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Costa Rica REAL driving times

Replies: 14 - Last Post: Mar 3, 2012 11:44 AM Last Post By: twjthornton

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lfen

lfen avatar

Jan 13, 2012 9:48 AM
Posts:  39

Costa Rica REAL driving times

Hi Thorntree!

I'm planning my sister's honeymoon for her to Costa Rica (she is a first time traveller)! However I've never been to Costa Rica either so I'm looking for some help.

The trip is in the beginning of Green Season (starting May 11) and my general plan for them is to spend 3 nights in La Fortuna and 5 nights in Manuel Antonio. I've already reserved a rental car for them (compact SUV for $85 with taxes for 8 nights!) but what I'm curious about is some real driving times.

How long will it take from:

SJO to La Fortuna?
La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio?
Manuel Antonio to SJO?

Also, their flight home is at 1pm and they would like to get up early and drive straight from La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio to the airport, so my question is which one of those options has the more reliable drive/road?

Thanks!

wiremu

wiremu avatar

Jan 13, 2012 10:51 AM
Posts:  2,249

1

http://www.yourtravelmap.com

la fortuna or manuel antonio - about the same amount of time. no issues with either roads.

for a 1 pm flight, plan on being at the airport at 10 am and figure 1/2 hour to turn in rental car. (no, you don't just drive into the parking garage and the guy with the electronic gizmo gives you a receipt and you walk away. you have to actually go to the office and they check over the car for damage.)

many hotels will fix you breakfast to go if you ask the night before.

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

Jan 13, 2012 5:21 PM
Posts:  22,767

2

SJO to La Fortuna can take 2.5-3 hours if everything is perfect, but plan on 3.5 4 hours.

Arenal to Manual Antonio, depends on route, the scenic one around lake to Canas and then down takes 5 or more hours. Going the traditional way figure 4.5 hours or more.

MA to SJ is 3.5 hours, get there 3 hours early.

The beauty of having a rental is to enjoy the drive and also discovering what looks nice to you, stopping, a drink, a stretch, and also allow time to get lost. For instance, they may want to stop for a bite on the coast near Jaco area for a 1 hour.

May is nice to visit, afternoon showers are possible but nothing to ruin a trip, keeps everything lush and green.

5 nights at MA maybe a tad long IMO, make they have a pool to relax and enjoy. They may just want to go 4 nights, then have a last night at Paos/La Paz waterfalls, then its just a 1.5 hour drive to SJO. Peace Lodge or Paos Volcano Lodge are both nice.

You really dont need reservation in May, so maybe 2 nights in Arenal reserved, and leave the rest flexible, they may want to bust a move and have some other options like Celeste Waterfalls, or in MA go 2 nights, and head down to Dominical 1 night, but if they just want to relax and not move about, the original plan is great.

Get a Guidebook & Get Lost. Adventure travel to Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Morocco, Monaco, France, Italy, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Hawaii and USA National Parks.

jolleynp

jolleynp avatar

Jan 31, 2012 9:03 PM
Posts:  1

3

Hi -- My friend and I are looking at rentals for March... where did you find a suv for that price?!!

wiremu

wiremu avatar

Feb 1, 2012 5:26 AM
Posts:  2,249

4

ummm - i think she means $85 a day for 8 days. you might be able to rent a bicycle for 8 days for a total of $85 but probably not.

damjanvinko

damjanvinko avatar

Feb 1, 2012 1:01 PM
Posts:  14

5

I would listen to SoloHobo's suggestions.
I also think that 5 nights in Manuel Antonio is too much, especially if you consider what else you can do in between directions of La Fortuna - SJO - MA.
I spent there 3 nights and it was also too much for me - but OK, I want to travel as much as I could.

lfen

lfen avatar

Feb 17, 2012 3:07 PM
Posts:  39

6

It was $85 for 8 days total for a mini SUV! Insane I know, but two companies had the same price on travelocity when I booked it.

lfen

lfen avatar

Feb 17, 2012 3:07 PM
Posts:  39

7

Thanks for all the advice, they don't want want to move around too much, and this is there first real trip so I want to keep it relatively simple. Also, it is their honeymoon so relaxing on the beach is a good addition.

They are leaning towards going to San Jose for the night before the flight to releive the last minute stress of trying to get to the airport, however now I will look into the area around Paos/La Paz waterfalls.

Is there anything else along the way between La Fortuna and MA that is worth stopping at for an hour or two?

wiremu

wiremu avatar

Feb 17, 2012 3:21 PM
Posts:  2,249

8

the airport is actually in alajuela, not in san jose. so for their last night, it would make sense to stay somewhere near the airport. it's a much more pleasant area than staying in san jose. check out orquideas inn which is not very far from poas volcano and is a great place to stay.

lfen

lfen avatar

Mar 2, 2012 12:19 PM
Posts:  39

9

Thanks!

twjthornton

twjthornton avatar

Mar 2, 2012 1:35 PM
Posts:  429

10

There will be additional charges to that car, anticipate at least double that price.

Guide books are for the blind.

lfen

lfen avatar

Mar 2, 2012 3:01 PM
Posts:  39

11

I have rented cars all over the world and I've never head to pay more than the price listed on the reservation (as I have insurance covered already).

What would be added?

wiremu

wiremu avatar

Mar 2, 2012 3:24 PM
Posts:  2,249

12

there is a mandatory, by law, liability insurance that you must pay for when you rent a car in costa rica. you must have this no matter what other insurance you have.

the problem is - some rental car agencies include it in their quote and some don't, thus leading to some amount of confusion and angst when people show up and the price ends up being more than they were quoted. just be sure you know what is/isn't included.

be sure to check the car over carefully before you drive away. someone at the agency will do this and mark all the existing damage, no matter how small so you should be sure that they get everything down on the paper since you will be liable for any damage. maybe your insurance will cover it - maybe not. some people just bite the bullet and get "full coverage" so they don't have to worry about it.

SoloHobo

SoloHobo avatar

Mar 2, 2012 3:30 PM
Posts:  22,767

13

#11

You have not rented a car in Costa Rica. The Alamo website allows you to estimate the insurance charges. You will also need proof of coverage in CR, if its part of your Credit Card, have your Credit Card phone # for Verification, as they will call.

Have you rented a car in Burma or China? I didnt think so...

Get a Guidebook & Get Lost. Adventure travel to Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Morocco, Monaco, France, Italy, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Hawaii and USA National Parks.

twjthornton

twjthornton avatar

Mar 3, 2012 11:44 AM
Posts:  429

14

Burma was pretty easy

Guide books are for the blind.

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