Open Road's Best of Costa Rica, 1st Edition

by Charlie Morris

• ISBN13: 9781593600686
• ISBN10: 1593600682
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-07
• Publisher: Open Road

Summary

Newly revised for 2006 with expanded sections on great accommodations, fun restaurants, pristine beaches, incredible diving and many other watersports. From the cloud forest, dense jungle, sandy beaches, and tropical savannah to rushing rivers and

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION	9	(2)
2. OVERVIEW	11	(8)
3. WILDLIFE	19	(12)
Mammals	21	(3)
Reptiles & Amphibians	24	(1)
Flora	25	(1)
Marine Life	26	(5)
4. SAN JOSÉ & THE CENTRAL VALLEY	31	(18)
One Great Day in San Jose	33	(6)
Fanstastic Weekends	39	(7)
Rafting	41	(1)
Poas Volcano	41	(1)
Coffee Tours	42	(2)
Lankester Gardens	44	(1)
Heliconia Island	45	(1)
La Paz Waterfall Gardens	45	(1)
A Wonderful Week	46	(3)
Irazú Volcano	46	(1)
Heredia	47	(1)
Braulio Carrillo National Park, Volcán Barva	47	(1)
Centro Neotrópico SarapiquiS	48	(1)
5. THE NORTH CARIBBEAN COAST	49	(11)
One Day Plans	52	(1)
Fantastic Weekends	52	(3)
Fishing in Barra del Colorado	52	(2)
Tortuguero	54	(1)
A Wonderful Week	55	(1)
Up to Two Weeks	56	(4)
Tortuguero National Park	56	(2)
La Selva Biological Station	58	(1)
Beaches	58	(2)
6. THE SOUTH CARIBBEAN COAST	60	(8)
One Day Plans	62	(2)
Aviarios del Caribe	62	(2)
Fantastic Weekends	64	(2)
Beaches	65	(1)
Cahuita National Park	65	(1)
One to Two Weeks	66	(2)
La Selva Biological Station	66	(2)
7. NORTH-CENTRAL COSTA RICA	68	(16)
One Day Plans	69	(5)
Fantastic Weekends	74	(5)
Arenal	75	(1)
Windsurfing & Kiteboarding	76	(1)
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	76	(3)
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve	79	(2)
One to Two Weeks	81	(1)
Rincón de la Vieja	81	(1)
Caño Negro	82	(1)
Guanacaste National Park	83	(1)
8. THE NORTH PACIFIC COAST	84	(15)
One Day Plans	85	(6)
Guaitil	88	(1)
Playa Flamingo	88	(1)
Curú Wildlife Refuge	88	(2)
Gulf of Nicoya Islands	90	(1)
Fantastic Weekends	91	(1)
Playa del Coco	91	(1)
One to Two Weeks	92	(7)
Playa Potrero	92	(1)
Playa Brasilito	92	(1)
Playa Conchal	92	(1)
Playa Tamarindo	93	(1)
Playa Junquillal	94	(1)
Playa Ostional	94	(1)
Playa Islita	94	(1)
Tambor	94	(1)
Montezuma	94	(1)
Cabo Blanco Reserve	95	(1)
Mal Pais	95	(1)
Santa Rosa National Park	95	(2)
Beaches in Santa Rosa	97	(2)
9. THE CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST	99	(8)
One Day Plans	100	(1)
Carara National Park	101	(1)
Fantastic Weekends	101	(1)
Playa Jacó	102	(1)
One to Two Weeks	102	(6)
Quepos	103	(1)
Manuel Antonio	103	(1)
Manuel Antonio National Park	104	(1)
Dominical	104	(1)
Ballena National Marine Park	105	(1)
Chirripó National Park	105	(2)
10. THE SOUTH PACIFIC COAST	107	(11)
Fantastic Weekends	108	(4)
Corcovado	109	(1)
Las Cruces Biological Station/Wilson Botanical Garden	110	(2)
One to Two Weeks	112	(6)
Puerto Jiménez	113	(1)
Casa de Orquideas	113	(1)
Corcovado National Park	113	(3)
Drake Bay	116	(1)
Caño Island	116	(1)
Islas Cocos (Cocos Island)	116	(1)
Golfito	117	(1)
Zancudo	117	(1)
11. BEST SLEEPS & EATS	118	(58)
Hotels	118	(1)
Eating Out	119	(4)
Costa Rican Dishes	122	(1)
San José & the Central Valley	123	(11)
Best Sleeps in San José	123	(3)
Best Sleeps Near San José	126	(6)
Best Sleeps North of San José	132	(1)
Best Eats - San José & the Central Valley	132	(2)
North Caribbean Coast	134	(7)
Best Sleeps in Parismina	134	(1)
Best Sleeps in Tortuguero	135	(2)
Best Sleeps in Barra del Colorado	137	(3)
Best Eats on the North Caribbean Coast	140	(1)
South Caribbean Coast	141	(4)
Best Sleeps in Cahuita	141	(1)
Best Sleeps in Puerto Viejo	141	(2)
Best Eats on the South Caribbean Coast	143	(2)
North-Central Costa Rica	145	(7)
Best Sleeps in Fortuna/Arenal	145	(1)
Best Sleeps in Monteverde/Santa Elena	146	(2)
Best Sleeps in Rincón	148	(2)
Best Eats in Fortuna/Arenal	150	(1)
Best Eats in Monteverde	150	(2)
North Pacific Coast	152	(10)
Best Sleeps in the Papagayo area	152	(2)
Best Sleeps in the Flamingo area	154	(1)
Best Sleeps in the Tamarindo area	155	(2)
Best Sleeps South of Tamarindo	157	(2)
Best Sleeps in Tambor, Montezuma, Malpais	159	(1)
Best Eats in the Flamingo area	160	(1)
Best Eats in the Tamarindo area	161	(1)
Best Eats in Tambor, Montezuma, Malpais	161	(1)
Central Pacific Coast	162	(7)
Best Sleeps in the Jacó	162	(2)
Best Sleeps in the Manuel Antonio area	164	(2)
Best Sleeps in the Chirripó region	166	(1)
Best Eats in Jacó	167	(1)
Best Eats in Manuel Antonio/Quepos	168	(1)
South Pacific Coast	169	(7)
Best Sleeps in Drake Bay	169	(1)
Best Sleeps in Corcovado Park	170	(1)
Best Sleeps in Puerto Jiménez	171	(2)
Best Sleeps in the Golfito area	173	(1)
Best Sleeps in Zancudo	174	(1)
Best Eats in Puerto Jiménez & the South Pacific Coast	175	(1)
12. BEST ACTIVITIES	176	(13)
Shopping	176	(1)
San José	176	(1)
Sarchi	176	(1)
Guatil	177	(1)
Jacó	177	(1)
Manuel Antonio	177	(1)
Nightlife & Entertainment	177	(2)
San José	177	(1)
Jacó	178	(1)
Manuel Antonio/Quepos	178	(1)
Puerto Jiménez	178	(1)
Fishing	179	(4)
Caribbean Coast	179	(2)
Jacó	181	(1)
Manuel Antonio	182	(1)
Puerto Jiménez	182	(1)
Golfito	183	(1)
Diving	183	(2)
Caribbean	183	(1)
Nicoya area	184	(1)
Manuel Antonio area	184	(1)
Drake Bay	184	(1)
Isla del Coco	184	(1)
Rafting	185	(1)
Zip Lines	186	(1)
Birding	186	(1)
Surfing	186	(1)
Mountain Biking	187	(1)
Golf	187	(2)
Central Valley	188	(1)
Nicoya area	188	(1)
13. PRACTICAL MATTERS	189
Airports/Arrivals	189	(2)
Cruises	191	(1)
Package Tours	192	(3)
Getting Around	195	(3)
Banking & Changing Money	198	(1)
Business Hours	199	(1)
Climate & Weather	199	(1)
Consulates & Embassies	200	(1)
Electricity	200	(1)
Emergencies & Safety	200	(3)
Health	203	(1)
Etiquette	204	(1)
History	205	(3)
Land & People	208	(3)
Internet Access	211	(1)
Language	212	(1)
Newspapers	212	(1)
Passport Regulations	213	(1)
Postal Services	213	(1)
Telephones	214	(1)
Time	215	(1)
Tipping	215	(1)
Tourist Information	215	(1)
Water	215	(1)
Weights & Measures	216	(1)
Websites	216	(1)
Essential Spanish	217

Supplemental Materials

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