honeymoon in Costa Rica

First of all, you'll be arriving in San Joe, not San Juan. I used to make that mistake all the time before moving down here. In any event, if you're looking for outdoor adventure type of stuff, you've got the right idea with your current destinations. Great hiking, zip lines, white water rafting, etc. in all three you mentioned. One thing, though: Manuel Antonio is very far from the airport. You might want to make your last destination closer so your ride to the airport is shorter. You might want to have a look at Hotel Vista Golfo just outside Miramar. It has some great activities, including my favorite zip-line tour so far, and it's only about 1.5 hours from the airport (vs. about 4 for Manuel Antonio).

Please keep in mind that your arriving in the peak of rainy season, sorry to inform you. Besides the Caribe coast, which can be delightful when there is not a tropical depression nearby (Hurricane Season in the Atlantic).

I suggest the following as best to worst options:

The Caribe side highlights for adventure, would be the Tortuguero Canals, turltle nesting, (depending on Moon phase and tides), and also Playa Cahuita, which has great cuisine, and a reef and refuge protected area on south edge of the small 4 street town. Pt Viejo is more ramshackels and great music and cuisine, and off the beaten path, here your on the the prettiest beaches and at the end of the road, the Manzanillo-Ganduco refuge, with kayaking, freshwater lagoons, freshwater RARE dolphins, and the huge refuge, with reefs all along the coast, for snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing.

Next, you need to consider the rainy season, or Green season means lots of afternoon showers, and in elevated areas, rain almost non stop, so if your tour the popular circuit of Arenal Volcano, Tobocan Hot Springs (very romantic), and Monteverde Cloud Forest (already misty and wet most the year), you should be warned of being a tad wet and muddy. But, nature is at is full peak too, its soo green there you cant believe your eyes, and the fauna and flowers just breathtaking.

Lastly, the Gem of CR is Osa-Corcovado, but its basically closed in End of Sept to Nov, as its really just trails, and the Southern Zone is the wettest area in all of CR...so you have to skip it.

The NW of CR is historically driest in the country, outside of the Caribe coast.

I highly recommend getting the Moon handbook on CR, there are many other options and parks, that regionally you can access, but you need to get a better idea of what adventure your really up for.

Tim

Planning is good. So, here are some websites for you to consider while planning your trip.

First, you will get better prices on flights on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Second, you might want to consider weather, so look at this CostaRica.com website under weather and then temperature, rainfall & humidity for National Weather Service data. I will say that the best weather during your timeframe will be in the microclimate around Puerto Viejo on the caribbean coast. Odd, because most of the country will be experiencing a lot of rain. Check out Aquamor and some of the activities or what to do sections on hotels in the area. Don't forget to Google this area for added info. Many places in the area are not on the WWW, so a guidebook would be helpful.

Third, Arenal Volcano is often shrouded in clouds and ground fog during the rainy season, and hiking in the cloud forest in the rain can be a miserable wet and cold experience. If you must get your tourist ticket punched at Arenal or Tabacon, then consider a day tour from San Jose or a overnight trip from Cerro Chato Eco Lodge (only Wed-Thurs). This ecological tour is one of the best values I've come across. Another best value tour is the Eleven Hour Tour.

You could save some money on car rental by only using it for a week and doing tours for the remaining days.

First and last night places to stay might be the Hotel Pura Vida for the first night. HINT: Nhi's gourmet dinners are worth every penny. And, the last night at the Hotel Buena Vista, because they have a great view of the twinkling lights of central valley at night. There is a small Italian restaurant with great food about 50m out the driveway and to the left . Well, there's my two cents. It should be a good start. Congrats and enjoy!

Thank you very much for the useful info!!!

Is it that wet during the rainy season around Monteverde and Arenal? Does it rain all day, or just a few hours a day? Personally, I don't mind the rain, but will we be able to see and explore anything such as the volcano and the cloud forest?

Thanks again!

Its hard to say, but elevated areas, which both Arenal and Monteverde are in the mountains will be cloud covered by afternoon, rains can be light, heavy or non stop, you never know, prepare for worst and be glad when its just a shower in the afternoon.

Cloud cover at Arenal tends to dissipate after 10pm in the evening, which is the best time to see the Lava flow anyway.

Monteverde will be damp, thats a understatement.

Costa Rica Guide

Royal Caribbean features a 15 day honeymoon cruise that departs from Los Angeles and that takes you to Mexico, then it goes down to Puntarenas, the Panama Canal and the city of Cristobal in the same country. It continues to Puerto Limon, in Costa Ricas before going to Jamaica and ending its journey in Dominican Republic. This cruise is a wonderful option to discover both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea through some of the most incredible ports and cities, but it is also a good way to enjoy both the eastern and western coast of Costa Rica since Puerto Limon is bathed by the Caribbean Sea. A casino, gift shops, a theater, a rock climbing wall, a library, a solarium and pool, a fitness center and spa, plus lots of luxurious restaurants and bars are some of the included facilities on this ship.

BTW, you might find this San Jose Costa Rica Travel guidelines useful.