We're planning a 12 day get away to Costa Rica. Our unalterable limitations are:
We are using AA FF miles, so we have to fly into and out of San Jose via Dallas.
Yes, we know that early November is still rainy season. We don't have a choice of time frame, and we aren't concerned about perfect weather.

Here is our rough plan:
* Fly into San Jose and pick up rental car.
* Drive to somewhere around Monteverde for three nights. (Here we are interested in doing a canopy tour, horseback riding and some light hiking.)
* Drive to the Arenal area for three nights. (Volcano viewing, hot springs enjoying, more light hiking, and mostly vegging out.)
* Drive to the Central Pacific Coast somewhere for three nights. (More vegging, some beach horsebacking, a little snorkeling maybe.)
* Drive back to San Jose for two nights before flying out. (Most of our time here will be spent visiting with friends.)
The suggestions we are looking for are:
1- Is this circuit best or should we reverse it by going to the coast first?
2- Are we dividing our time correctly between the first three destinations? (If we can get our two sets of friends together for dinner on the same night, we may be able to steal a night away from San Jose for one of the other three destinations.)
3- Recommendations for specific resorts/hotels in the three areas. (Don't need help with San Jose itself and don't need sightseeing advice for San Jose.)
4- Recommendations for WHERE on the central coast to go. (Puntarenas? Caldera? Tarcoles? Jaco? Quepos?)OR should we consider a little further north around the Gulfo de Papagoyo?
Thanks everyone.

I'm topping my own post since there have been no responses yet.
Don't any of our SlowTrav regulars venture into Costa Rica enough to offer some advice? Or is everyone like me...focused on Bella Italia!
Out of desperation I finally went to Fodors to try there. Lots of information, but not as easy to wade through. Or maybe it is just because I'm used to the SlowTalk style of message board.

Deborah, I wish I could help you. I've been to Costa Rica but it was over 15 years ago and I know a lot has changed. We were with a group and did some travel by van but most of it was by small plane. We didn't go to the central coast or Arenal. We visited Monteverde, Tamarindo (Guanacaste) and Tortugero on the Carribean. All were unique. We spent about 2-3 nights at each location.

I just got back from dinner with friends. We met their neighbors who happen to have a vacation rental. It is booked for November but you might get some tips on the Central Coast. Check out Villa Helena.

Thanks for the reply, Marta. Thanks for the Villa Helena link, I'm going to go and check out the area now.

I too have been to Costa Rica,about 20 years ago. We spent our time in the Jaco Beach area
( 3 hour drive to San Jose ) and then 2 days in San Jose.
This was just at the beginning of hotels being built farther up the Pacific Coast. We certainly enjoyed it and have friends who have vacationed there more recently. They think it is a wonderful place to visit.

Hi Deborah, sorry I missed your post originally. I've been to Costa Rica twice in the past few years...oriented towards birding, of course, but we did stay at Arenal on one trip and Monteverde as well. In Monteverde, we stayed at Hotel Montana Monteverde which was quite lovely, the food was especially delicious and a beautiful setting with its own nature trails. I've also heard good things about the Monteverde Lodge; friends stayed there and liked it, but I thought the Montana had nicer grounds.

We didn't stay directly on the Pacific Coast but did visit the nature reserve at Carara and stayed at Villas Lapas. But that's not on or particularly close to a beach; its more geared towards birding and hiking and it seemed to have a lot of Costa Rican families on vacation.

Keep in mind that even though on a map it doesn't look like far between destinations, driving in Costa Rica is slow and the roads aren't great, especially in the mountains. Arenal to Monteverde is pretty much a full day's drive if I recall.

I don't remember the name of the place we stayed in Arenal, but I can check when I get home tonight. It was on the lake across from the volcano so had fabulous views at night, but if I recall the food was not very good.

Let me know if you have any other questions. You might want to consider hiring a car and driver who will take you from place to place, rather than driving on your own (that's what we did)--its not too expensive and much more relaxing (even though we've driven in Panama, Mexico, and Belize--and of course Italy, I don't think I'd drive in Costa Rica!) In the end the transfers didn't cost much more, maybe even less, then a rental (because you need to rent a four-wheel drive to drive to Arenal and Monteverde.)

Hi Deborah,

I have very little knowledge of Costa Rica, but recently I have had two owners submit properties; one of them is a house made out on bamboo, which is unusual!

I'm not sure if these are in the area's you are looking at, but click on the link below and enter the property number's into the search box.

497699
241094 (looks a dream place to stay in but the rates are a bit too steep for me!)

Hi Deb, we went to Costa Rica about 5 years ago. Did not care for San Jose, but we are not city type people. We only went to Manual Antonio for a week. Driving is a challange at times but you can do it . Sorry i can not help with the areas you are going to. And you will get alot of rain probably. We went late Nov. and got alot.

Stephanie dogma to Rosco and Zoey

Palm Springs vacation rental

The trip is finally set. Faster travel than I would want. But, since Costa Rica is so small, I'm trying to look at is as the same as just a part of Umbria..
We fly into San Jose and pick up our rental car at about 2 PM on Monday, 11/01. We are driving a very short distance to the Hotel Martino Spa and Resort. http://www.hotelmartino.com
Owned and operated by a retired Italian
Here we are going to spend the late afternoon and evening enjoying all the spa treatments we can get.
The morning of our second day we plan to head for Arenal Volcano. If the weather is such that we would not be able to observe the lava flow because of clouds, we are prepared to stay a second night at Martino and suffer through more spa treatments. If we do go to Arenal, we will be staying at the Arenal Paraiso.
Our third day takes us to a great little inn between the two rain forest systems of Monteverde and Santa Elana. It is called Hotel Finca Valverde. http://www.monteverde.co.cr
While here we will be doing a zip line canopy tour; several easy hikes; a horseback trip to a waterfall; and anything else that appeals to us.
Next we head to the Manuel Antonio park on the cost near Quepos. We will be staying at the Villas Nicolas http://www.villasnicolas.com
Here is more horseback riding (this time on the beach); sea kyacking; and snorkeling.
Our final two nights are in San Jose where we will be staying with friends.
9 years ago we hosted an exchange student when our youngest daughter was still in high school. We've never visited them in Costa Rica. So this will be a great two days.

We'll look forward to your trip report, Deborah! It sounds wonderful, especially all those spa treatments.

Oh Deb...the canapy tours are awesome. My husband had to do some talking to get me to do it but in the end i was very glad we did.

As far as Villa Nicholas, i do not remember it. We stayed at Makanda by the Sea. There were some new properties going in when we were there. Have fun!!

Stephanie, Villa Nicholas is right next door to Si Como No. We chose it because it is smaller, and quieter. And we can still go to all the great restaurants in the other resorts. We also liked the look of its spa services.
I'm having to drag my friend to the canopy tour as well. She is willing to do the Sky Bridge, but scared of the Sky Trek. I've booked a combo where we do both. I'm not giving her a choice! Plus, my husband considers this to be a scouting trip. He is in the middle of a big project and can't get away. But he wants us to go sometime next year, and he wants me to check out as much as possible now.
PS:
Steph, you should have been here yesterday. It was the National Finals for the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. Great fun!

Oh wow, the dog challange sounds like fun!! But the real question is....did ya have Steak n Shake. LOL Now why doesn't my Mom tell me when fun stuff is in St. Louis. I might come visit then .

OK, we ate at Si Como No one night....now i remember Villa Nicholas. Are you going to have a car?? Most of the restaurants are owned by Americans. Did not have a bad meal. I was just looking for my Costa Rica book but it is at home....it also has Belize which we are going to in late January for Greg's 50th.

Stephanie dogma to Rosco and Zoey

Palm Springs vacation rental

LOL, Steph.
My friend was here last week for a couple of days. She lives in CA. The first thing she wanted to do when she got off the plane was to go to Steak n Shake.
Of course, turn about is fair play, since the first thing I always want to do when I get off the plane in Sacramento is head to In and Out
Yes, we will have a car. We are most looking forward to eating at the first resort we stay in - Martino Resort & Spa. Italian owned and Italian restaurant with their own estate wine and oil.
If our experience is as good as we hope it will be, we will go back at the end of our trip to take my exchange student's family.

As for the coast, you may want to look at Punta Domenical if you want to veg.