What to do in Costa Rica or Panama? - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

showe0208 · 12-27-2006, 07:19 PM

Hi Guys,
We are going to Costa Rica, Panama and Belize on the Carnival Legend. I have never been to these Islands. We will probabaly beach it in Belize but not sure about Costa Rica and Panama. Any suggestions? Do you think it's safe to book excursions outside the Cruise lines?

hanna · 12-27-2006, 08:32 PM

Not sure about Panama, but Costa Rica...IMHO, NO. Kind of a rough area. I would pay the extra for the safety of the ship's excursions. We did a tour to the rainforest in CR and thoroughly enjoyed it. Once at the rainforest, we took a tram ride through the rainforest(it was slow and safe). It was a 2 hour bus ride, but it wasn't bad, and the countryside was quite pretty.

showe0208 · 12-27-2006, 08:44 PM

Thanks Hanna
That's what I've heard also. The two hour ride doesn't sound too appealing but they do have a new canopy tour that sounds fun!

hanna · 12-27-2006, 08:47 PM

Actually, we enjoyed the ride. On the way back, we stopped at a banana plantation, pretty interesting. A canopy tour sounds fun too, if you are fit! Which I'm not! Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will fun, new experiences and all!

wrp96 · 12-27-2006, 09:40 PM

It depends on what you want to do whether or not it would be wise to go independent in Panama or Costa Rica. In Panama, I did an excursion through the cruiseline where they take you the length of the canal in a ferry, which was really amazing. I've heard really good things about My Friend Mario's tours in Panama.

In Costa Rica, I did a wonderful tour through the ship which took us 3 hours inland to Tabacon Hot Springs and Mt. Arenal Volcano. I went through the cruiseline due to the time and distance involved (3 hours drive away from the port, and 3 hours back - the tour was the entire time we were in Costa Rica and they held the ship for us). However, I've heard really good things about independent excursions through Oscar involving the Tortueguero Canals and a Canopy tour and other things.

showe0208 · 12-27-2006, 10:02 PM

Fit? OhOh- I thought you just floated down on a harness. I better look into this deeper. LOl

CAnderson · 12-29-2006, 12:08 AM

For Costa Rica, you really should make an exception to a ship's excursion, and take a tour with Oscar Brown. We've found our way to Costa Rica 3 times now (it's a lot more civilized than people here make it out to be), and Oscar has provided us with a fantastic tour each time. You can contact his sister Carol, who manages the bookings, at cbrown@costarricense.cr

Here are some samples from Caro's email of this time last year:

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Here a some info, on the different tours.

Tour #1

The Tortuguero Canal tour is a tour through the rain forest, where as you go comfortable in a boat, you can see all wild life: alligator, monkeys, slots, different type of birds, Then I will take you to the Bamboo trade school, banana plantation, coco beans farm, City tour, a tour at the ANIMAL PRESERVE PLACE where you see while life and get personal contact with them (no snakes), a white sand beach, the rich area, and a surprise stop; witch will take you to the highest part of the city. I include soft drinks along the tour. We have a stop for the purchasing of souvenirs and coffee. This is $50 per person, and it goes for 5 hours.

Tour #2

The Canopy tour: This is a sieve line where you switch from one three to a another: Hiking in the jungle., I include a stop on a white sand beach are a black sand beach, it is your chaise, a visit to the Bamboo trade school, banana plantation, coco beans farm, The animal preserve place, City tour, the rich area, and a surprise stop; witch will take you to the highest part of the city. This is $75 per/person, no extra charge. This include transportation and zip lining and a stop for the purchase for coffee and souvenirs . I will make the reservation, it is better that way. This tour is for 5 to 6 hours, sometimes more. This is depend on what the group want to do.
The one that don't want to do the zip line, only pay $35 for the transportation, and I will take them to a little village near by meanwhile the others do the zip line.

Tour #3

Tour to the Aerial Tram:
This tour takes you to the highest part of Costa Rica giving you the best vie through the highest part of the country, in the rain forest. And the way to this place you see pine apple plantation, carne fields and rafting river. This is $50 for transportation and you pays $49.50 for the going on the aerial tram. Then After I will take you to a surprise stop. This tour is for 6 to 7 hours, I include soft drink along the road

Tour #4

And I have the Costa Flores, and the butterfly tour, here you see lots of flowers all different variety , the same thing at the butterfly place, the only thing is that they charge to enter each places, and I make a special price for the transportation and to enter to both places; $80 per person, (they charge a fee to enter these places). I include in this tour, pine apple and banana plantation, a stop at a place where you see all different species of fish, soft drink along the road. With this tour you see and learn a lot more things of this country.

Tour #5

For the Sloth Sanctuary I include a visit to the Bamboo trade school, banana plantation, coco beans farm, City tour, the two biggest hotels around the coast, one is a botanical garden, and the other one has a nice vie on a tall hill, the rich area, and a surprise stop; witch will take you to the highest part of the city. This is $30 per/person, for the transportation, and to enter the Sloth Sanctuary you pay $25 and this include the canopy tour the gives in this place. So in all it will be $55 per person for every thing.

Tour #6

The Cahuita National Park and a tour on the beaches of Limon.
This tour take you to the Cahuita National Park of Limon, where they charge a donation to enter the park, and for a walk through the forest, and you have a chance to see, monkey, sloth’s, and other animals. And also, get the history and information of this particular forest.
For this tour I take your to see 2 different beach of the area; Cahuita beach, and Puerto Viejo beach. With these two beaches you have the opportunity to see the with sand beach and the black sand beach. (This is for the people who love to bead in the sea)
Besides, I include, soft drinks along the road, a visit to the Bamboo trade school, banana plantation, coco beans farm, City tour, the two biggest hotels around the coast, one is a botanical garden, and the other one has a nice vie on a tall hill, the rich area, and a surprise stop; witch will take you to the highest part of the city. This is $50 per/person, no extra charge.
You will have the opportunity to visit the installation of Colon Caribe, where you have one of the biggest souvenir shop. Are if you prefer, we will just go to the market to do your shopping, this is your choice.
This tour is for 5 to 6 hours, sometimes more.

canarymoon · 02-08-2008, 09:39 AM

I have heard fascinating things about Costa Rica's "Cloud Forest."
Don't know if where the ships dock is close enough to allow a visit, but would sure love to hear from anyone who actually has a first hand account of the Cloud Forest.

Rosie · 02-20-2008, 09:58 AM

We had the time of our life with Almonds & Corals for their zip lining experience! Nice clean bus for transportation, English spoken very well, tour guide was GREAT, banaba plantation, coffee stops, and explanations all the way around the island--VERY good!

alvarorg · 06-25-2008, 04:10 AM

Are you gonna get a cruise to pass the Panama canal? probably you will be visiting Costa Rica in this ocacion, Is a pleasure informe to you that I will be there to give you a excellent time.Personalizad Tours. Costa Rica experts Pure Life Trips - Costa Rica