Costa Rica

Re: Costa Rica

• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  I would love to visit Costa Rica!  I don't know anything about it, so I can't really help with that. 
  
  I'd also like to visit Puerto Rico.  I think that would be a really fun vacation.
  

  Report0 Reply
• Swazzle member

  

  March 2014

  H and I are going to Costa Rica for our 1 year anniversary in May! 
  

  
  

  Before I did any real research, I booked an all-inclusive resort in Sardinal/Guanacaste. I'm 99% sure that I'm going to cancel this hotel, though, because it seems like a waste since there is SO much to do in CR. 

  
  

  My plan right now is to spend 3 nights in the Arenal area so we can see the Arenal volcano, rain forest, hot springs, and go ziplining. Then I would like to spend 4 nights on the beach in Tamarindo/Sardinal/Conchal just to relax and maybe do a snorkeling excursion.

  
  

  Our flights are to/from Liberia so we're not going to make it to Manuel Antonio. 

  
  

  THIS site has really good reviews and they can handle everything from your flights, transfers, and accommodations. I'm leaning towards booking through them once I cancel my current hotel. 

  
  
  

  Report1 Reply
• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  @CocoBellaF - Puerto Rico is a blast! From the research i've done i'm guessing Puerto Rico and Costa Rica are actually quite similar, but perhaps Costa Rica is a little less industrialized. If you do get out to Puerto Rico sometime you HAVE to go on a night time Kayak trip through the mangroves. They have something there called a Bioluminescent Bay which is amazing to see. As anything moves in the water (your boat, your paddles, fish swimming by)...the water around it lights up. One of the coolest things i've ever done!

  Here is the best picture I could find online of it: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/glow-flow-kayaking-eerie-bioluminescent-bays-puerto-rico-article-1.1126777

  Report1 Reply
• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  @allusive007 - that is so cool!!  I hope we get to go one day.
  

  Report0 Reply
• Peaseblossom55 mod

  

  March 2014

  @swazzle is going to Costa Rica in May

  We are going to Belize for the HM in June, Belize shouldn't bee too expensive as an option either.  In that area though May through November is rainy season down there as an FYI.  It came down to Costa Rica and Belize for us and we chose Belize because it was closer to the Mayan ruins FI has always wanted to see.

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  @Swazzle - There is so much to see in Costa Rica! You're heading to a different part of the country than we were thinking. I'm guessing if we love it we'd have to go back because there's just too much ground to cover in 7 days. Arenal looks awesome...i've actually been considering switching locations to go there. Maybe we'll do a couple different locations like you guys are doing...

  Report0 Reply
• Swazzle member

  

  March 2014

  @allusive007 - From what I've read, that seems to be what is recommended. We wanted to do the Pacific coast rather than the Caribbean coast because 1) I've never touched the Pacific Ocean and 2) it's more "Costa Rican" if that makes any sense. We opted for the North Pacific area because the flights were cheaper to/from Liberia rather than San Jose. 

  
  

  We're actually leaning towards renting a car while we're there. Arenal is 3-4 hours from Liberia and the Guanacaste beach area and this will give us flexibility with our time and getting from place to place. 

  
  

  I've found the message boards on TripAdvisor to be really, really helpful!

  
  

  
  

  If you're not sold on CR, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are always pretty affordable and they are gorgeous. 

  
  

  Also, check out the deals on TravelZoo, they have some really good stuff on there.

  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  @Peaseblossom55 - I do realize it's their rainy/green season. H and I are actually pretty OK with that...and July is not one of the highest rain months of the year, so we're thinking we'd take the risk!

  Belize is awesome! Are you staying on Ambergris Caye? My mom and I did a girl's trip on Ambergris and had a blast. Amazing snorkeling, fun restaurants...tons of excursion options. We did tour the ruins on the main land which were beautiful. I'd highly recommend a tubing trip through the natural caves there! We did a combined tubing/ziplining trip in the mountains one afternoon which was a blast. We didn't make it to the Blue Hole...but if you're a diver it's supposed to be pretty awesome to see.

  Report0 Reply
• KeptInStitches member

  

  March 2014

  Nothing helpful to have, but have fun!! I'm jealous - once life settles down a little bit, I've got to go on vacation (after visiting my BFF - haven't seen her in 3-4 years).

  

  Report0 Reply
• Peaseblossom55 mod

  

  March 2014

  @allusive we are staying at Matachica in Ambergris Caye for a few days and then staying in the interior for a few days.  We don't dive, but we love snorkeling, so we are looking forward to that a lot.  We also have cameras that go underwater for when we snorkel.  We weren't too worried about the rainy season either, so we're taking the risk.  Your girl's trip sounded like so much fun.  I can't wait to be on the HM.

  in another random new- the vases came that I ordered from save on crafts, they arrived in great condition and are perfect!! I can't thank you enough for reccomending that website!!!

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  @Swazzle - Flights into Liberia are actually more expensive for us. I'm so jealous of your trip! Thanks for all the tips and websites. I'm probably going to do some more research and see if we can do a 2nd destination for part of our trip. Corcovado looks pretty amazing...but it might be a bit far in distance.

  We'll have to swap info when we both get back so we'll know where to go for the opposite trip next time!

  Report1 Reply
• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  @Peaseblossom55 - I'm so glad the vases are working so well. You picked some pretty ones! I can't wait to see pics of your big day...it's so fun to see all the pieces come together!

  You should do the shark/ray snorkel trip. There is an area right off Ambergris with tons of nurse sharks and big rays. You can actually touch them. A bit scary getting in originally (you can't touch bottom there)...but nurse sharks really are harmless and it felt like a big accomplishment to do it. Then you swim a bit and you can actually snorkel the reef. We saw huge parrot fish, spotted rays, lots of beautiful colored little fishes...and (thankfully at quite a distance!) real sharks. Pretty awesome snorkeling!

  We had an awesome guide for all our trips (at Ambergris and inland). He's of Mayan descent and really knows a ton about the area, the plant life and everything in between! Here's his information in case you two are interested. He did a lot of private tours for the 5 of us...and it was pretty reasonable. He always had snacks and drinks on the boat. If you to give him a call, tell him you were referred by Megan "the one who called the Toucans on the river tubing trip". He might remember our group.

  Mark Cal, Belize Tours, mrk_cal@yahoo.com, 677-4663 (work), 665-2099 (cell). http://www.marksbelizemayantours.com/

  Ambergris can be pretty windy. Thankfully if it's windy there are fewer mosquitos! Take some good bug spray and a few good hair bands!

  Report0 Reply
• Peaseblossom55 mod

  

  March 2014

  @allusive007 the website is awesome. Thank you!! We want to do a few excursion the shark ray snorkel trip does sound amazing.  This makes me even more excited. We definitely plan to stock up on bug spray! Mosquitos seem to love me for whatever reason....

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2014

  @Peaseblossom55 - I am ridiculously excited for you guys! You'll have to post tons of pics when you get back. Now I want to go back to Belize!

  Report0 Reply
• Peaseblossom55 mod

  

  March 2014

  @allusive007 Will do! I can't wait for a vacation too. I wish it were now, lol. 

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• doubleSS07 member

  

  March 2014

  I haven't been to either Belize or Costa Rica but they are on the "to do" list. My BFF is actually going to Belize in 2 weeks so I can't wait to see her pics and ideas on their hotel. I'm leaning towards Belize though if we make a trip this year because of the diving. If you are looking towards the Caribbean I'd pick Jamaica over DR any day. We went to DR on our honeymoon, and while we had fun, the beaches weren't as nice and I didn't enjoy the food as much. I've been to Jamaica twice now and I love Negril. The water is calm and soothing and the food was better in my opinion. The only down side is there isn't much to do off property as a tourist.

  
  

  
  

  

  Report0 Reply
• Pepper6 member

  

  March 2014

  I haven't been to Costa Rica or Belize, but I have been to Puerto Rico, which we loved.  Also throwing another suggestion out there is Roatan, Honduras.  

  
  

  We were debating between Belize and Roatan (they are on the same reef, so the diving/snorkeling is excellent) and ended up finding a great hotel deal off of Groupon for Roatan, so that's where we went.  If you have it narrowed down to a few locations, definitely compare travel deals and let that factor into your final decision.

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• Swazzle member

  

  March 2014

  @allusive007 - I was just browsing getaways on Groupon and there are a bunch for Costa Rica! 

  
  
  

  Report0 Reply