Predominantly English speaking? They call those Gringo bars...hehe. Actually the Caribbean coast has people that speak a form of English you probably would understand, but no one would say those areas give you a sense of safety.
Live a little and don't worry about the language. Every day hundreds of gringos get off planes from the US and maybe 10% of them have any decent command of Spanish. The locals are very used to it and find ways around it, if not by speaking English at least speaking enough for you to get by. And tours are offered everywhere in English so that surely isn't a problem.
Live a little and don't worry about the language. Every day hundreds of gringos get off planes from the US and maybe 10% of them have any decent command of Spanish. The locals are very used to it and find ways around it, if not by speaking English at least speaking enough for you to get by. And tours are offered everywhere in English so that surely isn't a problem.
rainforests= monteverde (HORRIBLE road......now some say its worth it) otherwise stick to the aerial tram in braulio carrillo road, its a 5 hour tour or so
volcanoes = irazu,poas and arenal, first two are 5 hour tour from San Jose, for the other you better go to La Fortuna and spend a few days there, Venado Caverns are cool if you like adventure
Also Turrialba volcano, if you want to do some real exercise you can try to get to the top from Turrialba Lodge which is a hotel right in front of it, its an awesome view but this volcano in particular is not active right now
I love Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, that's in Carribean side, its not as freaking busy as Guanacaste and its closer to San Jose as well, its also very cheap as the accomodations are not even 3 stars (don't expect a tv or phone in the room)
december/january and feb probably not the best times to visit as everything is swamped with both locals and tourists
volcanoes = irazu,poas and arenal, first two are 5 hour tour from San Jose, for the other you better go to La Fortuna and spend a few days there, Venado Caverns are cool if you like adventure
Also Turrialba volcano, if you want to do some real exercise you can try to get to the top from Turrialba Lodge which is a hotel right in front of it, its an awesome view but this volcano in particular is not active right now
I love Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, that's in Carribean side, its not as freaking busy as Guanacaste and its closer to San Jose as well, its also very cheap as the accomodations are not even 3 stars (don't expect a tv or phone in the room)
december/january and feb probably not the best times to visit as everything is swamped with both locals and tourists
NOREAGA..
Come to San Jose for a day and night..There are some great spots here to see..Then I would head to the Pacific Side..The weather is getting real nice now and places like Tamarindo and manuel Antonio are great spots this time of year..
Jaco is the closest place to San jose and they have a Marriott there..Also Playa Hermosa has some nice little Hotels on the beach..
www.hotelparador.com
great spot in Quepos..Come..the country over the next few months will really rock..Especially now with the 4 seasons hotel in full swing..
Come to San Jose for a day and night..There are some great spots here to see..Then I would head to the Pacific Side..The weather is getting real nice now and places like Tamarindo and manuel Antonio are great spots this time of year..
Jaco is the closest place to San jose and they have a Marriott there..Also Playa Hermosa has some nice little Hotels on the beach..
www.hotelparador.com
great spot in Quepos..Come..the country over the next few months will really rock..Especially now with the 4 seasons hotel in full swing..
Montezuma (south-west corner of Nicoya Peninsula in Guantecaste) is the only town I've been where English is nearly the predominant language. I do recommend it.
Guantecaste busy? Guess you haven't been down the peninsula: Nosara, Mal Pais, Montezuma, etc. Although I do really like Puerto Viejo as well.
Guantecaste busy? Guess you haven't been down the peninsula: Nosara, Mal Pais, Montezuma, etc. Although I do really like Puerto Viejo as well.
Last edited:
I spend the odd weekend at this place.... very safe and they have GREAT rooms, jacuzzi in bedroom and balcony fire places etc. As well they have the largest butterfly farm, do't lauch , it is very cool, and differet types of walking tours through jungle and La Paz waterfalls.... very night, guided or un guided, suggest the un guided with the box lunch, very well makred trails.
http://www.waterfallgardens.com/
canuck
http://www.waterfallgardens.com/
canuck
Just don't be like the losers I met in the lobby of the place I stayed in last time I went to San Jose. Two guys, maybe early 40s, they said they had been in the country for 12 days of a 16 day vacation. I was looking for some inspiration as I hadn't really mapped out my stay and asked them where they had been. They ticked off the name of every frickin gringo bar in town! They named the names of a bunch of female bartenders and of course plenty of working girls, but these guys had not been out of the city yet! Even more ridiculous after a few minutes one guy says "yeah we are from San Diego so we do get to enjoy the action down in Tijuana, but it is nothing as good as this". Unbelievable, they came for 16 days of that when they live 45 minutes from it and didn't even bother so much to go on a day trip!
