7 days in Costa Rica, where to go? Bought Air/Hotel package, home base will be hotel in San Jose?
February 23rd, 2010 | 
Author: I’m headed out the first week in October. After doing a lot of reading, I see that renting a car is probably not the best bet. Can anyone recommend an itinerary that would allow me to see some beautiful parts of Costa Rica on day trips outside of the city? Also, how much does a private taxi cost for the day?
Many thanks in advance for your answers!
sorry that you bought the air/hotel package…..cuz the airport is in Alajuela for one and also San Jose is just another big city…you really don’t need a taxi…the bus is the way to go…where to go depends on what you want to see?!….Poas isn’t very far and it could easily be done in one day…also check out hatchedtoflyfree.org….go and see the macaws…they are very endangered……one moe thing—check with the place you are staying at..i am sure they will have lots of information on what you can see and most will have hotel pick ups
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Posted in costa rica packages
sorry that you bought the air/hotel package…..cuz the airport is in Alajuela for one and also San Jose is just another big city…you really don’t need a taxi…the bus is the way to go…where to go depends on what you want to see?!….Poas isn’t very far and it could easily be done in one day…also check out hatchedtoflyfree.org….go and see the macaws…they are very endangered……one moe thing—check with the place you are staying at..i am sure they will have lots of information on what you can see and most will have hotel pick ups
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I went to Arenal and has an amazing hike around the volcano. I also loved the Monteverde Cloud Forest – we stayed at the Monteverde Lodge and it was incredible, felt like you were an actual part of the rain forest. Also a great place is Tamarindo. This is not a day trip but it is at the beach and was awesome. Go to the library and rent a Lonely Planet Costa Rice book. It was the most helpful as we planned our trip.
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There should be a travel company agent in hotel you are staying or hotel receptionist will help your plan for trip.San Jose and almost all the beautiful places will take a day trip other than Atlantic coasts.
Tour shuttle will pick you up and drop you off at the front door of hotel. You can exchange your dollars at the hotel or most places take your dollars.You don’t need a taxi other than Airport to Hotel which would cost around $20.
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I took Air/Hotel package.
getting to these places are fairly easy, if i were you, i´d take a tour package, they can be as little as 30-50 dollars each and include transportation and entrance fee´s. make sure to visit:
*San Jose Central – try not to wear much jewelry or anything flashy, museums , and cheap shopping available
*Arenal Volcano – try to go on a day where the weather report doesn´t show rain
*La Paz Waterfall Gardens – most beautiful place on earth, if you go toyoutube, and type it in, find my video, i´m milleniumchief
*Irazu and Poas Volcano, I like Poas better of the 2 because it has a sulfuric lake
* Manuel Antonio Park, beautiful park, beaches, etc…
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Since you bought the Air/Hotel package you will not have the freedom to roam around in a rental SUV and discover for yourself. Do NOT rent a car, the tour people will take you in their vans. So, for a 7 day stay in San Jose with day trips, you must see the following, in order of importance :
1. Arenal Volcano, and maybe lunch at Tabacon Hot Springs.
2. Monteverde Cloud Forest. A nice 3 hour hike is a must.
3. A canopy tour, many available, a half day outing unless combined with something else..
4. A city tour, day or night.
5. A river rafting expedition if you are fit and adventurous..
6. Theres an artesanias place a short cab drive north of El Centro, San Jose’,.. forget the neighborhood’s name now, but any desk clerk will know. A nice half day shopping trip.
7. Jaco is reachable now with the new road in. A full day there & back. Hire your own cab, start early, buy the cab driver lunch, should cost no more than $120 for the cab for the day, ( we paid $100 in 2004 ). Nice to get a glimpse of the ocean, and have a cerveza or two in the (in)famous Beetle Bar. A booming town, lots happening, plus nice scenery along the way, quaint towns, etc..
Manuel Antonio on the ocean just outside Quepos, is overcrowded now with touristas, hustlers, etc, – not worth the trip anymore, especially if you only have a week.
Any decent hotel will have a tour desk in the lobby. Even a cave man could arrange these trips.
Wish I was going with you. ( smile )
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Many trips there.
Hi,
There are a tons of tours you can do from San Jose and all of them will have free pick up. Here are a few ideas:
Turu Ba Ri adventure park
Rafting
Tortuga Island
Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfall and gardens tour, Doka Coffee estate combo tour
Irazu Volcano and Cartago tour
These are just a few. If you’d like I’d be happy to give you some more ideas,
Hope this helps,
Marina K. Villatoro
http://travelexperta.com
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I’ve been here for a year, and have only gone to San Jose a couple of times. My best advice is to not bother visiting San Jose, not al all. The airport is outside San Jose in Alajuela. I live in La Garita, the garden district.
The most fun I have had here is avoiding touristy spots and spending time with locals. My housekeeper will be looking for work after we leave, and I am sure that she would be happy to hire a taxi and show you around. Touring the country with a local also means no paying too much for anything. (People here are generally good about not overcharging Gringos, but it does happen)
Anyway, avoid San Jose. Nothing to see, it’s loud and the air quality is bad. It has crime, something I’ve not seen outside of San Jose.
I have many horror stories from people I have met that had troubles in San Jose.
Come to Costa Rica, but find a place to stay in Alajuela. http://www.jardintropicalbandb.com is a good place, we stayed with Cinthya our first three weeks here.
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Beaches of Guanacaste: Carrillo, Samara, Flamingo, Conchal, Golfo de Papagayo, etc etc etc…
Volcanoes: Arenal (amazing, one of the actives volcanoes in the world) in the nights is amazing… another volcanoes are Irazú, Poás, Rincón de la Vieja, etc etc…
Beaches of Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio (WOOOW), Jacó, Punta Uva, Corcovado, Montezuma (one of the most beautiful beaches in the Top 5 of the world)
Beaches of Limón: Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Punta Uvita, Cocles, Manzanillo, Gandoca…
Cities: San José, Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela, San Carlos, Liberia etc etc etc…
Costa Rica is AMAZING!! i kow you gonna love Costa Rica!!! and you wanna come again…
Sorry for my english
Costa Rica es pura vida..!!!!!!!!
chaoooooo
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