Help in picking a beach on the central pacific coast!

My friend and I are traveling this coming week to CR for a very short trip and wanted to spend our last night somewhere on a beach in the pacific coast. We will be coming from Monteverde and leaving the next day from San Jose, so ideally it would be between both of those places (...we haven't heard any good things about Puntarenas or Jaco, where we were originally considering)- any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Also, while I'm posting- any input re: hotels in the Arenal/La Fortuna area or Monteverde would be greatly appreciated- looking to spend under $100 a night.

Thanks in advance!

I don't have a map handy but we spent time near Manual Antonio after visiting Monteverde and before returning to San Jose. Check out The Blue Monkey. On local bus route between Quepos and Manual Antonio. Plus, San Jose bus stops across the street.

For a place to stay near Monteverde, check out www.cabinassolyluna.com/English/index.html

I would suggest our little town of Esterillos Oeste. A laid back fishing village, but still with plenty of great little restaurants and bars right on the beach. It's only 15 minutes south of Jaco if you did want to check out Jaco but not stay there. This area is the closest beaches in proximity to the airport. If you don't have transport already set up, the bus out of Jaco is only $2.50 and drops you off right at the airport.

Hi, a nice hotel in la Fortuna is Cataratas Resort $90 doble, and your last nigth is better Joco than Puntarenas.
Cinthya
Enjoy your trip
www.jardintropicalbandb.com

Would it be better to instead do Monteverde --> Arenal/La Fortuna and then go to a beach on the carribean coast before heading back to San Jose?

Thanks for all the help thus far!

It's pretty much a toss up, but I would still lean towards the Central Pacific coast if for no other reason the ease of getting back to San Jose and the airport.

I like the Hotel Arco Iris Lodge in Santa Elena, Monteverde.

I'm a bit concerned that you might get yourself in a time-crunch by spending your last night at a central pacific beach location. Jaco is 2 hours from the airport and Manuel Antonio is about 3 1/2 hours under excellent driving conditions. An accident could have traffic at a stand-still for hours. Last year, I spend 3 hours near San Mateo waiting for a semi-trailer loaded with scrap iron to be moved off the roadway after an axle broke.

It is wise to spend your last night near the airport. They recommend travelers get to the airport three hours before their flight. Your seat may be sold if you have not checked in one hour before your flight. Don't forget that you will have to pay your $26 exit fee. Enjoy

Spin is correct, you do risk not making it back to SJ due to countelss delays and issues.

I suggest staying in SJO area the night prior, unless the flight is after 2pm. You need to be at airport .25 hours prior, pay Departure Tax $26 Long Line, check in at airline counter (long Lines), go thru security (long line) and then to gate.

Airline counters close check in 1 hour prior on international departures....

2.5 hours prior...not .25...

I do see what you are saying- thank you for the advice. Our flight is at 2:45 pm, so we were hoping to stay at a nice beach on the pacific coast close to SJO- if we do decide to go there say, a day before our departure, do you have any suggestions of nice beach places in close-ish proximity to San Jose but still with nice charm and scenery?

any of the beaches from Jaco to Manuel Antonio would fit the bill. Although Jaco is not a little laid back town like the rest of them, so if you want to relax in a place that still has some charm then I suggest either of the Esterillos beaches, Oeste, Central, or Este. There is also Hermosa, but it's not as laid back.

I agree withSpin!

best beaches on the Central Pacific IMO are Manuel Antonio and Samara!

Costa Rica Beaches