Costa Rica for a week...?

Question

So, my boyfriend and I just booked tickets for a week in Costa Rica toward the end of May. Flying in and out of San Jose, but definitely want to see more of the country than just the capital. Any suggestions on must-see things/must-do activities, where to stay in San Jose, which beach towns are the closest/best -- and should we get a hotel for a few nights near one of those? How difficult is it to rent a car, or is there public transportation out of San Jose? Any information would be awesome!

Thanks.

Answer 1

To answer your questions/comments:   It all depends on how much money you have and/or are willing to spend.  Yes you can rent a car easy enough (expensive)!  I recommend not spending too much time in San Jose at all.  Buses do stop about half a block from the aeropuerto internacional Juan Santa Maria (SJO).  Take the "red" bus to San Jose.  It saves you a ton of money compared to taking a taxi.  Once you are in San Jose, then get a taxi to take you to "la terminal de autobuses que van para ______________."  (Fill in the blank of the city or town you may want to go to.)  I like (and recommend) going to the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica and staying in places like "Cuna del Angel" or "Villa(s?) Rio Mar" in or near Dominical.  Once situated, there or wherever you go, then you can always find out what activities there are/places to go, etc.  If you go to Dominical, try to see the "cataratas Nauyaca."  It costs ABOUT $40 but it's worth it with breakfast and lunch included with the horse ride to the falls.  You'll need to make reservations.  I believe that activity starts out about 7 or 8 in the morning.

Wherever you go, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.  Costa Rica is a beautiful place.  ENJOY!

Answer 2

I just got back on Friday from CR, and have been a few times.  This time, I went without a plan/reservations/or any cares for a very short trip.  BIggest problem I found was that is was high tourist season, and there were virtuallly no hotels in San Jose, in 3 nights I moved three times.

Renting a car was easy, they just needed a DL, Credit card and passport.  Brother and I drove to Arenal for a trip.  One of the most beautiful drives I've ever had in my life, and I travel extensively.  Drivers there are pretty aggressive and traffic laws are more of a suggestion, than rules that are followed.  The city driving is down right scary, but out in the country is nice, however at night the road from Arenal back to SJO become a major trucking route and can be Dangerous.  FInd a room in La Fortuna,enjoy and the hot springs and watch Arenal erupt at night, its really cool.  That is what I'll do next time, instead of driving back to SJO at night.

As far as staying in SJO, the Sleep Inn downtown is a nice, clean american style hotel with rates at 80 a night.  You in walking distance to Bars, restaurants and casinos, and the safe part of the picturesque downtown .

You'll have no problems finding taxis, and many of the guys can be rented for extended day trips.

Check out the Osa Penesula and the rain forrest, must do items!

Answer 3

I've been to Costa Rica twice . . . most recently for my wedding/honeymoon.  A week isn't alot of time . . . and you don't want to spend much of that time driving.  I personally wouldn't stay in San Jose at all.  It isn't very pretty and there really isn't much to see there except the historic theater and the gold museum.  You can do those in half a day.  I would just make your way to the pacific coast and stay in a small resort or cabana near the ocean.  Jaco would be the best place for low key inexpensive lodging.  It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive there from San Jose, and a VERY BEAUTIFUL DRIVE !!!  You could also go to Guanacaste.  I would recommend Brazilto.  It's off the beaten path but very romantic.  There's a litte hotel there called Hotel Brazilto.  It looks like something out of a Hemmingway novel.  No pool or anything . . . but VERY romantic and right on the ocean where you'll likely be the only tourists.  Manuel Antonio is awesome too . . . but that's about 1 1/2 hours past Jaco.  Manuel Antonio is probably the most beautiful place in Costa Rica in my opinion.  Think of Maui 50 years ago.  Totally untouched.

Answer 4

the country is small you can see pretty much every thing in 2 weeks. There is horse back ridding on the beach. YOU have to go snokling, so pretty. Also waterfall are a big thing to.  I when with a big group so I did not look at rent allot, but I do know that buses are very cheap (we rented a big Max buss.) You also have to try POPs ice cream (coffee ice cream the best.) Also I was two people nude at the beach so watch out for that

Answer 5

I am so jealous you get to go to Costa Rica! I just got back 4 nights ago and went for a week and it was amazing!! my favorite vacation I have ever been on by far! We also flew in and out of San Jose, but didnt stay there long at all. When in San Jose we stayed at the Hotel Europa. It was fine.... But the best places I went to were in Tortuguero, Arenal and Monteverde. In Tortuguero we stayed at a wonderful very un-developed place called  Vista al Mar Lodge. I loved it. It was on a strip of land between a canal and the ocean! Wonderful beach for swimming and also had poool!! yay! Anjd on the canal I saw animals such as tucans, macaws, crocodiles, monkeys and more. In Arenal I dont remember the name of the hotel off the top of my head, but it was a cool area. There are wonderful hot springs there! We went to the Bahldi hot springs in Arenal and you should definately check them out! There is a huge and activ volcanoe in Arenal that is very interesting. In monteverde we stayed at Villa Verde and it was a very cute hotel, no pool, but it was very nice. In monteverde, you should definately go to 100% aventura! We went there and did the canopy tour and the horse back ride! it was my favorite part of the whole trip. absolutely amazing!!!! I hope you have a really fun trip! I hope my information helped!!!!

Answer 6

if you want to go to a beach, go to tamarindo, in Guanacaste, stay at the hotel Coco Rico, small affordable, very nice, everybody speaks english in that town, and there is a lot to do there, you can get a room in that hotel for about  $ 70.00 a night.

also go to see a volcano, go visit volcan poas or volcan arenal, i do recommend those in arenal you can also go to the thermal waters, very nice.

i am from Costa rica, ask me more things if you like to know more, [e-mail]

i hope you have fun.

Answer 7

Go to either Osa peninsula or Arenal area.  You will have fun!!!!

Answer 8

here are my sugestion

for staying near the airport

Trapp Family Country inn

www.trappfamilycountryinn.com

hotel villa dolce

www.hotelvilladolce.com

if you would like to see the cloud fores then go to monteverde active volcano and hotsprings

you should go to la fortuna

check http://www.lafortunainfo.com/

for tours and hotels in la fortuna, the bus ride from san jose is only 3 hours