Hi Lars,
As it happens, I will be in Costa Rica myself from Dec 27 to Jan 11. I have been there many times. Orchids have only been one of my main foci for two years. I go for jungles, birds, trees, herps, insects and other invertebrates. So despite my many trips I may not be the best person to guide you, but I'll try anyway.
Near San Jose there are two places to visit, In Bio and Lankester Gardens. I've been to neither, but I'm planning to try to visit both on this trip. We (hubby and I) will be staying with some friends in Atenas, between San Jose and Manuel Antonio. She has a lot of orchids, and a neighbor of theirs is an elderly man who has an amazing collection of minitures, all native. I guess that doesn't help you a whole lot, but I think you will find that a lot of Ticos (Costa Ricans) raise and keep orchids.
Although I don't know much about Manuel Antonio I have been there. It is very crowded and touristy, and bear in mind that this is also the high season, or "summer" for the Ticos themselves. If you want to go into the park (highly recommended) be prepared to get there quite early as only a certain number of people can be let in, and there is usually a line-up by 9-10AM. They close for one day each week; not sure which one.
Arenal is one of my favorite destinations, the other being Monteverde. There are a huge number of things to do in Arenal; I do recommend visiting the park itself. There are a number of orchids you will see wild there.
There is a very nice, though expensive place to say, the Arenal Observatory Lodge. It is however remote from the town (La Fortuna) and unless you rent a car you are sort of stuck there. There's plenty to do on the grounds, tho, and there is a great deal of info on the volcano. We usually stay at a place closer to town called the Arenal Oasis EcoLodge which has a few hectares of grounds you can walk on. The family who runs it can give you lots of good advice. Right in town is a nice little hotel called the Arenal Rabfer, also quiet.
Monteverde- again we have become friends with a family who run the Manakin Lodge (Alburgue Manakin in Spanish). It is in a rather noisy busy place but you can walk to everything, and then take tours of the reserve. It is definitely worth it to take a guided tour, as the guides are incredibly knowledge. Johnny Villegas of Manakin is very knowledge about the area. There is an orchid garden in Santa Elena, the main jumping off place for Monteverde, but the operator is shady.
I'll PM you so you can contact me if you have questions.
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