One month in Costa Rica?

Question

Looking for any information regarding staying in Costa Rica for approximately one month. Where to begin...What area is best? Enjoying the ocean would be a big part of it but would like to do as cheaply (if there is such a thing) as possible. There are two of us. Is there a secluded area with nice beach front? Hotel, apartment, small house, restaurants, getting around......Boy, anything you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Costa Rica for one month, AWESOME!!

I don't know how much of an adventurer you are but if you want to see as much as possible then you gotta bounce all over the place.  We only had 16 days so we were only able to stay in each place for about 2 days before getting transportation to the next place.

I went to two east coast beaches.  Puerto Viejo was actually pretty relaxing.  We had a cabin on the nice and calm beach.  Our nearest neighbors were about 50 yards away.  

Tortuguero was nice but we stayed in a big hotel/motel type place.  The cool thing was that we got to go on a Sea Turtle Safari.  We saw several sea turtles come to shore to try to lay their eggs.  

We visited awesome places inland like Arenal Volcano and Montevarde Cloud Forrest before heading to Manuel Antonio on the East Coast.  The beach in the national park was the nicest of the three beaches...  You can sunbathe as the monkeys, sloths, and wildlife play around in the background.  Awesome!  You'll probably get some at your hotel too.  

The beauty comes at a price though.  Expect to get the most tourists and crowds here.

Answer 2

Go to the book store and get Moon Handbooks.....Costa Rica.....$16 bucks.............sixth edition.........it has all the answers...........

Answer 3

We just stayed in CR for a week and I loved this country. I would go back in a flash...To be there for a month would be IDEAL!!!!

Here are my favorites:

We stayed in the Arenal Area at the volcano (Kioro Spa hotel). You have to bathe in the hot springs. The Kioro has their own hot springs, but if this hotel is too $$$ then go and use the hot springs at the TABACON Hot springs. Very cool place.  The whole area is so breathtakingly beautiful. Do a volcano hike through the rainforest and after that bathe in the hot springs. Very very relaxing!

Then we went to the Guanacaste area to be at the beach for three days. It was nice, but personally I loved the rainforest more. We stayed at the Hilton Papagayo which was beautiful.

Then we went to Quepos / Manuel Antonio area and stayed at the El Parador Hotel. Very COOL! beautiful beaches in the Manuel Antonio Park. Lots of wildlife.

If I had a chance to go back I would definitely do Arenal area (La Fortuna), and Quepos (cute town!!!) and do the rain forest Manuel Antonio   and I would add to go to the CLOUD FOREST in Monte Verde. Unfortunately we did not go there.

You can not go wrong anywhere in CR. Its all so beautiful and unique.

A month ...wow..you could see a lot....rent a car!!!

Answer 4

Take the time to go to the Osa Peninsula. It's a trek but worth it. Puerto Jimenez is a little, laid back town with all kinds of options for lodging, from expensive to next-to-nothing. Check this site http://jimenezhotels.com/   The owner is an American who has been down there for 20 years and is very helpful.

Answer 5

I got a ton of use and good information in the travel book "Costa Rica" by Lonely Planet.  One month eh?  You should have time to unwind by then.  Stay in some of the youth hostels.  Cheap and a lot of fun but pretty basic.  

Try the 'Wide Mouth frog' in Quepos or the Observatory lodge in The Arenal area.  I also like the 'Pension Santa Elena' in Monteverde.  Rent a car-A good one with 4 wheel drive.  Don't skimp here.  Roads are pretty rough with roughly 2 million potholes in the country.  If you can't handle that, take taxis locally and tpurist shuttles between cities.  Spend at least a week over at Arenal and Tabacon Hot

Springs.

Pura Vida mi amigo.

Answer 6

Jaco is the closest beach but the grossiest beach.

Domincal and Manuel Antonio are two beaches that are only an hour from each other. You could stay at hotel Manuel Antonio, ask for room number 1 its like $35..call and check for prices. Its on the beach. You could stay there for a few days but please remember restaurants arent cheap. They also have the national park and gorgeous beaches.

The carribean side is more rustic, homes are built on stilts and you should go to Punta Uva, and Puerto Viejo. Guanacaste is stunning. There is Tamarindo, expensive, Coco beach, ...

Mal Pais/ Santa teresa we paid $10 a night at casa germalas.

Montezuma and Lucys a cute hotel on the beach we paid $10 for 2...