Costa Rica in January????????

Well it's been about 4 years but I'm ready for another big trip. One of my possible destinations is Costa Rica. Best cities to stay in for beaches/scuba diving/ snorkling/hiking? I'm a single guy in my 30's and will likely be traveling solo for about 2 weeks in mid January. Any hotel recommendations would be great as well. I'm well traveled so don't mind staying in cheap motels as long as they are safe and clean. That being said I'm also willing to pay a little extra for a pool or to be on the beach........Tell me why I should go to Costa Rica!!!!!!!!!!!

ever been to honduras or belize?

actually I would probably want to do both those countries while there. I'd ultimately like to ride a motorcycle through all of Central America. I'm just thinking if I end up having only a week to 10 days where I might go. I would imagine Honduras and Belize are less touristy. That's a good thing. ANY advice on either of those countries or anywhere in Central America would be awesome

I can tell you why you should not go to Costa Rica. The beaches are best for surfing, and the snorkeling is few and far between, and the scuba diving is okay at best. You wan to snorkel and scuba, I suggest Belize or Honduras, where the 2nd longest reef outside of Australia lies. The Bay Islands in Honduras, either Roatan or Uitla, is great diving, great young back packer scene, and lot cheaper than Costa Rica.

You also may want to look at a guidebook, as CR is not cites on the ocean, its small surf towns and hamlets overall. You also have two coast, the Pacific and the Caribe, both opposite eachother in lifestyle, development and feel.

Touristy is all relative, but the Bay Islands are more touristy due to its a major destination for diving. January is high season, so all the popular beach venues will be crowded, with tourist escaping the cold in the north. After Jan 10th things thin out.

i had 11 nights. here's my itinerary for last January:

San Pedro, fly to Roatan.
2 nights at half moon cabins
vern's sailboat to Utila
5 nights at Altons
ferry and buses to D&D brewery, Yojoa lake.
2 nights, then to Omoa.
2 nights, then back to San pedro airport.

i think it depends on what you are mainly interested in doing.

if diving is your main thing, then costa rica not the best place.

if history and culture your main thing, then costa rica not the best place.

if you are looking for "nature," wildlife, hikes through a rainforest, waterfalls, active volcanoes, canyoning, rappelling, whitewater rafting, sea turtles nesting, more than 100 beaches of all kinds - then take a second look at costa rica.

for some general information - [www.govisitcostaria.com] or [www.costa-rica-guide.com] or [www.anywherecostarica.com]

for caribbean coast, [www.puertoviejosatellite.com]

for part of the pacific coast - [www.nicoyapeninsula.com] or [www.guanacastecostarica.com]

for diving or snorkeling - [www.costaricadiving.com] or [www.richcoastdiving.com] or [www.billbeardcostarica.com]

for the osa peninsula - characterized by the national geographic as the most biologically intense place on earth - start here: [http://wikitravel.org/en/Osa_Peninsula]

for some whitewater info, start here [www.riostropicales.com]

Hi,
You may want to visit the Southern Zone, particularly the Osa Peninsula for diving. Playa Dominical is a must for surfers and visitors who want the lay back style, inexpensive lodging and beaches that are not as developed as the beaches of Guanacaste.

Diving at Isla Cano off Drake Bay in the Osa is not cheap, nor easy to get to, and best tied into a 3-4 day trip to explore Corcovado. Its about $125 for a two tank dive, and not nearly as rich in marine life as Bay Islands, at $33 for a 2 tank dive,

Definitly! From January until end of April is hi season in Costa Rica.... never rains...sunny all and every day. March and April are the month hottest. So it is better if you came in january.

Costa Rica is Magical. Is a paradise. You have some much things to do and to see. You will never get boring there. You will have the best vacations of your life maybe. I came ones from vacations and now im leaving here because i got in love with this place. You can go surfing, also you can get Yoga lessons, ATV tour in the jungle, Natural parks to visit, volcans, Horsebackriding, Zipline, snorkeling, Scuba.....I can continue all night saying you what you can do. Also if you dont want to make to much activities and be more relax also you can do it in this fantastic beachs this country has.