Overall a great trip.We had a bit of back an...

Costa Rica | Apr 11 - Apr 17, 2025

Overall a great trip.
We had a bit of back and forth about our planned accommodations, but after that, we had three great hotels- resorts and nice trips to attend.
Manoa Hotel in la Fortuna has the most beautiful gardens and a ton of birds- tucans, wild peacocks, and a ton of egrets and small birds. We had a hiking trip around the Arenal volcano forest and we had a great guide named Carlos. Very knowledgable about nature and history and geology. Then we went to hot springs spa- totally not worth it, unless you enjoy to share a warm, crowded small body of water with a bunch of strangers who are served drinks and never leave to pool to go to the bathroom. They had a very nice buffet restaurant. one downside- our driver forgot about us and it took the front desk to call and investigate before someone showed up 30 minutes later to get us to our hotel. He appeared surprised that he wasn't tipped.
Poco A Poco in Monteverde- nice, compact hotel, with its own trail into nearby jungle. I arrived there with a bad stomach issue and they had a room for us in 10 minutes, even though the check-in wasn't for another 3 hours.
All the trips we booked- cocoa plantation, night jungle trip and the canopy bridges the next day were enjoyable, in my husband's view ( I was sick for 2 days, so I didn't participate)
And then Shana by the sea near Manuel Antonio National park - forget the sea. water is not clear, nor blue. No surprise, it is on a Pacific side. The path- very steep-takes you to the secluded beach with dark colored gravel. But first you have to wade thru a dark murky pond with water coming out of Mongrove forest. Not big, maybe 25 feet wide, but enough to make you not trust the water. Don't bother to go there, better spend time at the pools. Beautiful pools and gorgeous views make up for no beach. The staff, especially Carlos in the front office, are extremely helpful and nice.
We had added attraction of Capuchin monkeys visit the hotel every afternoon. Nice but they steal stuff- keep your balcony doors closed. Again, lots of colorful big and small birds .
And Views to die for.
I highly recommend a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. We managed to see both kinds of sloths, an anteater, monkeys, birds, inland crabs, deer, the famous colorful frogs, lizards ,even a tiny snake.
Downside- we visited in a week before Easter so all locals had time off and the park was beyond crowded.
I was pleasantly surprised that Eli, our guide, managed to find animals for us to see. I imagine that any less busy time of the year only adds to the allure.
Overall, a nice trip, well organized,
To those who expect a real jungle experience- you may be surprised . The trails and paved with gravel, there are water stations along the trails. Very civilized.