ljsierra asked 8 years ago
We are a family of 5 (kids are 15, 12, 10) with a 4wd rental car. We plan on the first night staying right by airport (recommendations??), the next 4 nights at Heliconias Nature Lodge and the last 5 we have a beach house rented in Potrero.
We were going to stop at Puma Rescue on the way to La Fortuna and hit the Llanos de Cortes on the way out as we move to Guanacaste coast. While in La Fortuna we were going to pay for a river rafting tour (almost $500?) but then do the volcanoe hike, hot springs, waterfall and hanging bridge on our own. Is this a good plan?
While in Potrero we were going to pay to rent a boat (motor boat hopefully?)- not sure where to do that. Advise? Also, we thought we’d find a great place to snorkel. Recommendations?? And maybe ride horses. Again, recommendations?
We like to get off the beaten path, prefer not to do the really touristy stuff and love to eat where the locals eat. Any info or advise you have is greatly appreciated!!
Jenn and Matt Staff answered 8 years ago
Hi ljsierra,
Sounds like an awesome family trip. For hotels near Liberia Airport (LIR) there isn’t too much in the immediate area but you could check out the Hilton Garden Inn (right across from the airport so good if you are coming in late). Or for something a little more basic and authentic there is Hotel Las Espuelas about 15 minutes away.
You are on the right track with your La Fortuna activities, rafting can be expensive but is really fun. Not sure where to rent a boat near Potrero offhand but Playa Flamingo has a small marina. Snorkeling is good at the northern end of Playa Conchal and you can rent equipment right there on the beach. You could also consider doing a catamaran tour, which often includes a bit of snorkeling. If you’d like us to take a deeper look at your itinerary and give you more info on local eats, tour companies, etc, we do offer itinerary reviews. You can read more about that on our Itinerary Help Page.