Ugh...Please talk me out of Manuel Antonio...

Hey, I've heard that MA is pretty oversaturated with tourism and more like a zoo than a park; however, we only have 7 days in CR and was looking for one concentrated place that we could snorkle, hike, and enjoy the beach.

MA seems to have all three, while some of the other places in CR seem definitely nicer, but are missing one out of those things we're looking to do.

I've been to CR once before a long time ago, and had a lot more time. I got to get to know most of the Nicoya peninsula, so I don't really want to go there. I'm hearing that the Carribean side might be a good idea; however, some of the things to do seem spaced out. I'd really like to spend most of my time in just one town if possible since I only have a week. Any advice would be appreciated.

Also, I'm going in late May/early June, and am concerned about rain out days. Does it rain more that time of the year on the Caribbean side?

Also, since I'm short on time. It looks like I might be having to use the gringo shuttles. My flight lands at 8PM. I was just curious if the gringo shuttles even drive at night? And if so, any recommendations?

You have to check out Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. It's way better, amazing hikes, pretty beaches. Lots of wildlife and very few people. It takes a while to get there but it's worth it. Especially if you want to spend 5+ days in one spot

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Ugh...Please talk me out of Manuel Antonio...

Easy, don't do it, you'll hate yourself and your friends/family will hold it against you forever. Hope that helps.
I don't recall any good snorkeling in the area anyway, just a lot of people and an overrated beach and forest.

With 7 days go to the Caribe, Cahuita or Puerto Viejo or a nice a beach bungalow south to Manzanillo, all 3 have what your looking for. They are not that spread out, it's a 1/2 hour between Cahuita and PV and easy fun bike ride from PV to Manzanillo, really depends on what type of town/location you want.

Getting in at 8pm I'd just get a place in Alajuela for the night, very nice walking town 10mins. from the airport.
Set up a private shuttle for the next morning to get you to one of the above, it's a killer area.
Might consider rafting the Pacuare River on your last full day, it's a gas, they'll drop you off in Alajuela at the end of the trip.

Sorry for repeating a lot of what #3 already said... I wrote this before I saw his post.

I loved the Caribbean coast. Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and the beaches south of PV. That may sound like it is spread out but from Cahuita to Puerto Viejo by bus is only 30 minutes. And from PV to Manzanillo is also 30 minutes. Also, south of PV you can rent a bike and then just go from beach to beach. I would spend the first night in Alajuela (the town closest to the airport). The next morning take a bus from San Jose to Cahuita (for example at 8 am) and you will be there by noon. Spend two nights there. The Cahuita National Park is amazing: rainforest, beautiful beaches (some good for swimming) and lots of wildlife. Good hiking trail (almost 10 km return). Snorkeling only with a guide. Then choose a beach near PV or south of PV. We stayed in Manzanillo, a small village with a wildlife refuge. Great for hiking but better with a guide if you go far. We also walked to Punta Uva, nice beach. Lots of wildlife in that area. Snorkeling is supposed to be good in Punta Uva (the ocean was too rough in March). CR doesn't have great snorkeling so don't expect too much. As for the weather... I believe end of May/early June is not when it rains the most but there is a good chance it will rain. Usually late afternoon showers or rain at night. In March we had one day with showers and one day of rain. We still went hiking though and enjoyed the chorus of frogs.

If you really only want one spot you could visit the Cahuita NP as a day trip from the Puerto Viejo area.

http://www.puertoviejosatellite.com/

To get to Cahuita or Puerto Viejo from San Jose or to get back to San Jose from Cahuita or Puerto Viejo consider the rafting trip on the Rio Pacuare (the tour company picks you up at one end, takes you rafting and drops you off at the other end).

It's always been a dream of mine to make it to the Osa Peninsula... but I think the logistics of getting there and back eat up too much time unfortunately. Especially since the day our flight leaves it's at 7AM. It looks like getting there from SJO can be a full day or even 1 1/2 day event. I just wish I had more time.

Manual Antonio is a nice area and nice park, but its developed, and touristy. The park is small and all trails can be hiked in 2 hours. The beach is small and the majority of lodges are above the park and beach. Its a nice place to getaway from the capital for locals with family or a fun weekend at the beach, lodging at all budget levels. Its very popular, and has a lot of tourist...

But when it comes to nature/wildlife, and bio diversity, there are dozen better places to visit. MA is for lazy weekend tourist, or package tourist etc, its really not a place you should go unless you have very little time and want nature and beach, close to San Jose...

Otherwise, the key parks to visit, are Tortuguero, Cano Negro, Tenerio, Osa-Corcovado, La Amistad. For great beaches, hit the caribe side, or the many nice surf towns on the Pacific side...

The most overrated parks in the country are Monteverde & Manual Antonio, best avoided IMO.

Thanks guys! It looks like the PV Cahuita looks like it may be the way to go...the only snorkling I was thinking of doing was taking that trip out to Cano Island from Quepos for the day. My fiance has never seen really really clear water like that. So I take it the Caribbean side has equally good spots too then? Also, I like the idea of renting a bicycle and exploring.

I would not count on really clear water, its going to be rainy season in 2 weeks and sediment can make water not so clear, the pacific is not known for blue, more green, as the sand is brown, not white. The caribe side the same is lighter, but not white, more light brown....

Cano Negro is in the open ocean, 15-20ft to bottom, so snorkeling there should be early morning before the waves and swells build, but its nothing special. I would go to Playa Bellena near Uvita at low tide, long before Cano negro.

ON caribe side, there are areas in Cahuita NP to snorkel, but its better in Playa Chequita and Punta Uva, as the beach area is protected more from the wind. Its is the wind,that creates the waves...

I would not put CR on a shirt list for scuba or snorkel, its all about nature, wildlife and parks. You want to snorkel on a reef, which CR does not have one, so you should head to Caymans, Aruba, Bahamas, where the sand is light, and the reflection makes the water much clearer...

If you land at 8, you are not going anywhere, by the time you clear immigration its now 9pm. It gets dark at 6pm. You don't travel at night in CR, period. Shuttles and buses run in mornings always, and some early afternoon...but they like to get done by 5pm...

As you don't have much time you could fly to Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez (at least one way). By bus it is 8 hours or so from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. Drake Bay would be 6 hours or so by bus (bus to Palmar Norte, bus or taxi to Sierpe) and then a boat to Drake Bay. Do you have 7 full days or are you including your day of arrival and departure?

If you could spend 5 full days in the Osa you would have to choose: Puerto Jimenez, Cabo Matapalo, Carate and maybe the three day trek to the Sirena ranger station in Corcovado Park.
Or Drake Bay with a boat tour to Sirena and the snorkeling tour to Cano Island.

As for Cahuita: I would actually choose a beach south of Puerto Viejo to stay at if you are going to stay in one spot. That is also where you would rent the bike. And do a day trip to the Cahuita National Park by bus. Again, it depends on how many full days you have. If you do stay in Cahuita you can choose to be near Playa Negra (a 15 minute walk from downtown and the National Park) or downtown.

Sorry- Isla Cano, Not Cano Negro...

Thanks everyone for this great information! Some really great things to think about and work in. I have seven days, but that's including arrival and departure... so kind of like 5 days I guess... and because our departure flight is at 7AM, kind of like 4 days. I probably should get back to Alleluja the day before I leave, right?

The snorkeling thing isn't as important to me as it is my fiancee. We're from New ORleans, and she's never seen clear water her entire life, at least like it is in the Caribbean and all. I just really want her to experience how it looks I suppose, but that can be a different trip for a different year. If we can see the entire MA park in like a day, there really is no reason to spend our entire trip there. Logistic from the airport and back are super easy, and that was one big positive for me (given our short time frame) but if the Caribbean coast is just as easy to get to/from, I am really exploring that idea now. The thought of rafting back to Alleluja seems really cool too!

From New Orleans, some of the best beaches in the entire hemisphere are 5 hours east in Destin/Sea Side...crystal clear blue water right now....

With 4 nights, head to Cahuita, as you need two nights for Tortuguero...

Yes, you need to be back in Alajuela the day prior, its 4 hours to/from Cahuita to SJ, and 5 hours from Pt Viejo.

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