Road & transportation tips | Costa Rica - Lonely Planet Forum

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Mon, 20 Jun 2016 01:11:55 +0000

Hi guys,

we are going to Costa Rica for 8 days in July, and the program is around Arenal - Carribean coast.

What is the best way to move between all the destinations? While doing some research, I came with these options - do they make sense or are there better / faster / more comfortable solutions? (we are fine to fly and we prefer individual transportation rather then buses)

SJ - Arenal - SJ: rent-a-car & drive ourselves, 3h one way
SJ - Tortuguero: fly with Nature air 30 min + quick boat ride
Tortuguero - Cahuita: 3h boat ride + 1h in taxi / shuttle
Cahuita - Manzanillo: 45min ride by taxi / shuttle
Manzanillo - SJ via rafting @ rio Pacuare: pick up & drop off by the rafting company

thanks a lot!
anna

Edited by anna_rogova

1

ONLINE

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:34:17 +0000

You can bus, shuttle or rent a car oneway from SJ to La Fortuna/Arenal.

From Arenal to Tortuguero, there is a shuttle transfer fro, La Fortuna to La Pavona, there the boats head to Tortuguero, about 45 minutes and a nice ride.

Tortuguero to Cahuita is via boat to Moin, then you can bus to Limon and on to Cahuita or just taxi hire.

From Cahuita to Pt Viejo and points south there are hourly buses, or taxi hire. For Pt Viejo to Manzanillo you can even rent a bike....

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ONLINE

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:55:46 +0000

Like Mr Moto, I wouldn't go back to San Jose from Arenal before heading to Tortuguero. I'd take a shuttle/boat combination. You can fly into to Tortuguero but the boat trip through the canals is wonderful and you'll see so much wildlife that way. You're covering quite a few destinations in 8 days--you don't say how long you're spending in each place, but I'd suggest just a day trip to Manzanillo rather than packing your bags and moving again.

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ONLINE

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 15:24:51 +0000

I assume they will have 2 nights Arenal, 2 nights Tortuguero, 1 night Cahuita, and 2 nights Pt Viejo, then back to SJ via days rafting on Rio Pacuare. Arenal is not active, so can skip that, and head to Tortuguero/caribe coast for more time to slow down and relax at end...

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Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:01:53 +0000

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