www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Blue Devil...you might want to update your intel on those flights to Limon. During the height of dry/high season, I was told by both airlines they no longer service Limon. It was still on their site, but no reservations possible. For a time they were even going to Bocas from there. Not sure what happened for sure. A gentleman at Sansa I talked to on the phone said something about unsafe petrol for planes landing there...but that may have been a cover for other reasons. I sure wish someone WOULD fly there though. It's my favorite part of CR...and would make it more easily assessible from Panama ...

If you have recently confirmed differently, I would like to know about it. Thanks.

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All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...

Your intel is probably more up-to-date than mine. A schedule on Nature Air's website shows 4 flights a week to and from Limon (to Pavas) through May - August and November, and 3 flights per week during September - October.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

I made 2 trips tp PV once with a woman and once without in the months of September and february respectively.

The beaches are divided between the white beaches east of town and the less attractibe black beaches within town.

First time I stayed at Las Palmas east of town. A nice place on the beach run by a German/Czech couple. Wellactually the service was poor and the tv kept breaking down. Also the ride into town was 25 minutes over a truly terrible road. Still the beach was beautiful. I overheard the owner telling his friends that the govt refuses to maintain the ropad because they want that area to return to wilderness.

Later at the Perla Negra closer to town , no tv or refrig and run by strict Germans who seemed to always get in my face.


Puerto Viejo itself is pretty funky. Lots of young American, Canadian and Europeans there. A great place for a young person to phjilosophize and maybe find himself. They live in cramped quarters for $8 a night and earn some money doing chores.

The town has:

- Movies shown in an outdoor beer garden

- A really good Italian Restaurant run my a native Italian woman who does the home cooking. ( Second floor balcony in downtown area)

- Various tours.

The only " gas station " in town is some Rastarfarian guys backyard. He drains the gas from an elevated steel tank and then pours it into your tank.

I didn't notice any Chica scene but I wasn't looking. My strategy is to indulge in San Jose when I arrive, head for a beach to relax and then return to San Jose for more action.

Anyway good luck,

Wayne

PS I think the trip is more like 3 hours than 4.

3 hours by rental car. Of course longer by bus.


Great Reggae at the Central

I think I am going to make that trip by rental car next from san jose, any recomendations, car rental, places to stop on wa their , roads to take etc.
Only in CR for a week, hope 3 days is enough for this side trip.

As I recall I used Dollar last time and no problems at all. I've used 3 or 4 of the major car rental companies over the last couple years and all of them worked find. The only recommendation I would make is pay the extra couple dollars a day and have the rental company stick a GPS unit in the car. On my trip to Puerto Viejo it was invaluable and I'm sure saved me a bunch of time....especially if you're just going for 3 days...that is not a lot of time .

I found Payless a better deal than Dollar last March


But what if the car breaks down far from San Jose ???

I spend 3-4 days per month in Peurto Viejo.

Take the "old road" = Cartago to Turrialba and then to Siqurres. It is one of the most scenic routes in Costa Rica and a lot less hassle. The trucks and busses to Limon will drive you crazy.

Watch out for speed traps. I got "radared" a couple of times at 110 in a 60. Of course they always stake out the flatest and fastest section of the highway. I offered a $40 propina for making me aware of my "excessivo velocidad" but he wouldn't accept it. Turns out the ticket was approx. $20.

From Puerto Viejo drive south, down the dirt road to the end. Have a couple cold ones at Maxi's. Keep going until you come to a small river, park and ford the river on foot. It's spectacular! Bring your camera.There will be an old fart with a machete telling you parking is a mil. Yeah right!

This is my favorite spot in all of Costa Rica. Up on, I forget the name, Mary's Hill maybe? Truly feels like the end of the earth.

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

Bigbossman72

Last May you wrote you were going to go to Puerto Veijo. Did you go? What did you think of it? Where did you stay?

I see the area as very rural, rustic and more in line of what you think of when you imagine a third world tropical seaside village.

Yes, I went.

I recall it being very rainy and hot but the folks at the place I was staying at (forget the name) were super nice and the days were spent drinking and what not, afternoon nap, nighttime party again. I was traveling solo, but they took me under their wings

Not much for mongering. Others have suggested bring someone along from SJO if you can - would have been a good thing for me to do, but newbie I was I didn't think clear enough.

The town itself is very much laid back. There are beaches and forests to check out near, but that just wasn't on the agenda for me. I didn't want to exert too much, just chillin' in a hammock was perfect for me.

Not sure if I would go back ... the trip there is 4-5 hours from SJO each way. The flight from me to get from NYC to SJO is 5 hours, so it really depends upon how much time you have in CR.

There were some restaurants there - hit or miss, nothing superb but nothing terrible either. It is CR, after all.

So, in conclusion, if you have the time, the girl, and just want to relax someplace, Puerto Viejo is a nice place to be.

Thanks for letting us know.