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1) We're planning on doing La Fortuna/Monteverde (the parks and preserves) spending 3-4 days between the two ... not sure if we'd be missing out if we forgo Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja in favor of getting over to Nicoya Peninsula. Thoughts?

How many days total do you have? You need two days in each area of Arenal and Monteverde. They are 4 hours apart via a shuttle/boat/shuttle, a shuttle via roads, or in a car, much longer via busses. Rincon is best if you want to hike, the good hikes take all day.

2) What's the easiest bus route from Monteverde area to the coast? We're thinking of heading to Tamarindo and then taking the coastal route south, spending a few days in the Montezuma area (including Playa Coyote and Playa San Miguel) ... any thoughts on the best basecamp for exploring this part of the peninsula?

There is no easy route, its 3 busses, or take a shuttle, the shuttle is about 4 hours, busses would be at least 1.5 more hours. You cant drive down the coast from Tamarindo to Montezuma, as there is a large river past Samara you can not cross. You need to drive to Montezuma via the Puntarenas ferry, figure 5 hours. There are other great beach areas on the coast though, you can shuttle I think to Samara from Monteverde, and enjoy the nice beaches and less developed areas of Samara/Carillo and Nosora/Garza/Giuones and Playa Ostional mangroves. (Turtle nesting).

Or take a shuttle from Monteverde and get dropped at car rentals outside Liberia airport, pick up car there, then drive either Tamarindo/Samara area, or Samara/Nosora areas, or to Montezuma/Mal Pais.

3) Does it make sense to plan for 2-days worth of driving from Tamarindo (or further north) heading south to the Montezuma area? No.

4) Essentially, we're looking for a cozy, relaxing town to explore out of for a week during the second half of our trip. We don't need tons of amenities and we'd prefer lesser developed to more developed, more authentic rather than less.

See Above, check Trip Advisor and you dont mention a daily lodging budget?

What about getting a car in La Fortuna, and skipping Monteverde and go to Tenorio/Celeste waterfalls area and Rincon first. Or get car i Liberia and then go to those places?

Again, how many days you have, and what airport do you fly into, and out of, Liberia, or SJO?

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Wow, super helpful. Thanks for the feedback.

To clarify, we have 14 days TOTAL. We fly into and out of SJO. We want to spend the first half doing quite a bit of hiking, exploring forests and jungles etc., and the second half laying low without too much crazy bussing/shuttling. Our budget is $100/day, so we're eating and sleeping cheap. We like rustic. We don't need any fancy gimmicks i.e., ziplines, jeep tours, suspension bridges etc.

We've got two nights in San Jose before we make our way up to La Fortuna/Monteverde and I like your idea of Rincon (since we're interested in hiking). Whether or not we decide on that... what would you recommend (given our interests) for the best base camp area on the peninsula? I'm drawn to the southern section (Tamarindo sounds too touristy and saturated for our taste, so we're willing to skip it). For the sake of not spending boatloads of time in shuttles and busses, I'm thinking we should choose one area of the peninsula to hang out in i.e., the Montezuma area (with side trips). Does that sound like a good and fulfilling plan? By fulfilling, I mean, we want a relaxing, attractive and rustic place to rest our heads for a few days/week while being able to take short 1-2 hour side trips exploring the coast. We like to be active i.e., hike/run.

Can you explain the difference between a shuttle and bus, particularly, cost-wise? I'm not too drawn to the idea of renting a car i.e., expense and stress and less contact with locals. I realize that may mean more cumbersome travel, which is why we want to be more selective with where we choose to spend our time i.e., a few destinations rather than too many.

I SO appreciate your help. We're getting a bit of a late start planning this trip!

Magda

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After re-reading your post, I just thought of a follow-up question: would skipping Monteverde for Rincon and that area be a worthwhile choice? I mean, are they equally as exciting to explore? Again, we want to hike etc.

Oh, yet another question: I'm not much for guides; would you say you need guides in any of the parks/preserves that we're headed to?

Magda

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Why 2 nights in San Jose, get out ASAP.

If you dont like gimmicks, then avoid Monteverde, overrated and a zoo of zip lines, cloud bridges and hordes of tourist.

Tamarindo is a tad touristy compared to other beaches.

Not a lot to do from Montezuma day trip wise, there is Tortuga isla as a day trip kayak/snorkel and Cabo Blanco more of the same, and a nearby watefarll but in dry season may not be too grand.

The bus is a local bus, they are not fast and most the places you want to go between are not direct, and burn a day just getting about.

The shuttles are operated by many companies, Interbus is popular. Figure $40PP per leg, but at $80 per leg for two people, you can have the ease and comfort and schedule, to go your own in a rental, and also interact with all the locals you can manage, especially when yu get lost..the majority of roads are rural and very scenic and lovely to drive...especially around Arenal/Tenorio/Rincon, and you dont need a car at the beach, pick a beach and drop the car.

Do you not have a Guidebook? Moon or LP has all this...its the best way to decipher the options and also use a base for lodging options, but here some links.

http://www.anywherecostarica.com/destinations

http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com/nicoyasouth.php

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Thanks again for the feedback. We do have the Lonely Planet, but I'm just getting overwhelmed with what too choose!

Since we get into the SJO so late on Tuesday night, I wasn't sure if we'd have time to get on a bus the next morning to head to La Fortuna, so I was thinking two nights would help get us settled. Maybe I should reconsider...

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SJO is actually located in Alajuela, 30 minutes from Downtown, which is best avoided anyway. You can catch the bus to La Fortuna at La Radial bus station in Alajuela. Its about three hours to Arenal area. By the time you get thru immigration and get to hotel, its time to eat and sleep. After 9pm your options are limited as well.

Then next morning have breakfast and go catch the bus. Spend 3 nights at Arenal relaxing in the mountains, hot springs, hit a spa, have a steak dinner, hike etc...

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Seconds on Solo's San Jose and Tamagringo warnings. Both are hell holes, but I actually had a better time at San Jose. You see, I spent a little time at Hotel del Rey. But Tamagringo, it still makes me shudder. I couldnt wait to GTF out! I almost went berserkoid.

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Thanks Solo & ToughCookie.

ToughCookie -- other than avoiding San Jose and Tamarindo, any suggestions for must-see places that offer a more authentic experience?

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Hotel Del Rey is a brothel poster...haha

You will find plenty of regular local affairs driving around, like all around SJ, Arenal/Tenorio/Rincon areas.

For the real deal, as in nature, wildlife, and adventure, you need to go to the Osa, and either Drake Bay or Pt Jimenez for Corcovado, this is the most bio diverse park on the planet, according to National Geographic. You need reservations/permits to hike/sleep at ranger stations, and Dec is very busy, as is everywhere now that school is out next week down there.

Getting there is no t easy but well worth it. Also the caribe side is far more rustic and authentic than anything on the Pacific side, which has been catering to surfers and tourist for 3 decades. The least amount of tourist, are south of Quepos to the Osa, and the caribe side.

Its the High Season now, the big 3 on the tourist circuit are Arenal, Monteverde and Manual Antonio, the big 3 on the beach scene, is Jaco, Playa Papagayo and Playa Tamarindo.

You can see more wildlife and less tourist, by going to Tortuguero canals, the caribe coast beaches, Rincon, Tenorio, Cano Negro, Selva Verde, and down in the Osa, Bellena. Uvita and Drake Bay/Carate.

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#10 and #7 are the same person. One of the local nuts on the forum, but a good nut...