10 Days with flight to Drake Bay for 3 Nights

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cmc527
cmc527

Hi Everyone!
I have read almost every post on Costa Rica with off the beaten path or itinerary advice but I still can't seem to figure out which way I want to go. My husband and I are from Florida, we live about 7 min walk from the beach. We have traveled a lot and off the beaten path and the less touristy way is what we usually go for.

We will be arriving July 1 late at night to SJO and departing July 10th.
I have already booked a flight from SJO to Drake Bay for July 7th and then returning the 10th before we catch our flight home.

We have a rental car from July 1-7th and no other plans.

Since we are going to Drake Bay, I am getting the feeling we should leave out some of the common places people go since we will get a very rustic, beaches and tons of wildlife seeing DB.

I would love to find a place that has mediation or yoga for one or two of the days and either find a VRBO in a beautiful location with access to some of the awesome landscapes or take a car trip and see a few of the places mentioned, Tortuguero, Cahuita, Rincon, Arenal, The Cloud Forest...

I just don't know which route makes the most sense since we have have to be back July 7th for our AM flight to DB.

My husband turns 30 and this is a complete surprise trip for him and I am feeling the pressure :)

Thorn tree has been such a great help in planning all my trips. 2015 we went to Argentina and Greece. So THANK YOU ALL!

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mrmoto
mrmoto

With a car, consider heading up to Arenal area at least 2 nights, yoga, hot springs, hiking, lots to do, and then from there you side trip to Tenerio/Celste Waterfalls and or Cano Negro ...You could head to Rincon too, but its a different route and you need to get to Liberia, which is 4 hours from SJ.

If you want a spa/pool/cafe at Arenal, consider the Montana del Fuego, old school. But there are many nice mountain lodges around there. For rustic, consider the La Carolina Lodge at Tenerio...

You could head to Paos Volcano Lodge, and La Paz Waterfalls, then head to Arenal via Grecia, Sarchi and the Botanical Gardens...or in reverse, and stay near Paos, 45 minutes from SJO....

Have fun!

Adventure Travel to Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, EU, USA National Parks, enjoying culture, cuisine, motorcycling, scuba diving, surfing, sailing, rafting, hiking, fishing, camping, nature, wildlife. Get a Guidebook, and get lost!
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cmc527
cmc527

Thank you!

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cmc527
cmc527

Would you suggest two days at Arenal and then 3 days split between La Paz and Cloud forest before coming bacl to SJ for the flight to Drake Bay.
Also, is there anything is San Juan that is worth checking out on a short trip. FYI we are not much into cities unless for culture or art museums. Do you know if there are yoga places near La Paz?

I am thinking of booking two nights at Royal Corin for the 2 and 3rd then trying to see what I should do next.

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cmc527
cmc527
In response to #3

Any suggestions for seeing some of the Coffee Plantation and if they are worth visiting? I am a coffee lover FYI :)

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hermosajoe
hermosajoe

With only 10 days I'd stick to the caribe side, maybe base in Puerto Viejo or Manzanillo area.
Raft the Pacuare on your last day.
Plenty of yoga,retreats etc on the caribe side
Start with Tortuguero and work your way south, dump the car.

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mrmoto
mrmoto

San Jose is best avoided, crowded, congested, polluted, easy to get lost, crime issues...

Adventure Travel to Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, EU, USA National Parks, enjoying culture, cuisine, motorcycling, scuba diving, surfing, sailing, rafting, hiking, fishing, camping, nature, wildlife. Get a Guidebook, and get lost!
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cmc527
cmc527

Great! Thank you!

We have the car from July 2nd (we arrive late on the 1st) until July 7th 9AM.

Since we are flying to Drake Bay from SJO we need to spend the 5 days outside SJO but make our way back to SJO to catch the flight.

Does La Fortuna and Monte Verde make the most sense to visit considering needing to come back to SJO? If so, what are some things we can do along the way or along the Route? Does anyone know of any insight meditation or mindfulness meditation places near these areas we could stay or go for the day?

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