Costa Rica Trip Report

The Gilberts went to Costa Rica this year and had a trip of a life time. We spent 2 week from August 15 - 28, 2009 traveling the country and getting off the beaten path. Our grand Eco-Adventure took us to 4 different locations around Costa Rica. We went to Sarapiqui – the lowlands, Arenal Volcano – La Fortuna, The Beach - Manual Antonio and the City - San Jose / Alajuela. Each location had something unique to do and see. Here is the Slide Show

We hired Nicole Engle of Absolute Cost Rica Experts to personally guide during our adventure. Nicole helped us plan the trip itinerary including, hotels, routs and tours. She took care of all the hotel reservations, booked the best local guides in each location, rented a Toyota Landcruiser and hired a driver, Alberto. Nicole and Alberto really took great care of us from the moment they picked us up at the airport to the time they delivered us back to the airport. Nicole truly took us off the beaten path and we were able to really get a good feel of the real Costa Rica. She seemed to know everybody in every location and knew all the non tourist spots. What was really nice was that Nicole was available day and night to take us any where we wanted to go. She provided truly customized service and was very professional.

On our first stop in Sarapiqui we did a 3 hours Nature hike at the La Selva Biological Station. We saw an incredible amount of wild life including: 3 toed sloths, poison dart frogs, several kinds of monkeys, Lot so of exotic birds including Toucans, giant crickets, butterflies and it go on. We were invited to eat lunch with two local families, aka Anthony Bourdain style. Our hosts were incredibly friendly and the food was great. This was a truly a unique experience.

At Trimbina we walked across Costa Rica’s longest hanging Foot Bridge on our way to see how the Coco trees are grown and the old style of turning the coco beans it into chocolate. Late the same day we hiked 40 minutes into the jungle to remote water fall and swimming hole called Pozo Azul. See the Video

It was an unspoiled oasis in the middle of now where. We swam and Ryan jumped off the 30 foot waterfall.

Our next stop was Aernal Volcano and the town of La Fortune. We stayed at Hotel Arenal Springs and our room directly faced the volcano. We took a guided hike to the base of the Volcano. Our guide Danny also know as the “Son of the Volcano.” While at the base we saw rocks erupting from the top and were able to hear the mountain breathing. At night we saw the red hot lava flowing from the top of the volcano. To relax we spent a few hours at Eco Termales Hot Springs. The hot springs are cascading wading pools that are feed by the heated river. Dinner was also included at the springs. It was a perfect way to end the day.

While in the rainforest we had to take advantage of high adventure activities. We went zip lining thru the rainforest canopy. The tour took us on 10 high wire cables thru and above the rainforest canopy. One of the cables was ¾ miles long and we zip at ~ 50 miles an hour! (Check it the video).

We also went White water rafting down the Balsa River. Since our driver, Alberto is an expert river guide, we rented the raft and all the safety equipment and put it on top of our Lancruiser. We rafted ¾ down the river and we pick up Pam for the lower part of the river. Alberto has his own White Water rafting company called Liquid Descent Costa Rica (CR phone 8361-2993 rogerstsm@Hotmail.com) and knows all of the Rivers in Costa Rica. I am sure he will help you plan an unbelievable What water trip

As planned we drove 5 hours from La Fortuna to Manual Antonio. We traveled down the Pan American highway stopped in a few local towns along the way to eat and site see. We stopped at the famous Tarcoles River to see the crocodiles and snapped a few photos.

After a long day of driving we finally arrived at our Hotel Tulemar. We were pretty tired and decide to relax at the pool. There was a 3 toed sloth hanging right above the pool, the kids name him Sole Joe. Nicole delivered Pizza for dinner.

Early the next morning, 7 am, meet a local nature guide Manual Antonio Park. We went on a 2.5 hour hike and saw the most amazing wild like. Our guide knew everything about all the animals. We saw Howler monkeys, spider monkeys, 2 – 3 toed sloths, butterflies, crabs, several kinds of toucans, dear, frogs, Caymans etc. Towards the end of our tour my wife heard a loud scream and wondered what was going on! The guided tour ended at Manual Antonio beach where Nicole had already set up a picnic lunch, beach chairs and a blanket. It was perfect. It turns out that Alberto heard the same loud scream and ran into the water to save a screaming woman. As he approached her a large crocodile surface behind the woman. The Crocodile was biting her back side. He rescued her and she was taken to the hospital.

Costa Rica, Quepos is world famous for fishing. Ryan and I charted a small boat to try our luck at inshore Rooster fishing. We had to be at the boat at 7am so Nicole picked us up and delivered us to the Pier. We did not catch a Rooster but check out what we did catch.

 While the boys were fishing Pam and Natalie had a girl’s day out and got massages at Serenity Spa. Later that night they went on a Jungle night tour. They saw all of the night creatures including: snakes, bats, frogs etc.

One afternoon we drove down to the local Manual Antonio local beach and parked the truck on the beach. The waves were big and we did some body surfing and boogie boarding.

Our last destination was Alajuela, a small town outside San Jose near the airport. On the 5 hour drive we stopped at a small artist town called Sarchí . They are famous for the colorful painted ox carts. We did the required stop and the giant tourists gift shop and picked up a few things. We stayed in a small hotel in the mountains which over looked the city. The view from hour hotel room was amazing.

On our last day Nicole took us on a walking tour off San Jose. We went to the heart of the city explored the Mercado Central which is the biggest market in Costa Rica. We walked and thru the Artistes street market where they had all kinds of hand crafted gifts. In the center of the city we went to the Famous Museo de Oro - Gold Museum . So much gold in one place! Later that evening the kids wanted some fast food so we went to the Local Taco Bell. It was the only air condition restaurant we eat in during our entire trip.

The next day we up early and Nicole and Alberto took us to the airport.

Here is our Itinerary

Day			Destination	Hotel	Activities
1	Sat	8/15	Fly to San Jose	Hotel Ara Ambigua	Fly Dulles – Miami – San Jose about 5 hours Arrive at 11:15 am Drive about 2.5 hours to Sarapiqui which is in the Northern Lowland region
2	Sun	8/16	Sarapiqui		Breakfast at a local - Dona Minerva Hike forest with a guide at the La Selva Biological Station (about La Selva) Hike Pozo Azul
3	M	8/17	Sarapiqui		Chocolate Tour at Tirimbina rain forest Lunch at Local Home Drive to La Fortuna next to Arenal Volcano which is then Northern Lowlands
4	Tu	8/18	Arenal Volcano	Hotel Arenal Springs	Hike of Arenal Volcano National Park Relax at the Eco Termales Hot Springs and had a great dinner
5	W	8/19			La Fortuna Local Swim hole White Water Rafting on the Balsa river See Lava at night
6	Th	8/20			La Fortuna Local Swim hole Canopy Tour - Zip line
7	F	8/21	Manuel Antonio the Beach	Tulemar	Drive to Manual Antonio which is in the Central Pacific region - 5 hours Stopped at La Iguana Restaurant
8	Sat	8/22			Tour Manuel Antonio National Park Picnic at the beach
9	Sun	8/23			Hung out the Tulemar private Beach
10	M	8/24			Off road to Manual Antonio local beach Shop for local handy crafts Jungle Night tour Fincas Naturales
11	Tu	8/25			Half day fishing Inshore fishing Pool Massages for the girls at Serenity Spa
12	W	8/26	Alajuela Central Valley	Hotel Buena Vista CR	Drive to Alajuela which is in the Central Valley very close to San Jose and the Airport Visited a small artist town called Sarchí which is in the central valley.
13	Th	8/27			Walking tour of Mercado Central and San Jose Visited the Museo de Oro - Gold Museum Lunch in the Oldest Soda in Costa Rica Dinner At Taco Bell
14	F	8/28	Fly Home		Fly Home from San Jose – Dallas – Dulles Fly Home