Looking for Costa Rica advice

[joedeep]

Hi All,

I'm doing some early planning for a trip to Costa Rica in February end. The goal is take lot of pictures of birds, mammals an any kind of wildlife. As I am travelling with family, I won't do Osa.
I have been spending hours of time to decide which places I should be visiting and it is overwhelming to narrow down.

Roughly I could figure three options -
SJO Airport - Manuel Antonio (and drip trip to south) - Arenal (may be Monteverde too) - Liberia and fly back home.
SJO Airport - Tortuguero - Arenal (may be Monteverde too) - Liberia and fly back home.
SJO Airport - Tortuguero - Cahuita/Punta Uva - Arenal - Liberia and fly back home.

Or I can skip Tortuguero and dedicate time in other places, as this requires park rental car at boat dock, then boat to reach Tortuguero, etc.

Many of you must be pretty familiar with these places. I would like to hear the opinions here.

Please advise. Thanks

[tcyin]

In 2015 we went to Costa Rica for a week. We rented a car from the airport in San Jose and drove to Manuel Alonso and then to Corcavado.  Then drove back north and stayed in a great Airbnb (Heliconia). I have a travel/photo blog which will give you some idea of what can be seen https://www.neurotraveler.com/home/2018/9/19/costa-rica  On the way to Manuel Alonso from San Jose you will pass Mirador de Quetzals. That is worth a stop if you are into photographing birds. Frog Heaven was also very nice stop. Have a great time!  And post your photos here!

[joedeep]

On 9/9/2024 at 5:18 PM, tcyin said:

In 2015 we went to Costa Rica for a week. We rented a car from the airport in San Jose and drove to Manuel Alonso and then to Corcavado.  Then drove back north and stayed in a great Airbnb (Heliconia). I have a travel/photo blog which will give you some idea of what can be seen https://www.neurotraveler.com/home/2018/9/19/costa-rica  On the way to Manuel Alonso from San Jose you will pass Mirador de Quetzals. That is worth a stop if you are into photographing birds. Frog Heaven was also very nice stop. Have a great time!  And post your photos here!

Thank you. I will check this website