www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I haven't been to Costa Rica in more than 20 years, and the last time I went I spent my entire week at a fishing camp on the east coast catching tarpon. I was pretty ignorant about mongering then and so didn't partake while in San Jose at either end of my trip.

I've booked 10 days at the Sportsmen's Lodge in late January and my primary purpose for this trip is mongering. However, being 58 years old, I doubt that I will be spending 16 hours a day, 10 days in a row, in the saddle.

Since I've already arranged for the entire 10 days to be in San Jose, I was wondering what kind of day trips can be taken that will still allow me to be back at the SL to spend each night? Are any of the the ATV tours or canopy tours, or volcano tours do-able in a day? If so, where do I book 'em? I might take a working lady or two along with me if they wish, but I'm just curious about what kind of activities, besides mongering, are readily available for one-day trips.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.

I suggest a search on Prolijos extremely thorough reviews on the subject.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

Thanks for that advice. I've had time to read more of the threads on this board today and found quite a bit of the information I was seeking. I love boards like these because they make it so much easier to plan a productive trip to a new destination.
I've been going to Amsterdam the past few years, and my first visit there was infinitely easier because of the information and advice I got on a couple of Amsterdam websites.
CRT forums seem to be loaded with good advice from frequent visitors as well.

I would recommend the ATV tour. Cary the tour guide used to live in Amsterdam so you guys could compare notes

They will pick you up at your hotel and have you back by 6-7pm. ATVs are easy to ride (I had an automatic) and its less than a cnote for a great outing. Bring some warm clothes though as the tours are at 7000 foot level. I would not recommend you bring a lady with you though.

I have to agree. If you don't want to do an overnight, the ATV tour out of San Jose is about the best choice.

You can get to Jaco spend the day, and come back. It's a full day, but it's really nice. I've done it a couple of times.

Puntarenas is also quite nice.


A REALLY great way to blow a day is the Poas Volcano. If you take a chica with you, you can rent one of the cabins at the top of the volcano for like $20, and have an afternoon'er, on your way back down the volcano, followed by a decent meal and beer.

The treetop tours are nice too.

If you want to BLOW money, you can get on a plane and fly to tamarindo for the day.

Just some ideas. I've done all the above, EXCEPT the flight to tamarindo in a day, and had a really great time on each trip.

This thread made me decide to return to CR ASAP, so I'll arrive on the 19th. On the 21st, I'll head to La Fortuna for the weekend and hit the La Paz Waterfall Gardens on the 23rd. I had seen the website for that park before, but now I'll actually get there. If you have not checked out their website you really should.

_________________
Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

La Paz waterfall gardens is a great place to bring the family. In fact I would go so far to say that is probably the best family oriented destination in Costa Rica. They have an outstanding facility. The mini-villas at the Peace Lodge are well appointed, nicely done.

The facility almost has a Disneyland feel to it.

I am not sure it is the best place for mongers. I don't know what their chica policy is, but it can't be good.

Well, one of my daughters asked me to fly her into CR for the weekend and La Paz and Arenal are where she wants to go, so it will be a family / father daughter weekend. Of course I get to recuperate at ZB for a couple of days after she leaves before my own return to home.

_________________
Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

The waterfall gardens would be a great choice for that. Consider getting one of the Villas at the Peace Lodge.

There is a combo horseback ride and canopy tour up in Arenal that is great.

Also consider making the extra trip up to Cano Negro wildlife refuge if she is into a more natural experience.

I have been told the Fourtrax ATV trip in Arenal is outstanding.

Cano Negro is not supposed to be so nice during the wet season when it floods. There are fewer of the migratory birds there then, which is what you go there for (however, it should start to get better in another couple of months). Plus its way up near the Nicaraguan border and will take up most or all of a day by itself and you only have a weekend.

If its just a weekend and she wants to go to both La Paz and Arenal, you won't really need many activities to fill the time. An afternoon at the waterfalls, a morning stop at Poas before driving on to Arenal with maybe a few other stops along the way, an afternoon and/or evening at the hot springs and another day for some other activity such as the hanging bridges, zipline, horseback, canyoning, ATV or some other activity close to Fortuna with maybe some more hot springs afterward to soak you aching muscles. That leaves day 4 for your return to San Jose.

KC and Prolijo, you are both on target. We will to a horsie back ride, take a zip line caopy tour, hot springs and as many other things as we can manage.

_________________
Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.