions. Can we fit in a third city? Is that too much time in Arenal or Monteverde?

Thanks

Answer 1

Some people think in rent a car but we do not have well mark our street this is dificult to do, that if you dont know, i think is better get a private transport and live out the hassle.

Answer 2

what our family did was rent a car, it saves a lot of money and it is is beautiful scenery once you leave the san jose area. From San jose to arenal is a 2lane road that is windy as crap and has many hills! but the scenery is magnificent. green green green! it is a long drive but not too bad, about 3-4 hours? However, Arenal is AWESOME, when we were there in july, we could watch the volcano erupt while we slept, it is really a great site! we stayed at the el paraiso. it is a ways up the road from the town. I hope you have activities planned! We did an activity every other day as a whole family, it worked perfectly becuase you really get poo
ped and all the buses to come pick you up come before 8 am becuase the afternoon rains come at 1 or so.

We didnt visit monteverde so i dont know about transportation but once again, since you are returning to san jose, there are many many car rental places very close to the airport! Our trip was planned with www.jdwatersports.com and everything was PERFECT, read the section http://www.jdwatersports.com/travel.htm it has many tips and talks about the transportation, good luck and make sure you have everything planned, you do not want to get stuck in san jose trust me!



*** by the way, dont let ANY object out of your site, i got my cell phone stolen and it was used by someone to make international calls to canada. Dont think for a second you can trust the people there that arent employees of something big. It is unnerving when you finally set foot into costa rica becuase there are so many people trying to get you to get a cab, DO NOT get in a cab that is not a costa rican cab owned by the government. i tlaked to a woman there that the first day she got in a cab her and her friends were robbed and one was stabbed in the hand.

Oh to answer the other questions, it really isnt the amount of cities it is the activites. on the 25th you are going to get to arenal late in the day and want to unwind, the next day you should have an acitivty planned, maybe the zip lines or the volcano tour, the 27th you will probalby want to just rest and go in the springs at night and get packed, the 28th you will drive all the way to monteverde. again you wont want an acitvity that day, 29th plan something like horseback? i dont know the area though. 30th you should do the best activity in my opinion, White water rafting! so awesome! its an all day thing, then 31 you leave early and get back to san jose! do not try for a 3rd city!

Answer 3

If you want a nightlife... fly to Panama City for a day or two!

If you rent a car... keep everything out of site, including the stereo! Even if there is a "security guard" in the parking lot. AND... learn to drive like a local! Horn and all!

Have fun! It's great down there!

Answer 4

use grayline or interbus, shuttle buses that travel between all opf the maqjor tourist towns.
you should book a jeep-boat-jeep taxi service- about USD20p.p- across lake arenal to monteverde:

http://monteverde.typepad.com/monteverde/home/index.html

http://costa.rica.typepad.com/la_fortuna/home/index.html