We are planning a 30 day trip to CR in February. Our thoughts were to rent an apartment in Santa Ana and use it as our hub. We want to explore by rental car as much of CR as possible and thought we'd be able to do so on day trips with the occasional overnight. As we're doing research on the country, this plan doesn't seem feasible since travel time between distances is so long. Can anyone advise us if this is a reasonable plan? One challenge I have is that I need to be connected to work via Internet at least every other day or every 3 days.
1
mrmoto
You are correct, you need to move around to see Costa Rica's National Parks, Eco Systems, and two coast...
As nice as Santa Ana is, its not really close to anything other than going to Paos, Irazu and and maybe Jaco/Hermosa for the day...Jaco is best avoided IMO.
As for Internet access, you will be well connected overall, besides the following-
Tortuguero Canals
Caribe coast in general, unless its been upgraded.
The Osa/Corcovado area
Those areas are all Must See IMO, so maybe plan the Corcovado/Tortuguero trips over a weekend...and maybe get a Unlocked Phone, or buy one, and get a SIM Card with Data, for your emails in those areas...otherwise, just about all lodging and many cafes have free Wifi...
Some things to consider, you don't really need a car, or can even drive one, to Tortuguero, no roads, and the caribe coast is easy enough by bus or taxi hire/shuttles. Allow 2-3 nights for Tortuguero.
The Osa also is best to fly in/out, otherwise, unless you are hiking IN Corcovado, consider Drake Bay, and to get there, you can fly, or leave car in Sierppe, via Palmar Sur/Norte, and take a boat down river and coast to DB....access the park and ranger stations via boats. Allow 4 night in area.
The areas a rental car is super useful, is the Central-NW, Arenal/Monteverde & Tenerio/Rio Celeste/Rincon/Cano Negro.
Also nice for exploring the La Amistad/Chirrpo area, Orosi Valley, and the San Vito/Buenos Aires areas...
With 30 days, get the MOON Guidebook, and the National Geographic Explorer...
2
Retire64
Thank you for the suggestions. We haven't booked our apartment yet. What area would you suggest we stay that is more centrally located in the country?
3
mrmoto
There really is no central location that allows for day trips. Driving in CR is mainly two lane roads and the average speed is about 60 KPM..(35MPH)...add to this the many roads are in the mountains, and a slow go overall, but great driving.
Divide the country into 4 areas, and maybe conquer each one with some areas basing 3-5 days in one lodge/inn.
The 4 areas that offer most wildlife/nature and Bio Diversity are-
Caribe side
Sarapiqui/La Selva
Tortuguero Canals and Rainforest N.P
Cahuita N.P
Pt Viejo beaches south
Manzanillo-Ganduca Marine Refuge
Rafting the Rio Paquare.
Central/NW
Arenal N.P.
Monteverde Cloudforest
Tenerio N.P (Rio Celeste)
Cano Negro N.P
Rincon N.P
Paos/Irazu N.P.
Osa- Southern Zone
Corcovado N.P
Drake Bay
Rio Sierppe
Pavones
San Vito/Mountians
Nicoya-Guanacaste Beaches
Tamarindo
Samara/Nosora/Gouines
Via ferry from Puntarenas-
Mal Pais/Santa Teresa
Montezuma
Cabo Blanco N.P.
Southeast/Central (Least visited)
Orosi Valley
San Gerado de Dota
La Amistad- Chirppo N.P.
Rivas/San Gerrado-Talamanca
Indigenous Villages south of La Amistad/San Isdro de General
You hit all those and you will be have an amazing trip...
4
mrmoto
Drive times-
San Jose to Poas 1 hour
SJ to Arenal 3 hours
SJ to Monteverde 4 hours
SJ to Cahuita (caribe) 4 hours, Pt Viejo area 5 hours
SJ to Rincon/Tenerio/Cano Negro 4 hours
SJ to Osa 8 hours
SJ to Chirppo 5 hours
SJ to Tamarindo/Samara/Mal Pais 6 hours
Liberia to Arenal 3 hours
LIR to Monteverde 3.5 hours
LIR to Rincon 1.5 hours
LIR to Cano Negro 2.5 hours
LIR to Tenerio 1.5 hours
LIR to San Jose 4 hours
LIR to Tamarindo 1 hour
LIR to Samara/Nosora 3 hours
LIR to Mal Pais/Montezuma 5 hours
Dominical to Sierrpe 1.5 hours
DOM to Drake Bay 3.5 hours
DOM to Pt Jimenez/Corcovado 4 hours
DOM to Golfito 2 hours
DOM to Chirrpo/La Amistad 3 hours
5
boomer1
mrmoto is right. The Central Valley makes lots of sense as a base when looking at a map, but all the places you want to discover are simply too arduous a journey, and no way will you be doing a day/round trip. Spend half your trip on the Pacific coast and half on the Carib coast. You'll have internet access in most areas...
6
Thorn Tree
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