cal101 Posted January 19, 2005 #1 Share Posted January 19, 2005 We are sailing on the Infinity's March 13th - 14 day Panama Canal cruise and will be in Puntarenas on March 20th. Does anyone have any suggestions on things to do or tour operators to use in that port. We would prefer not to go on the ships tours. I have read a lot about Oscar Brown on this board, does he also operate tours from Puntarenas? Any information will be sincerely appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
degarr Posted January 19, 2005 #2 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I recall reading another poster receiving a note from Oscar that he doesn't service Pacific Ocean side (but could be wrong!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virgenia Posted January 21, 2005 #3 Share Posted January 21, 2005 Oscar only does tours out of Puerto Limon. This is an email he sent me when I asked him about doing something out of Puntarenas. I am so sory. For know I am not working in that area. But I know this person doing tours there, is name is Mauricio Vásquez (506) 3527697 (506) 826 7438 God bless you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmare Posted January 27, 2005 #4 Share Posted January 27, 2005 We were in Puntarenus last week on the Oosterdam and had a wonderful private tour with Mauricio who I found from this board. He has a very comfy airconditioned van and will do whatever you want to do. We were interested in wildlife and local culture. He is a guide in Carrara national park and takes a telescope with him so that you can see aninmals up close. If you are interested in ziplining or something else crazy he's your man!! He has connections with everyone. I used his E-mail to get in touch with him :mauriciovp@hotmail.com . By the way, last year we did tour with Oscar Brown and I feel that Mo gives you the same type of personalized service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-to-sea Posted February 7, 2005 #5 Share Posted February 7, 2005 cal101 Have you been able to contact Mauricio? We are interested in doing something from Puntarenas in April from Summit. Would appreciate any feedback on this fellow. Our first choice would be the Skywalk in Monteverde which seems to be the only suspension bridge facility in the area. We haven't made up our minds yet on doing the zip-lining. Thanks for any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkerme1 Posted February 7, 2005 #6 Share Posted February 7, 2005 I've emailed Mauricio several times at the email address given above, but in three weeks, I have yet to hear from him? Is it possible the address is incorrect? I'd love to contact him! Your review was very nice. We'll be in Puntarenas in April aboard the Radiance of the Seas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkerme1 Posted February 7, 2005 #7 Share Posted February 7, 2005 What date will you be in Puntarenas? Have you been able to contact Mauricio? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divepal Posted February 7, 2005 #8 Share Posted February 7, 2005 I too have tried to contact Mauricio via e-mail without any luck. :( I would love to get in touch with him. If anybody hears from him, please post his response. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deloresgardella Posted February 7, 2005 #9 Share Posted February 7, 2005 I have also tried emailing Mauricio with no response as of yet.:( We be docking at Puerto Caldera is that about the same as docking at Puntarenas. Will the tours be the same.:confused: Thank you Delores Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lahore Posted February 7, 2005 #10 Share Posted February 7, 2005 Have a look at my posting further down this thread entitled 'recommendations for Costa Rica' - I should have titled it recommendations out of Puntarenas. I think you might find it worth reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-to-sea Posted February 8, 2005 #11 Share Posted February 8, 2005 Tinkerme1 and Divepal See my response on Skywalk thread above. Also, I have e-mailed Mauricia after getting an e-mail back from a cruiser who had just returned and used him for his Puntarenas tour. Apparently, he has to get his e-mails from the local store and only does so occasionally but he does reply. However, there are some phone numbers posted for him on another thread. I have these on file and might try foning as a last resort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmare Posted February 8, 2005 #12 Share Posted February 8, 2005 I did double check the address and it is correct. We ledt home before he reponded to us, but I read on another thread that this happened to some other cc posters and they just asked for him at the dock. We had planned on doing the same and were just about to leave the room at 7:30 when gangway security called to say that he was waiting for us. He didn't know about cc and was sort of puzzeled by the requests he has been getting from cruise passengers. I had some of the reviews with me and he was so excited that he had to call his wife to tell her!! By the way, he LOVES baseball caps, if you have room pack one from your hometown (or favorite team ) for him. He had to stop and show everyone the Phillies cap DH gave him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virgenia Posted February 8, 2005 #13 Share Posted February 8, 2005 I posted upthread a copy of the e-mail sent to me by Oscar about his friend Mauricio. His email included only telephone numbers, so I am guessing that is the most reliable way to communicate with him. I understand e-mail service in Costa Rica is not 100% reliable. Try the phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkerme1 Posted February 8, 2005 #14 Share Posted February 8, 2005 Would someone please post the phone number for Mauricio. I can't seem to find it..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deloresgardella Posted February 9, 2005 #15 Share Posted February 9, 2005 I got a responce from Mauricio to day. I will copy and paste it. I would really like to go with but he takes a minimum of 8. Maybe there is somebody else that would like to go at the same time. Delores Mrs. Delores Gardella We have a great tour to the rainforest, where wildlife can be enjoyed, we can also the tipical tour, and the ziplining. But we need a minimum of 8 passengers to honor this rate: $ 35.00 usd. p/person; If the tour is private, only two people, the cost is $200.00 usd. Mrs. Delores, if you are interested, please be kind to confirm the tour. Sincerely yours, Mauricio Vásquez P. >From: Dgardella38@aol.com >To: mauriciovp@hotmail.com >Subject: tours >Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 11:35:06 EST > >Hi Mauricio, My grandson and I will be on the Coral Princess on May 5,2005. >We will be docking at Puerto Caldera, from 7am till 7pm.Have heard some >good >things about your tours. Do you have a web site? Or could you send me some >brochures? I think my grandson may will want to go zip lining, but I won't. >I >understand you will drop them off then pick them up on the way back. Please >give me >any information that you can. Price, where we would meet you, what tours >you >offer and anything else that you might think of. Thank you. >Delores Gardella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-to-sea Posted February 10, 2005 #16 Share Posted February 10, 2005 I also received a reply from Mauricio today. He says much the same as he did above. I am now trying to get 8 people together from our Summit cruise in Puntarenas Apr. 29th. I have a feeling that he only gets to check e-mails once in a while on a commercial computer site. Any feedback from others prior to mid-April appreciated. Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divepal Posted February 11, 2005 #17 Share Posted February 11, 2005 I received a reply as well. Does anyone know what the additional cost for the National Park and the ziplining is? The price quoted by Mauricio is strictly for his tour guide and transportation services. I think you'll find it's still less expensive and considerably more flexible than ship excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-to-sea Posted February 11, 2005 #18 Share Posted February 11, 2005 If I remember correctly from several posts elsewhere, the park entry is US$8. The only price I have been able to find beside this is for the Skywalk from the hotel at US$20. This is at http://www.villalapas.com/e_skyway.html . An e-mail to them might get more information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmare Posted February 11, 2005 #19 Share Posted February 11, 2005 I received a reply as well. Does anyone know what the additional cost for the National Park and the ziplining is? The price quoted by Mauricio is strictly for his tour guide and transportation services. I think you'll find it's still less expensive and considerably more flexible than ship excursions. Yes, the park entrance fee is $8. There are restrooms where you pay for the park(have exact change to make things easy). Then you drive to the entrance for the walk through the park (no restrooms). Take bugspray, good walking shoes that you don't mind getting dirty and water. We saw tons of wildlife that the ship people did not get a chance to see, we were also interested in local culture so we drove into the mountains to little towns and stopped at a food stand to try local food. There were four of us and we paid the flat fee of $200 so if you just find two more people you will be ahead of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise99 Posted February 11, 2005 #20 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Has anyone done the Costa Rica Off Road Adventure tour out of Puntarenas? We are torn between doing this and going with a group that will have a private tour with Mauricio. We've done several off road adventures in various ports and enjoy them. We are on RCCL Radiance OTS 4/17 Thanks gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkerme1 Posted February 11, 2005 #21 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Yes, I finally heard from Mauricio and he will do our tour on April 17, 2005. We're sailing on the Radiance of the Seas. We have eight people already, so the tour should be fabulous. Does anyone know how much it was to zipline with Mauricio. I have several folks asking me that question. Also, where does he take you to do the ziplining? Any information would be great. Gary, glad you posted. Hope somebody can help you with the information for that shore excursion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmare Posted February 14, 2005 #22 Share Posted February 14, 2005 tinkerme 1 I'm so excited for you. You'll have a great time!! If you have an extra baseball cap from your favorite team don't forget to take it along to add to M0's collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi Posted February 22, 2005 #23 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Cal 101-I am also going on the Infinity March 13 and wanted a zip-line tour in Puntaneras, have you booked a tour with Mauricio? I have a family of 4 total. Does anyone know if you have to book in advance or can you just arrive at the port and hope to pick up a tour? I am concerned about all of the port cancellations that I have read about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikkiGarcia Posted February 22, 2005 #24 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Yoshi there were tons of guys at the port willing to take you zip lining. They will take you to the closest facility which is at "hotel" something. It is not deep in the rain forest like the others, but should be a fun day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal101 Posted February 23, 2005 Author #25 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Yoshi, We did not book with Mauricio. Think we will probably book the jungle river cruise either with the ship or with jdwatersports. J D Watersports also have a zip Line tour, you may want to check out their web site jdwatersports.com or call their toll-free number 1-800-477-8971. The lady I talked with was Jamie Crall, she was very nice and very helpful. We have a good thread going on the Roll Call Board for our cruise, please come over and join us. Very nice group of people! Carol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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