itinerary advice appreciated

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aw76
aw76

Hello all, I am in the middle of last minute research for my upcoming trip to Panama/Costa Rica, due to my usual propensity to procrastination and being way to busy with work and other things to get things organized much ahead of time. As much as I would like to just wing it as per my usual travel styles, it has become apparent that due to fixed events during my trip(my sister's wedding) and the need to fly in and out of a few places(due to accessibility and time constraints), it will be necessary to make some flight bookings ahead of time as they all seem to be filling up on around the area of the tentative dates i am considering...

I have made up an itinerary for my own use, and figured that as easy it is to post on here, i would put it on here and hope someone might shed some insight into whether im trying to do too much in that period of time, or missed some obvious travel time that would make it a little difficult to do...

im hoping to actually book the flights ASAP as im startin to get scared about them selling out on those dates, as alot of them already have...

so, heres hoping i get some positive feedback...many thanks for your time and advice....

I will be arriving after a marathon 41 hour travel journey that will include 24 hours of fly time, so my idea is to get to the islands a.s.a.p to relax, and adjust to the new timezone (a 12 hour difference, argh)....

FEBRUARY
8--arrive Panama airport 2:00pm
9--early morning to Carti via 4x4
10--San Blas
11--SB
12--SB
13--SB
14--back to Panama city
15--PC [
16--PC [ --canal,and other stuff, possible day trip to embera village i read about?
17--PC [
18-- early FLIGHT pc to David
19--David
20--Boquete
21--Boquete
22--lost and found hostel (somewhere between david and almirante)(take bypass road to avoid going back into David)
23--l and f
24--to almirante/bocas del toro
25--bdt
26--bdt
27--bdt to puerto viejo via sixaola
28--pv
29--pv

MARCH
1--pv
2--pv
3--pv to san jose
4- FLIGHT sj to puerto jiminez
5--pj/carate/corcovado
6--pj/carate/corcovado
7--pj/carate/corcovado
8--FLIGHT from pj to quepos
9--manuel antonio ]
10--ma ]
11--ma ]
12--ma ]----wedding week
13--ma ]
14--ma ]
15-- FLIGHT quepos to Arenal, Fortuna
16--Arenal/volcano
17--arenal
18--arenal to tamarindo
19--tam
20--tam
21--tam
22--tam to san jose
23--sj
24--afternoon FLIGHT to Canada

does it look ok, doable? or am i just being crazy and naive?

again, thank you for your help,

peace

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patinpanama
patinpanama

I have lived in Panama more than two years and I could not have made a better itinery. Corcovada is sadly overlooked -- but it is pricey. If you are on a budget (doesn't seem you are) you need to get to Puerto Jimmenez in time to make a reservation for the only cheap place to stay in Cabo Matapalo, get some food (only one restaurant in Cabo) and catch a taxi. Maybe you won't go to Cabo in which case you are staying at a pretty nice/expensive lodge.

In fact for your whole itinery since you are rushed you need to think about reservations as much as flights. You need a reservation for whatever hostel you choose in Panama City and remember that Luna's Casa in the LP is not running yet. Word is catching on about The Lost and Found as well and if you want a private room it is best to phone.

The only place on your itinery I would say is not so hot is Puerto Viejo. Rockin J's is cool but I find the place filled with pushy hawkers and is a disapointment after Bocas.

Here's another possibility that might work just as well but get you a little overland which is part of the experience. Fly from Panama City to Bocas... then skip PV and take the bus or even better arrange a pick up from the guys at The Lost and Found. (The overland ride is amazing) Then another ride to Boquete. Then what many people don't know is how close Puerto Jimminez is from David. There are busses from Pasa Canoas to Golfito almost hourly like city transit. Just get to Golfito early to catch one of the many boats to Puerto Jimminez. I think the last one is 4. Then fly from the Osa Peninsula to SJ.

This way you skip Puerto Viejo but still get a little overland to feel a little more grounded in where you are and see (at least from the bus) places that are not always with tourists.

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aw76
aw76

thanks for the advice and props on the schedule (hehe)....i like the idea of overlanding it a little more, and skipping what might not be a great destination, but i am sposed to meet a friend in that area that i have not seen in a long time, so will likely stick with that plan....now i just hafta chek the airlines to make sure there is still availability left for those flights....

i was thinkin of stayin in puerto jiminez, and doing day trips into the jungle to save on the expenses of actually being in the jungle....does that make sense, or does it defeat the purpose of being there in the first place??? better to book a cheap accom in cabo matapalo?

thanks for your help

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