Any experiences in central america here? Costa Rica?

[flamin lib]

We are early 70s and in pretty good shape for walking, moderate hiking and of course marathon shopping for indigenous artistry. Eco tourism and the local experience for English speakers are important to us. Any advice for central american retreats is what we're looking for.

Thanks!

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I just returned from 80 degree Panama a week ago. It's a beautiful

country, mostly very modern and Americanized. I had no idea Panama City was so large and has a skyline to rival Manhattan. The exchange rate is one for one and the US dollar is accepted everywhere.
If you go, take a ship through the Canal. It's an all day trip, but fascinating to experience. Also spend some time at the Gamboa Rainforest. Saw monkeys, sloths, and capibara in the wild.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. I may ask you more about this some time in the future

I had a friend who owned a restaurant in St Tropez for years - then bolted there and opened a farm/hotel. She loves it. Native of France left and she and her husband have never looked back.

Not this year but perhaps next I'd like to go visit her - then do some tourism in Panama.

[cilla4progress]

2. We enjoyed Costa Rica -

Visiting it in December 2014 to link up with our daughter who was completing study abroad.

We stayed in the small, quiet town of Quepos on the southwest coast. Preferring more local experiences, staying in an Air Bnb, rather than the westernized hotels in the upscale section. We also spent days wandering in town and in the national Manuel Antonio park, a bit of a tourist destination.

So, no zip lining for us. Just monkeys on the roof in the morning; Arenal - an
active volcano that was alas shrouded in clouds but made for an enjoyable rainy hike; at the tail end of the trip, a hairy but exciting drive in a rental car to the capital, San Jose, where a cousin lives. Thankfully we met him at the hotel - impossible driving!

Watch out for touristy areas - off the beaten path is best, if you like that kind of thing. Lonely planet has a good book.

By the way - we were surprised at the local gastronomy. The fancy restaurants tended towards Italian! If you research the history
and culture first, that could help be a guide. Many different regions and experiences to be had there. Have fun!

[bettyellen]

3. Love Costa Rica- the west coast has drier weather- is more arid and has a lot of eco-tourism,

Yoga, surfing, Europeans and retirees. The people are relaxed and lovely. I had friend stay on the east coast and it’s lush and beautiful but they got tons of rain everyday and traveled all the way west just to get some sun .

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Very well traveled there and

Bought land in Parrita to start building a home there. There's another member here Arenal who might give some good insight too - she and her spouse are thinking retirement there a lot sooner than us.

Ideas - we live in between NYC and Philly - and have both traveled in large cities solo . . .

San Jose is not this big tawdry seedy place.

Manuel Antonio - beautiful beach. Pay a tour guide to take you through the park. Not sure of your budget - but Gaia Hotel is wonderful. Small boutique hotel and breakfast is to die for.

The sunset in Manuel Antonio is a big deal - stop into El Avion. Great place to watch it.

Sodas (like a cross between a diner and convenience store) have really good "typical food" if you want a quick bite.

Arenal is beautiful - do a rainforest walk with a guide - you will get more out of it. Also do a hike with a guide to the Volcano up there. If you don't want to have to do a long expensive excursion to take advantage of the hot springs, then stay at The Royal Corin. Their springs are the same with a beautiful view of the Volcano.

Another Volcano - Poas. I wouldn't do a tour group for this. Stay in San Jose a night or two - suggest the Alameda de Golf Cariari. Another boutique hotel - breakfast is wonderful.one of the women makes really good fruit breads. From there, get up early and drive up to Poas Volcano early morning. Along the way a lot of little shops and artisan places. Note them for your way back. You need walking shoes - you walk up on a paved/stone path. Then you wait. We waited an hour - while several tours came and then had to move onto their next stop

When the clouds cleared - the most stunning thing I've ever seen - more beautiful than Niagara Falls. I'm hesitant to link to pictures here on my social media but the Poas Volcano is beautiful.

This is high level but things you can do in a week.

Our first trip we flew into San Jose, paid a driver to take us up to Arenal. Worth it to sight see. Cabs are inexpensive in La Fortuna (Arenal Town) and there some great local places.

Then we flew to Quepos (Manuel Antonio airport). You could do maybe 9/10 days - if you wanted to drive from Quepos back to San Jose. That's a really easy drive. You also get to stop at the crocodile bridge and check all those crocs out.

That's just a high level first timer trip. I know all of the new "all inclusive" spots are in Guanacaste - I just don't think you get the real Pura Vida unless you go boutique/small hotels, sodas, tipico restaurants.

Let us know if you need more ideas as you plan your trip.

One cool thing we did our first time to CR in Manuel Antonio - Damas Mangroves on a boat. You are literally this television show for the Capuchins. Yes, they are very very cute but they are also very very VERY naughty. Like - made lovey eyes at my husband as the stole his hat. Then the little rascal gave it to me and kept teasing him.

It gives you a different mini eco system from the mountains and a sense of the power of water.

[EX500rider]

6. I lived there for 5 years..

....but its gotten a little too touristy for me now, but I speak fluent Spanish. I now go to Colombia, cheap like Costa Rica was back in the '70's. (Spirit flies to Colombia for $300-400 from Fla- VivaColombia flies there for $200-300 from Miami)

Costa Rica pop: 4.8 million -number of tourists per year 2.6 million -country size: 20,000 sq miles
Colombia pop: 48 million -number of tourists per year 3 million - country size: 440,000 sq miles

[flamin lib]

7. Thanks. Nice to get this kind of hands on info. Nt

[EX500rider]

8. If you ever do Colombia..

....Cartagena is on the coast, too hot and muggy and the cruise ships go there so it's been ruined....Bogota is too high/cold at 10,000 ft and too big at 6 million....Medellin is at 5,000ft, 72f avg year round temp and the tourists are afraid of the ghost of Pablo Escobar so they don't go there as much. My 15 story hotel there is $26 a night.

Costa Rica....if you want to avoid the tourists go down to the southern Osa Peninsula in the SW, all the tourists do the Nicoya Peninsula.

The Monte Verde rain forest is pretty, all the volcano's are cool, the bridge with all the crocs is Rio Tarcoles on the west coast.
and not a lot of tourists do Mt Chirripo in the south, on a clear day you can see both oceans.

[Major Nikon]

9. I went there a couple of years ago

I went to the Pacific side which I’m told is different climate-wise compared to the Caribbean side. I went in January which is reportedly a good time to go. The weather was excellent. We stayed in an all inclusive adults only resort and I stayed at least half drunk most of the time. So perhaps not what you are looking for. My experience was that Costa Rica has a pretty good tourist trade, and most involved in it speak English well. I speak a little Spanish, but it wasn’t really needed because we didn’t go outside the resort much outside of a tour group.

We took a day trip to Nicaragua which was well worth it, but there’s a big difference between the two economies.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. You might want to PM lakearenal...she's moving there !!