I have a Passion about traveling to Costa Rica and giving you the best vacation for your money. We are in times where saving money is the most important part of our everyday life. I can show how to visit Costa Rica on a limited budget and still have a marvelous time.  Here are some of the things you will get while traveling with my groups.

I have stayed in many different hotels in Costa Rica and I would like to share with you what I have found.

When traveling to a foreign country it is often difficult to choose a hotel that will be safe for your family and deliver the best options for one’s budget.

I have done all the work so you can relax and enjoy your vacation.

I have based my findings on hotels that offer my groups what they are looking for in a vacation.  The hotels I have chosen are suitable for all age groups.  Before we get into the reasons I picked these hotels, I would like to talk a little about Costa Rica upon your first arrival.

If you are accustomed to living in the U.S. arriving in Costa Rica is a bit of a cultural shock, which will soon be replaced with breath taking views of some of the most beautiful nature in the world.

Depending upon the arrival of your flight, if it is after 12 noon, staying in the city of Alajeula is the best option.  Alajeula is very near the airport and offers different prices of hotels, some to fit every budget. 

For my groups wanting to take in some sites before heading to the rain forests, we stay in the downtown part of Alajeula. 

 

Hotel Villa Bonita is our favorite choice. 

This is a cute B&B that is located about 10 minutes from the airport in an area that is suitable for the explorers to have everything at their reach.

The hotel is owned by a beautiful Costa Rican family, who add so much to the experience of being in Costa Rica. The hotel offers a fantastic breakfast, which is included in the price.  There is a pretty little courtyard where you can relax and sip your favorite beverage. 

From this hotel, we can walk into the Central and spend some time watching the “Ticos” go about their daily activities.

In this area there are churches, parks, restaurants, theatres, shops, pharmacies, markets, and much more; this makes quite an experience for getting to know a different culture.  There is also a little night life for those seeking a little fun.  Everything can be found within walking distance, although a taxi is preferred if going out at night. As we all know, there is no safe place, just some safer than others.  I choose Alajeula over visiting San Jose.

For my groups that want to visit the Poas volcano and the coffee plantations, we travel up the mountain, which is about 30 minutes from the airport.

 

 

 

Hotel Buena Vista is our favorite choice.

 

This hotel is located over looking beautiful coffee plantations.  There is a nice pool area to relax and read a book with the fantastic view of the surrounding mountains.

There is a nature trail to hike through the plantations where one can see different types of plants.  There are breath taking views during the daytime and at night, one has a view of the thousands of lights of the valley of San Jose.  This is an awesome sight. 

The Poas volcano is located very near this hotel.  This volcano is a crater with emerging gases. After visiting the volcano, we hike to the waterfalls and visit the butterfly farm.  While visiting the butterfly farm, one is taken from the beginning of the egg to the birth of many different species of butterflies.  This is a real learning experience. All the children really love this and adults as well.

These adventures take a day to fully explore.  Here you will be surrounded by the most beautiful nature. 

While still visiting Hotel Buena Vista, we visit the beautiful botanical gardens Else Kientzler.  These gardens are about l ½ hours traveling by public bus or taxi. 

We also will visit and do a coffee tour.  This is a very interesting tour which takes you from the coffee plant where the beans are picked and roasted.   Here we can taste many different types of coffee.  For the coffee lover, this is awesome!

 

From Hotel Buena Vista we continue 2 ½ hours north to the village of La Fortuna.  This area is my favorite.  We will travel in a private van, meandering thru the most beautiful hillside.  For those with motion sickness issues, please bring your medicine. Transportation is around $39.00 one way for each person.

Upon arriving in La Fortuna, the beautiful volcano “Arenal” will greet us.  If she isn’t covered with clouds, we will be able to see her inactive side.  She is so large that all of this little village can see her.
My groups always stay at Hotel San Bosco.  This charming hotel has everything one could want.  The view of the volcano is awesome from the balcony.  My groups have really enjoyed their visits at this hotel.  There is a special little space upstairs where one can get a great view of the volcano.  I have done Yoga here, which takes you from the normal indoors regiment.

The staff here is wonderful.  There is a pool and Jacuzzi area, one large pool and one for the little guys.   This location is the best.  The central park is across the street.  The park consists of many beautiful flowers, which they still manicure by hand.  There are shops, restaurants, churches, pharmacies, grocery stores and much more. Do not get too excited.  These are small shops, there isn’t a Wal Mart. If you forgot something from home or need to get another bottle of water, within a couple of blocks, you have it all.

This little village offers all the fantastic tours.  Here we will visit the waterfalls which are located a little distance from center of downtown.

We will also do an evening jungle hike to Arenal volcano.  This starts around 3 p.m. and we will hike thru areas where wildlife can be spotted.

This is a slow hike, so everyone can participate.  We have spotted monkeys, sloth, and many different species of insects.  The hike finally finishes at a ledge at the base of the volcano.  As night is falling, one can see the red lava rocks traveling down the side of the volcano. Is this dangerous?  Yes, but well worth the risk.  This view is awesome and is contingent upon Mother Nature removing the clouds that sometimes cover the top of the volcano.  Some of my groups have been fortunate to have this experience.

After hiking to the volcano, we will visit the hot springs which flow from the active volcano.  My groups choose Baldi Springs for their favorite.  There are other hot springs here, but we find Baldi the best value for your buck. These springs are a “Must Do”. There are many different pools with varying degrees of temperature.  I am sure you will find one that fits your liking.  We will have dinner before or after soaking in these marvelous healing pools.

 

I have a friend named Lorena, who is a local in the village, who performs massage on my clients.  She is awesome and what a value she offers.  My groups get several massages while we spend our 4 days here.   She has a little Spa, which offers massage, hot rock treatment and volcanic mud packs.  These experiences are priceless.

For the adventure seekers, here we have whitewater rafting.  There are several rivers near La Fortuna.  These tours are very affordable and include, gear, transportation, lunch, and snacks.  The rivers are rated at different levels.  You will be able to find one which fits you.

For the nature lovers, we have the Hanging Bridges.  Theses trails are located about 25 minutes from town.  Once there, these trails meander in the forest, where one can see plants, waterfalls, monkeys, insects and much more.  The entrance is around $22.00 and well worth the price.  The transportation is around $40.00 which includes the driver waiting for you however long you decide to stay.  This price is usually divided between several people.

There are many tours offered on Lake Arenal, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing and more.

The most enjoyable tour is the Canopy Tour.  If your dream is to know how Tarzan felt swinging through the jungle... here..you will have your chance. 

La Fortuna offers so many different affordable tours; you will stay very busy here.

Visit the tours links on my Links Page of my website to get further details and pricing on any tours that you find interesting.

 

My groups feel really safe in La Fortuna, we use caution as we would in any other city.  This little town is very family oriented as is all of Costa Rica. One can see grandparents, parents, children, all sitting in the parks, playing, shopping and praying together.  This is a very refreshing sight.

I feel La Fortuna is the best village that offers my groups the best prices and the warm feeling of a small town.

You will fall in love, as I have with this charming little village.

 

These hotels offer great prices, great hospitality, clean rooms, location to all the action, and a safe place to sit back and relax.

I can guarantee that you will leave Costa Rica a different person, than when you arrived.

You will be enriched by meeting people from all over the world and experiencing different cultures.

Your friends will look at you with envy because you have traveled to a special and exotic country.

I can’t say enough about Costa Rica and how my many years of traveling there have changed my life forever.

 

www.CostaRicaInNature.com will give you the opportunity of a lifetime to visit Costa Rica affordably!

 

Let me take you there!