Last minute trip to Costa Rica - suggestions please

personally i would now no longer recommend Tamarindo as a 'family' destination.
There was just a report on todays local news about the pollution there and with the drugs partying etc i'd look at Samara
And why spend 3 days in San Jose?
its the ugliest city in Central America, crime, pollution, ugly, very little to do for a family!
AND, i think your best routing for Montezuma is to get the bus from Monteverde -public bus is relatively quick and safe to Puntarenas- and then ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula- kids will enjoy the boat trip!
get shuttle buses or public when on a 'safe' route is my recc, driving artound CR with kids cant be fun!!

Hello Michelle,

We suggest if you want a place at the Pacific just one place and not Montezuma and Tamarindo, this is a lot of travel time by public bus. Another option is Playa Samara or Carrillo (just south of Samara). You certainly will get trouble in one day from Monteverde to Tortuguero, may be an option is go first to the southern caribean coast and from there to Tortuguero and from Tortuguero you can return to San José.

Have a nice time in Costa rica!!
jan & ili

There is just too many destinations, too much travel between locations, and some backtracking in P8. I would not want to be your two year old.

A good rule of thumb for adult travelers is to stay in a location for 3 days. I would consider more time in a location when traveling with a little one. I would use one of the van services to move between points, except Monteverde to LaFortuna when I'd do the jeep-boat-jeep trip across the lake.

Consider picking one Central Pacific location or Nicoya Peninsula location, then head to Monteverde and the Arenal/LaFortuna area, before moving on to the Caribbean coast. Basing in the Puerto Viejo area will open up numerous options for adventure and sightseeing. You can do a tour from PV to Tortuguero and/or Bocas, which may make things easier on you and the little guy. Enjoy