Thread: Costa Rica

The torgugero (sp) canals were great..........speed boats.......down these rivers and canals........saw crocodiles.......bats........and they give you rain ponchos to wear so the water from the boats don't spray you.

kinda sounds like the airboat excursions in the Everglades minus the bats...

Very similar Alisa..........when we got on the boats the guy handed us a rain poncho and said you'll need this..........I said what the hell for Soon found out.....and glad I had it on.

Originally Posted by isujim

We all felt like the Griswolds on the bus.............Roll um up

were you wearing blue jeans?

Costa Rica is a free nation. There are guards to keep the peace, not because of riots,etc. I have lived there (San Jose) and I know what the country is like. the borders are the most dangerious. that is why the nation guard are on stand by. They have no army, navy or military. Very peaceful country. Look at the problems in countrys on eather side.

If you have a port stop in Limon, Costa Rica, and are interested in using an independent ... we found MAMBO TOUR very helpful!

Here's their email address: mambotur@hotmail.com

Just contact Mambo and they'll email you the latest tours they are offering along with pricing. (Also, they can arrange private taxis, group vans, etc.)

LuLu

We did a one day excursion on our cruise, and I would love to go back to really experience the country. Because most of the better things to do in Costa Rica are in the interior, it's about a 2 hour ride each way, at least from the west coast. For that reason, some people just stay on the ship. I am very glad I did not. Things to see:

• The capital city of San Jose. The opera house is supposed to be beautiful and the rest of the city received good reports too.
• The town of Sarchi. Craftsmen make leather goods and donkey carts here that many people buy for souvenirs (I did NOT buy a donkey cart!, but I did buy a very well made purse in Costa Rica)
• The National Parks. Costa Rica is volcanic, so there are several parks with active volcanos that you can see. These parks also have nature walks and animal preserves
• Ziplining! We did not go, but this would be a great place to go. You go through well maintained rainforests. The lines and rigs for this are well-maintained as well.
• Waterfalls
• Hot springs. This is what we did. Not far from the Arenal Volcano, there is an area where the ground water is heated from vents below. The whole area was like what I imagine paradise to look like. I would LOVE to go back, but it would have to be for several days, since the ride to and from the springs is long and bumpy. But take a look and see what you think: www.tabacon.com
• Beaches. These are not as far from the port.

Jim, I did not see barbed wired around Puntarenas, and that area is extremely poor. There is not much to do there, unless you go on an excursion, but I did not hear of people being bothered they way they do in some of the Caribbean ports.

Since Costa Rica is volcanic and in a rain forest, the roads need constant maintenance, and that is not always easy to come by. I can say the worst part of our excursion was having to be in a bus on bumpy roads for long periods of time. But for one day, I can put up with it! We also only had 4 ports on our cruise, so I did not want to miss this one!

Originally Posted by LuLu

If you have a port stop in Limon, Costa Rica, and are interested in using an independent ... we found MAMBO TOUR very helpful!

Here's their email address: mambotur@hotmail.com

Just contact Mambo and they'll email you the latest tours they are offering along with pricing. (Also, they can arrange private taxis, group vans, etc.)

LuLu

Lulu...what tour did you take with Mombo ? I'm trying to figure out what we might want to do while in Limon....even tho' we're quite a way away from doing that cruise. 2007!!!

Originally Posted by flsunbakd

Lulu...what tour did you take with Mombo ? I'm trying to figure out what we might want to do while in Limon....even tho' we're quite a way away from doing that cruise. 2007!!!

Did not BUT almost feel like I did!

The last time we were in Limon, the port was quite busy and so was Mambo Tour with only one person at the desk who spoke English (their tour guides do speak English but they were not at the desk)!

We speak comfortable Spanish so we were able to help a few of our friends from the cruise get booked on a Mambo Tour with another woman at their desk who only spoke Spanish so they could avoid any wait at all.

They booked the Tortuguero Canal Tour for $45 pp. The women loved it! The men not really unhappy ... just glad to get back on the ship!

Our main interest was info (for future times in Limon) on a taxi what would "stay with us" on a short drive to Bonita Beach. We waited until everyone from the ship was happily on tours and then spent some time talking to the folks at Mambo Tour. Really NICE people who work very hard!

After Mambo we took a taxi to town ($3 pp) and did what we love doing best -- bar hopping at local bars in a Spanish speaking ports!

On past port stops in Limon we have been on (through the ship) the Canal Tour and the Rain Forest Aerial Tram. Both were fine ONCE ... but no desire to do either again. Do it! Once is good! (For us the Canal Tour was the better of the two....)

Hope this helps a bit! Please feel free to ask if you have any other questions!

LuLu

Very helpful LuLu ..we'll be there in 2 1/2 weeks. I'm really looking forward to Costa Rica!!