Advice for first time traveler in Costa Rica.?

Fly into San Jose and spend the night there so that you can catch a flight to Arenal the next day. That is where the volcano is..Check out the Nature Air website for flight times. Stay at la Fortuna. Stay there for 2-3 days and catch a flight from Arenal to Quepos. Book a hotel in Manuel Antonio, I highly recommend the Mariposa Hotel, its nice and not as expensive as others in the area. I saw this hotel in Hotels.com and I so happened to call the hotel to ask a question, and they actually gave me a better rate than on line..fyi.. Manuel Antonio has a rainforest so you can go hiking, zip linining, river rafting (i recommend the savegre river) I suggest you book your return flight back home in the afternoon because it takes a long time to get checked in. You could either fly back to San Jose, or you could take the bus back if you have a later return time. We took the 6 am bus back to san jose (6 bucks) and they dropped us off at the airport 3 1/2 hours later... the buses arent scary either. taking a bus is cheap, but since you are pressed on time, you may not want to spend so much time on a bus. Hope this helps.

I agree with Do Not Rent a car. I dont recomend the dormitories for $5 dollars a night. If your $3000 dollar budget does not include food then that budget should get you airfare and stay in Costa Rica for about 2 months. Many budget travelers use the Lonely Planet. The backpackers bible but for Costa Rica I find THE COSTA RICA HANDBOOK is better. Costa Rica has a good bus system. If you need to have a cab for a day. Negociate a price with the driver before you use him.

Hi, and is good that you are planning to go over there, is so cool! Just beware of the weather, is going to be terribly rainy until the end of October, that means, sunny mornings rainy afternoons, foggy nights. 5 days? Ok, look, first stay in San Jose, I recommend Heminway Inn (cozy and close to everywhere), there you can do 1 day tours, one includes: Poas Volcano, La Paz waterfall and lunch at a coffee plantation. Other includes rafting and canopy plus tropical lunch in the caribbean. Those are great, because a year ago, they where not available, so you needed more days to see everything but now, those 1 day 3x1 tours are wonderful. Then on the fourth day take a taxi (call the agency named 5 stars, they speak english and are honest) to take you to Multiplaza Mall in Escazu, you can shop and lunch over there (Broiled chicken @ rostipollos, hmmm), and stay over during late afternoon, watch a game and have some chicken wings at Hooligans bar. There you can get a taxi back to your place, and have a five forks dinner, cheap, with a marvelous chef at a restaurant close to the Hemingway Inn named Cafe Mundo. Last day, go in taxi to the CR Museo de Arte costarricense, check over there the sculpture garden (the place used to be the first airport), have real coffee crossing the street at Soda Tapia (is like 50 years old place), and then take a quick tour to the National Theater, get a coffee cake! And well... something else if you have time? Check out costa rican typical food @ La casona de dona Lela en Escazu!

If you are into fishing you definitely want to go to Quepos on the Pacific side of CR. Fly Sansa Air from San Jose to Quepos for only $118.00 round trip after spending a night or two at the Hotel Delrey downtown San Jose to check out the lovely ladies who welcome you with a "Hello Baby! Would you like some company tonight"?

Then hit the Hotel Kamuk in Quepos for $50.00 per night which is a fantastic hotel with great rooms, food, and a great wine list!

If you have the time - go to Tamarindo Beach and stay at the Hotel Diria which is right on the beach.

Both places are right in the middle of everything you could possibly want to see or do in Costa Rica!

Good Luck!

Viva La Pura Vida!

san jose is like any other big city. that's where most of the "crime" is at. but besides that just keep an eye where or with who you would be. go to the arenal to ck on the volcano and the lava flooding thru little canals. at quepos for the fishing and the beach. monteverde for the cloud forest and san jose area not is san jose downtown for the poas volcano and the braulio carrillo rainforest park. that would take6 to 7 costa rica is small but is quite confusing or heavy the ride from one side to another.

Alajuela is a lot safer than san Jose,closer to the airport and a mayor hub for many bus lines.

You can do a lot of day trips from there.

Stay in a hostel and hook up with other travelers,then travel together !

Here´s one in Alajuela : www.alajuelacampground.com

That's interesting

that's a tricky question