2 week itinerary CR, realistic?

No way. Even by car you can't do this.

You need 2 nights in any given area/venue. Travel distances are long and slow. Taking public transport in the central area is not the way to go-

1- Why are you going to a very touristy, small beach , and very developed area with a small park in Manual Antonio? You have some the nest beaches and wildlife/nature on the caribe side. Avoid MA, period.

2- Monteverde is 4 hours from Arenal and 5-6 hours from Quepos, thats via car or shuttle, via bus would be all day.

3-You need 2 nights in Tortuguero, 3 is best.

4- If you are going to Drake Bay, which is great, I would put this first. Fly in and boat/bus back, or vice versa.

5- You do need reservations in Tortuguero and Drake Bay, these are remote location with limited lodging options, not easy to get around to look for a place in DB, as its is no town.

6-Arenal Volcano is not active.

7- What about rafting the Rio Pacuare on caribe side, via San Jose or Pt Viejo? Its a top 10 rover in the Americas and gorgeous and fun to boot.

8- You need to consider either renting a car for parts of this, or using shuttles, about $55PP per leg.

9- Interbus for Arenal and or to Tortuguero from Arenal. Shuttle Osa from Jaco or Quepos to Sierrpe, for boats to DB, or vice versa.

10-Focus on the Caribe and DB, thats the best nature/wildlife and bio diversity in the entire region and country.

I count 13 full days? I agree that is just not possible. For example if you take the bus and then boat to Tortuguero you won't be there till mid afternoon. You need at least one full day for exploring. Tortuguero to Arenal by bus would mean changing buses numerous times and would take a whole day.

I think it would be a shame to go to Tortuguero and to not continue to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo. You could focus on the Caribbean coast and end in Arenal. So first get to Tortuguero. 1-2 days there. Get to Cahuita. 1-2 days there. Pick a beach south of Puerto Viejo and explore the area: 3 days. Use the rafting trip on the Rio Pacuare to get to Arenal. 3 days Arenal.
Cahuita has an amazing National Park with nice beaches, rainforest and lots of wildlife. The beaches south of Puerto Viejo are beautiful wild natural beaches bordered by rainforest. Lots of wildlife in that area as well.

Or you could focus on the Osa and Arenal/Monteverde. Bus/boat to Drake Bay. 5 days (don't miss the boat tour to Sirena). Or consider going to Puerto Jimenez instead of Drake Bay. You could do the three day guided trek to the Sirena ranger station in Corcovado Park. If that is too expensive or too much hiking you can also go on guided day hikes into the park or just explore outside of the park. I like Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre (check out rainforest hostel Bolita). Or if you can afford it look at staying in Cabo Matapalo (or go there on a day trip). Then Arenal for 3 days And then Monteverde (you can use the jeep-boat-jeep transfer to get to Monteverde and have 2 full days there).

The backpacker in me would like to fly into San Jose and have no plan, go with the flow

Do it!!!! Don't book anything except for maybe your first night. Wing the entire trip but more realistic and relaxing. Your current version moves way to fast and a lot of places are a real drag.

I'm going on the assumption your like nature. Have a rough idea but that's it.
Maybe head to La Fortuna then over to Tortuguero, south to Cahuita and the killer NP, the Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, a very cool 2 week trip.
If you like nature, rivers, canals, jungles, wildlife, the Caribe, beautiful beaches, cool small towns, relaxation and few people it's hard to beat.

On your last full day raft the Pacuare River, it's a pristine jungle-canyon river that's a blast to float. The companies will drop you off back in San Jose at the end of the day as part of the trip, easy to set up in Cahuita or PV.

Alajuela, about 5-10mins. from the airport makes for a nice place to stay.

Could spend about a week on the Carbe then fly to Drake, doable but a bit of moving on the Caribe.

http://www.natureair.com/
http://flysansa.com/en/home

Ok I was being unrealistic.... Really helpful replies and I going to research the Caribbean side more due to your advice. thank you!

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