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Costa Rica 6 Day Road Trip

Replies: 14 - Last Post: Jun 6, 2012 6:18 AM Last Post By: SoloHobo

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hhuckleberry

hhuckleberry avatar

May 19, 2012 2:58 PM
Posts:  9

Costa Rica 6 Day Road Trip

Hello,
My sister and I will be flying into Liberia, CR. It is our first time visiting. We love exploring but are wondering if someone with experience thinks this might be too much travel. We're renting a 4x4. Thanks for your help! :)

ITINERARY:

from LIBERIA AIRPORT to PAPAGAYO - 1 NIGHT

from PAYAGAYO to NOSARA (monkeys) - 1 NIGHT

from NOSARA to MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST - 1 NIGHT

from MONTEVERDE to ARENAL VOLCANO - 1 NIGHT

ARENAL to RINCON DE LA VIEJA PARK - 2 NIGHT

RINCON to LIBERIA AIRPORT

wiremu

wiremu avatar

May 19, 2012 3:04 PM
Posts:  2,239

1

WHOA! i can't even begin to tell you how much too much this is.

look here for distances and driving times: http://www.yourtravelmap.com

for 6 days, figure two locations. i would recommend rincon de la vieja and a beach.

otherwise, you will be spending most of your time driving and packing and unpacking instead of enjoying yourself.

http://www.rincondelavieja.net
http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com

you might be able to do 2 nights rincon de la vieja, 2 nights tenorio and 2 nights beach - depending on what time your flight leaves and arrives. rincon de la vieja is about an hour to an hour and a half from the airport. tenorio is about 2 hours from the airport. this is the absolute most i would plan on doing.

hhuckleberry

hhuckleberry avatar

May 19, 2012 4:26 PM
Posts:  9

2

Ha! Yes, I think you are right! Thanks for the advice, very helpful.

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

May 20, 2012 5:43 AM
Posts:  9,914

3

Agree, and Nosora is much nicer and less developed and touristy than Playa Papagayo. If you want monkeys and nightlife, go to Tamarindo, Capitan Suizo is nicer than anything in Papagayo unless you prefer big resorts. I would do the beach last, as its easier to airport.

Go to Rincon/Tenerio each and call it a day.

wiremu

wiremu avatar

May 20, 2012 7:12 AM
Posts:  2,239

4

"...Go to Rincon/Tenerio each and call it a day. ..." ???????????

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

May 20, 2012 8:01 AM
Posts:  9,914

5

okay, that was meant to be, call it a week, you get the drift.

wiremu

wiremu avatar

May 20, 2012 8:05 AM
Posts:  2,239

6

yeah - but "go to rincon/"tenerio" each"? do you mean -- split your time between rincon de la vieja at the tenorio national park area? what about the beach?

why don't you just write what you mean instead of dashing something off that doesn't make any sense. and for the 1,000th time -- it's t-e-n-o-r-i-o

Edited by: wiremu

hhuckleberry

hhuckleberry avatar

May 20, 2012 7:15 PM
Posts:  9

7

So strange my huge Costa Rica travel book doesn't even mention Tenorio! Looks as pretty as Arenal in the photos I've seen.

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

May 20, 2012 7:41 PM
Posts:  9,914

8

What book do you have? Fodors?

hhuckleberry

hhuckleberry avatar

May 20, 2012 7:52 PM
Posts:  9

9

Frommer's Costa Rica day by day

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

May 20, 2012 7:56 PM
Posts:  9,914

10

Yea, figures.... Frommers is more pedestrian to me for developing countries, Moon, RoughGuide and LP have been covering for a few decades.

hhuckleberry

hhuckleberry avatar

May 20, 2012 8:14 PM
Posts:  9

11

good to know for next time!

wiremu

wiremu avatar

May 21, 2012 5:18 AM
Posts:  2,239

12

tenorio is one of the newer national parks and, even though it is becoming more popular, is not even mentioned in some guide books.

if you look here http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/tenorionationalpark.html you can read about it.

you can also google "tenorio volcano national park" or "rio celeste" and get more information.

hhuckleberry

hhuckleberry avatar

Jun 6, 2012 6:16 AM
Posts:  9

13

Hello again! Had a break from planning this trip, but now I really need to get moving on booking hotels! Your advice was so helpful. We will be staying two nights at the beach (not yet decided), two nights Rincon and two nights Tenorio. We were thinking of staying in Tamarindo the first two nights. I know it's more of a touristy town, but I thought it might be fun to have bars to walk to at night since our other locations are more isolated. Any suggestions on where to stay there? Also, still deciding on where to stay at Tenorio. I love the looks of the Carolina Lodge, but is just a little high at $90/person/night.

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

Jun 6, 2012 6:18 AM
Posts:  9,914

14

check Trip Advisor for Tamarindo..

La Carolina includes 3 meals...
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