I have read about certain guides like Orlando who will pick you up at the airport with Beer, Cuban Cigar`s and show you around on the way to the hotel. Does anyone have his contact information? Are there any other recommended guides and contact info?
I am going to San Jose over Labor Day for a bachelor party and we plan on making side trips to Mt. Arenal one day and doing the Canopy Tour on another day. What is there best way to get there? (Bus? Rental Car? Taxi? Hire a Driver for the day?)

You really can't do Arenal in one day - it's simply too far. You will find one-day tour busses operating out of San Jose but I don't recommend them. They are strictly for first-time, inexperienced travelers with no sense of adventure or real interest in seeing the country.

I definitely recommend hiring a professional tour guide/driver for the trip. A taxi would be outrageously expensive and not very comfortable, plus the driver would probably not really have much local information or be of much help. The bus takes too much time and you'd be stranded once your got there without any local help or advice. A rental car isn't a much better alternative and is almost as expensive as hiring a guide. Roads are confusing and not well-marked. Once you get there, you are almost confined to staying at one of the expensive English-speaking tourist resorts. If you want to go anywhere, you need to hire one of the guides working out of the hotel, at much higher rates than you would pay an independent guide like Orlando.

Orlando can find reasonable, comfortable accomodations for you in La Fortuna, very near the springs and volcano. The following day, if you want, you could do your canopy tour and return to San Jose. I'm sure Orlando can give you all the information you need as to this or other possible activities.

Orlando has been highly recommended by me and many other posters who know him. His home number is (506)292-8628 and his cell phone is 398-7722. It was another guide who was mentioned as customarily greeting customers with cigars and beer at the airport (by Don Gordo?), but I don't think that a name or contact information were ever posted.

You really can't do better than Orlando. Give him a call. I'm sure he'll take good care of you and his prices are reasonable. (Just give him a decent tip when you leave). You are welcome to mention that I referred you, but it isn't necessary to do so. He's a friend but I don't take commissions from him or have anything to do with his business.

You can also reach Orlnado via e-mail at: abletours@yahoo.com.