And must-do's in San Jose, Costa Rica?

[R.Lee]

I was thinking of going to the Galapagos or Cocos Islands in 2010 and was wondering if anyone would advise on which destination was best and time of year was best. I am interested in seeing big fish etc. I went to Coiba last March and it was great. I am a new member and hope I am using proper posting edequit (SP?). Thank you!

 

[ScubabunnyCR]

THa volcanoe is pretty spectacular and is a nice chill way to spend the day.

 

[NTSilver]

R Lee - never been to Galapagos but understand Sep / Oct is best. For Cocos Jul/Aug/Sep seem to be the best times, but have been there in Mar, May, Jun, Jul, Nov and there has never been a bad time. Going again in Aug.

 

[billeelou]

Go to Irazu outside of Cartago (15 miles away- and a nice day trip) see the Senora de los Angeles Cathedral and the Black Virgen there; Get some holy water from the spring, IN SJ see the downtown Mercado, see the ruins, Go to the National Museo where the Army USED to be, go take in a show at the Teatro nacional, .....

LEE-Post your question on a new thread, you will be innudated by responses

 

[Rich Coast Diving]

Poas for sure!

 

[fairybasslet]

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

 

[potato cod]

I heard that when I'm going, July, they were supposed to be at around 60 fsw and we would shoot up at them. Eric Cheng has a beautiful photo on Flickr taken in Galapagos. I PMed him on Wetpixel and asked him what his settings were.
I'm staying at a Best Western. Don't know exactly where it is. I think it's time for me to starting boning up. LOL

Hi Fairybasslet,

I think there may be more than one Best Western in San Jose, but if it is the downtown location, be aware that it is in a pretty rough neighborhood. Our shared van dropped a couple off there on the way to our favorite hotel In San Jose. It's inexpensive and has a little more local flavor and is in a nicer neighborhood: :: Welcome to Hotel Aranjuez::

Here is also a link to day tours from San Jose from Hotel Aranjuez: :: Hotel Aranjuez, tourist information ::. We did the Irazu-Orosi-Lankaster tour on a spare day. It's nice because you don't have to rent a car.

 

[Missdirected]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I will be in Irazu and I think I'm kind of leaning toward the volcano for my free day.

They have some awesome white water rafting there! I've done the rapids there on a couple of occasions - phenomenal. Besides seeing the beauty that is CR you are out on the water. You hop a bus, they take you to the rafting site, you raft, eat, head back. Again, the hotel can set you up with that or you can get a hold of SwissTravel ahead of time. Heck I may still have their number, if it interests ya any.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

FairyBasslet,
there are 2 Best Western in San Jose.
One downtown and the Best Western Irazu directly on the Highway to the Airport.
I was in both and found the one downtown less inviting than the Best Western Irazu and
the neighborhood downtown can be described as "rough" and not really a place to walk around.

There are so much Hotels in San Jose with marvellous viev to the central valley....
My favorite is: Costa Verde Inn

Chris

 

[billeelou]

Hotels- Do the B and B across from the Nicaraguan embassy. Excellent!