Product Description
Folded travel map in color with highways, roads and traveler's information. Distinguishes 4 levels of highways and roads, including seasonal roads and tracks. Color changes show elevation levels. Includes national parks and eco-tourist sites, locations of beaches and other places of interest. Icons locate archeological sites, hotels, museums, beaches, active volcanoes, surfings sites, filling stations, bird sanctuaries, border crossings, palm groves, lighthouses, reefs, swamps. Icons distinguish international airports, domestic airports and landing strips. Inset maps include downtown San Jose and the San Jose environs (airport locator map). Index to help locate towns and cities. Latitude/longitude grid. Printed on two sides. Waterproof. Scale 1:300,000.
Customer Reviews:
Worn out before the trip began..........2007-10-07
This map split at the seams within the first couple of times of laying it out.
Good travel map.......2007-10-05
This is a good travel map - it will remain intact through many foldings and unfoldings. It has the main roads - for smaller roads you will need another map.
map review.......2007-08-09
Good map, mostly accurate, but I did notice when we were driving around costa rica, that a few of the roads are placed in the wrong area of the map. In other words, a certain road was to have been on one side of a mt., when it was actually on the other side. However; we only found two mistakes so far and they were on back country roads. It is very difficult to get around a country when the roads are unmarked 99% of the time. The map was published in 2006 and we toured in 2007. Of all the maps that we used, this was the best! Costa Rica is a fairly difficult country to get around when going self quided. The largest city, Jan Jose, has NONE of its streets marked, so even with a good map, you have NO idea where you are at!
a very useful map.......2007-08-08
As the author of a travel guide to Costa Rica (Explore Costa Rica, Fifth Edition), which covers the nation (in detail), I can attest that this is one of the best maps to take with you. ITMB is a family-run firm in Vancouver run by Jack Joyce. They have a wide variety of high quality maps. This map makes a superb companion to Explore Costa Rica (which will be a great help with the rest of your trip).
Explore Costa Rica, 5th Edition (Explore Costa Rica)
Sturdy, good quality map........2007-07-05
My wife and I visited Costa Rica for 11 days. We had a hotel booked for the 1st. night only, after that we had highlighted several spots on the map that were interesting to us. In a country where roads are not well marked and we had not been to before we put about 600 miles on our rented Jeep and were only lost twice for a few minutes each time. I think my wife only asked me to stop and ask for directions once, and you know that real men just don't do that! The map was well used and it is still in very good condition. It will accompany us on our next trip to Costa Rica.
Have a great trip, it's a wonderful place.
Book Description
Beyond the deserted beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula and the visceral heights of the Monteverde cloud forests lies the real Costa Rica - a land of delicate pathos, forthright purity and hard-won pacifism. Tromp through virgin rain forest - sighting poison-dart frogs and howler monkeys along the way - or simply explore the local lore and laid-back beach scene with this comprehensive guide. LESS IS MORE - expanded ecofriendly coverage and loads of volunteer and learning opportunities make traveling with a conscience easier than ever THE WILD SIDE - spot your favorite rain forest dwellers - scarlet macaws, caimans and more - with our expert-written color wildlife section GAPS ON THE MAP - lose yourself in the seldom-visited corners of this ecological powerhouse with informed do-it-yourself content and more than 80 maps CHARGE IT! - surf the world's longest left at Pavones, hike through rain forest in Corcovado or drop into roaring rapids with our Adventure Travel chapter
Customer Reviews:
Lonely Planet Costa Rica - need a magnifying glass!.......2007-10-18
The Lonely Planet Costa Rica has a lot of great information on visiting Costa Rica along with history of the country. The only problem with this book is that the print is so small that sometimes I have to get out a magnifying glass to read the print without straining my eyes. I do wear corrective lenses and normally I do not have any trouble reading the type in books. I wish they Lonely Planet books would increase the print size. I may not buy another one of their books based on the small print that are currently in the books.
Lonely Planet Costa Rica.......2007-10-04
As always, Lonley Planet doesn't disappoint. All the information you need to plan your trip is here. It is presented precisely and with humor.
Great Book.......2007-09-29
This book was such a useful resource to have while traveling through Costa Rica. The information was very helpful and I would strongly recommend it.
Cean Colcord
Conflicted author may depress you.......2007-07-11
While I agree with the conservationist spirit and general distaste for overrun tourist traps expressed throughout this guidebook by Matthew Firestone (one of the book's two authors), I found his relentlessly negative tone to be extremely off-putting. While the sections written by the other author (Mara Vorhees) are more neutral, informative and generally reflect the high quality I've come to expect from the Lonely Planet series of guidebooks, Matthew Firestone's sections have fully succeeded in dampening my enthusiasm for a trip to Costa Rica before the trip has even begun.
While it may be that the beach at Playa Tamarindo "is full of blubbery North American and European holidaymakers who spend most of their time frying in the sun like beached whales" turning their complexion "from a pasty white to a rosy shade of skin cancer," and while that description does indeed sound like a scene I would rather avoid, I find the author's consistent haughty tone and overriding negativity to be out of place and offensive in a book that is intended for - after all - tourists.
I am still planning what I fully expect to be an exciting and fun vacation in Costa Rica, but now I have to do so in spite of the author of this book's overbearing negativity. It's true, I'm sure, that Costa Rica was once better to visit than it is today, but this book is not for people who knew and loved the country years ago. It's intended for people who have never been there before, and since Mr. Firestone couldn't put aside his sour gripes and focus on what's great about the place rather than bemoaning what's been lost, his words and advice won't be making the trip with me.
This book has been my first disappointment in the Lonely Planet series.
Lonely Planet Rocks.......2007-07-05
In my travels I have come to rely on Lonely Planet for sound advise - they've never led me astray. Prior to travel I always check out their website as the feedback from other travels that is posted there is also outstanding.
Book Description
Walking a forest trail in Costa Rica, a visitor might be struck by the sight of an iridescent blue morpho butterfly fluttering ahead in the filtered daylight, or an enormous silk moth, as magnificently patterned and subtly colored as a Persian carpet, only emerging to fly at night. Elsewhere, vivid yellow and orange sulphur butterflies flock to puddles to sip the concentrated minerals. Such is the dazzling variety of the butterflies and moths unique to this region.
Gathered by biologists Daniel Janzen and Winifred Hallwachs in the forests of northwestern Costa Rica, 100 tropical butterflies and moths represent the diversity in large-format photographs by Jeffrey Miller that document the dizzying variety of shapes, colors, and markings. The photographs are accompanied by species accounts and images of the corresponding caterpillar. The authors recount these insects' feats of mimicry and migration, lift the veil on their courtship, and show how the new technology of DNA barcoding is changing the picture of Lepidopteran biodiversity.
The authors also tell the success story of Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, where the long-term work of Janzen and Hallwachs, a team of caterpillar collectors, and the participation of neighboring farming communities has deepened understanding of Costa Rica's Lepidoptera and has brought about advances in restoration ecology of tropical habitats, biodiversity prospecting, biotechnology, and ecotourism development.
Customer Reviews:
100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica.......2007-09-07
Excellent! details in text and photographs. Highly recommended for biologists and folks interested in wild life.
Costa Rican Leps.......2007-05-24
This ia an excellant book that combines coffe-table quality photographs of the butterflies and moths with an excellent text describing interesting aspects of their biology.
Product Description
As seen on TV, "The Hedonist" is the Sex Bible for Single Male vacations. This in-depth guide is written for the Professional Hedonist, the guy who knows exactly what he wants, is willing to pay for it, and likes to spoil himself rotten. If you love exotic tropical excursions with Golf, Deep Sea Fishing, Casinos, and sexy young girls who always say yes, this book is for you. This detailed travel assistant covers 20 affordable tropical cities, from the hot spots in Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean, to a dozen untarnished island paradises in South America, Asia, and Europe, where you'll be treated like a King for $25! A fascinating read written from personal experiences, in a hysterical, Maxim-like sarcastic style that seems more like a Bachelor Party conversation than a travel guide. You'll learn the how and the where to go for all your sports activities, as well as meeting your uninhibited "dates", with the low down on the club procedures, pricing and terminology, and local updated websites w/maps and details. Red Light Districts, Brothels, full service nude strip clubs, massage parlors, outcall escorts, horny locals, beach play toys, whatever your preference, it's all here...complete with reviews, addresses, phone numbers, and first hand field reports. Included is a must-read 30 pages of Sex Tourism 101 advice on mastering the games and psychology of the local women you'll meet. This is the taboo Bachelor's Vacation Guide that we've all been waiting for, without a single politically correct word in it. All in all, a fantastic resource, packed with info you can't find anywhere else, over 200 pages of extensive, concise, well-researched advice. A real time and money saver. Why settle for anything but the best, and why gamble on hopes. Bet on the sure thing. The girls are waiting...
Customer Reviews:
Great time and money saver.......2007-08-11
I searched Amazon forever for a singles vacation guide and finally found this little nugget.
The only Bachelor's travel guide you'll need. Take Conde Naste, Lonely Planet, and add women, sports, and testosterone and you've got the Hedonist. These are all party cities, mostly tropic locations, with great fishing and golf at each. Complete travel advice on each city; customs, visas, sports companies to use, taxis, hotels, and the underground clubs to visit. For daytime activity, you'll find all the tourist stuff as well. Short, sweet and to the point. I've taken two trips and the advice was spot on, plus this book is witty and interesting; a hoot to read. All original, there's nothing copied here. This is the only book of it's kind. Highly recommended.
Don't waste your money.......2007-08-11
Did not see any value to this book at all. I bought another book by the same author and found half he copied to this book.
What a great book!.......2007-06-17
The Holy Grail for enjoying high level sports and fun loving women. Everyone has the travel bug. Tate does us all a great favor by passing the torch to his favorite honey holes around the world. The Hedonist is a very fascinating page turner, isn't full of irrelevant blather, and is geared exactly for what younger men want to do. It saves hours with all it's shortcuts. Besides, the author is pretty hilarious to read.
This book has actually increased my productivity at work, since I have future travel goals in mind. I focus and produce and skip out of town. I easily pay for the trips just by no longer wasting time and cash in nightclubs dealing the whiny, entitlement mentality of women here.
Work hard and spoil yourself.......2007-06-17
This is a great vacation guide for exploring different regions around all corners of the globe. For sports fanatics like me, you will no longer have to waste hours trying to find the next spot. I highly recommend it; I've done 4 trips so far, and the book was very accurate in giving me a clear picture of what to expect before arriving, and how to maximize my time there. I get a big kick of reading and reading about each city, as I plan for the next vacation.
The Fat Cat vacation guide.......2007-06-04
Having now taken two of the trips in this book, I can highly recommend it, and say that Tate is clearly an expert on putting together the ultimate guy's vacation guide. What guy doesn't love great golf courses, world class ocean fishing, casinos, and hot young women chasing you every where you go?
The Costa Rica trip my buddies and I was one of the most slamming, funny, outrageous times I've ever had. (On a side note, I've walked around with a Hotel del Rey baseball cap on, and I've had complete strangers stop me and share stories numerous times.) The sail fishing on the west coast is some of the best in the world for quantity, and fast action. They just hit everytime you turn around. We had runs for both sail fish and we hit a dorado run that was incredible; we hooked 40 fish on a one day trip. We stayed at the hotel Tate recommended, Marriot Los Suenos, and played their golf course, and it was beautiful to say the least. Smack dab in the middle of a rain forest, with great views of the coastal line. This trip rocks just for the sports; the women of course are the icing on the cake, and they certainly were some hotties; plenty to go around. What a trip! Seriously guys. Buy this book and take some of the trips he lays out.
Product Description
The most most detailed, most current and best selling surf guide to Costa Rica. Features over 80 breaks on both coasts and over 100 hotels nearest the breaks. Includes a helpful tips section including what to pack and how to pack surfboards. Many maps and helpful driving directions. Not a coffee table picture book or pocket guide. This is a comprehensive, down-and-dirty, backpack ready surf guide.
Customer Reviews:
Necessary for any surfer going to Costa Rica.......2007-08-31
This book was a lifesaver. You gotta read it BEFORE you go out, because at one spot we hit, turned out to be alligator infested.
But this book is essential and tells spots that would normally be a mystery. Breaks on and off the beaten path.
Nothing New!!.......2007-04-02
I am returning to costa rica for the third time, and bought this book thinking there would be some deep researched information that may reveal hidden secrets that I had not yet explored. I was wrong. The book provides little information that a travelling surfer (one that really surfs) doesn't already know, or really needs. If you like for your entire trip to be scheduled before hand this book will provide you the information to do so. Good only for the first time surfer Costa Traveller without an internet connection or hasn't discovered google.
Best surf guide I've seen but still...........2007-01-09
All and all this is a decent guidebook. It gives you a breakdown of a lot of surfspots in Costa Rica. However, the information is a little outdated. The names of many hotels/restaurants/hostels, changed many years ago and this hasn't been reflected in the guide. Further, the author seems to mainly list the more upscale establishments. I personally am a shoestring budget surfer, so I didn't find his hotel reccommendations that useful since they seem to mostly be in the upper price range. I also found that many of the spots he claims will be uncrowded, are absolutely packed (Ostional). His information regarding spot specifics is also a bit weak. He usually states something like "Works best on Low tide/High tide", but I didn't find these tips to be true as it is very much dependent on the swell direction and how the sand banks formed this year.
Overall I reccommend it, but when in Costa Rica it is best to ask people there for information rather than relying on the book.
The Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica by Mike Parise.......2006-03-26
Simpy a must have for anyone traveling to Costa Rica. Don't think too much about it, it would be foolish not to buy. It will definitly pay for itself many times over.
A board, towel and this book.......2005-12-14
are the only things you need for Costa Rica. I saw this on Cutback.com, bought it and it told me everything I needed to know.
Awesome!
Book Description
Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Costa Rica features gorgeous color photos of the lush rain forest, the amazing array of wildlife, and the spectacular beaches that await you. Personally researched by a longtime resident, it's the only truly up-to-date guide that gives you such in-depth coverage of this fast-changing country, with recommended accommodations in every price category. You'll visit rugged wilderness preserves and sleepy beach towns, spectacular orchid gardens and mineral hot springs at the foot of a steaming volcano. There are adventures here to suit all ages and abilities: swooping from treetop platform to treetop platform on a canopy tour, taking a dip in a jungle swimming hole, spotting playful spider monkeys as you hike through lush foliage, windsurfing on Lake Arenal, or watching endangered sea turtles nest on the beach. With Frommer's in hand, you'll experience the wonder of Costa Rica's amazing biodiversity, as we point out the best places to see hundreds of unique, colorful species of animals and plants. You'll even get a color fold-out map!
Customer Reviews:
Helpful pre-trip info.......2007-09-18
Frommer's Costa Rica 2007 (Frommer's Complete)
Although I will not depart for Costa Rica until next month, I found this book to be very helpful & full of useful pre-trip info.
Arrived Torn!.......2007-04-04
A very nice map, good detail, waterproof but so flimsy that it arrived TORN!
Tourist's guide to touristy places.......2007-03-25
It should be noted that the image used on the cover of this guide is of a private hot springs resort, not the natural environment that Costa Rica is noted for. I guess that's a popular trick though, as I bought a foldable laminated map that had a picture taken from the same resort.
This book is a decent guide, but it will lead you only to the most touristy places on your travel. If that's what you're looking for, this is fine, but don't make the mistake of thinking it will help you find anything more obscure.
Also, don't let the 2007 edition fool you: there is still much out of date information here including pricing and hours of operation. Nothing too glaring mind you, but not exactly up to the claim that they update the entire book each year. For instance, the resort where the cover picture was taken is open later but charges more than the book describes.
It is also not a comprehensive guide, though that is forgivable. If you plan on spending any time on the Nicoya Peninsula, this book has exactly one paragraph for you. Other information and descriptions of major areas was accurate and detailed enough though.
I'd by the Lonely Planet guide instead after reading this.
I hope you have some cash - not a book for backpackers.......2007-03-04
While I liked the general structure of the book, starting of with detailed best-of lists, and then giving more detail of Costa Rica's regions, I didn't feel I was included in the book's target group. Most hotels discussed start at $30, there isn't much information on local buses or camping - all those things that make backpacking cheap. The descriptions of hiking and tour options are also far less detailed than in the latest Lonely Planet.
The book also caters to people that book whole Costa Rica itineraries, and some are suggested. However, this is not the book for the independent traveler with a limited budget.
However, the wildlife section at the end of the book is really good, and such a section is definitely a good thing in a Costa Rica guide, as many travelers go there for seeing tropical animals and ecosystems.
All in all, the latest Lonely Planet is more up-to-date, and definitely has more information on acommodations, eateries, getting around, camping and hiking. It also includes a lot more places, whereas Frommer's doesn't really leave the trodden paths.
Don't waste your money on this one........2007-02-25
A lazy attempt at getting you around Costa Rica. Not much info on anything. If a town has 10 places to stay and eat, this one only lists a couple - that is if your town is listed at all. You'll never really be able to see or appreciate Costa Rica using this book. Moon Handbook is far better.
Book Description
"Graced with bounteous natural beauty, a stable democratic government, and friendly citizens, Costa Rica has become a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. Birds play a prominent role in attracting visitors, too. The shimmering quetzals, gaudy macaws, and comical toucans only begin to hint at the impressive avian diversity to be found throughout this small country."--from the Introduction This is the one field guide the novice or experienced birder needs to identify birds in the field in the diverse habitats found in Costa Rica. It features descriptions and illustrations of more than 820 resident and neotropical migrant species found in Costa Rica, all in a compact, portable, user-friendly design. The detailed full-color illustrations show identifying features--including plumage differences among males, females, and juveniles--and views of birds in flight wherever pertinent. Additional features of this all-new guide include:
o 166 original color plates depicting more than 820 species.
o Concise text that describes key field marks for positive identification, as well as habitat, behavior, and vocalizations.
o Range maps and texts arranged on opposing pages from illustrations for quick, easy reference.
o The most up-to-date bird list for Costa Rica.
o A visual guide to the anatomical features of birds with accompanying explanatory text.
o Quick reference to vultures and raptors in flight.
Customer Reviews:
820 Birds in a Small Package.......2007-09-02
This is undoubtedly the best field guide to Costa Rican birds I have seen. The printing quality and illustrations are excellent. It is compact and concise with brief species descriptions and range maps on the page facing the illustrations. In many instances just having the range maps handy will speed up identification. There are separate indexes of scientific and common names with the common names that most of us use placed on the last pages for quick access. The only thing I can fault this book on is the lack of a quick index, a feature which I find so valuable that I have created one for every guide that I use. I have carried Stiles and Skutch (A Guide to the Birds of CR) on 4 trips to Costa Rica and will certainly take it on future trips, but it may not go out in the field as often. If you are looking for a field guide to Costa Rican birds, I suggest that you buy this book. If you are the sort of birder that wants more depth of information about the birds that you see, buy this book and Stiles and Skutch.
A great addition to Stiles and Skutch.......2007-09-02
Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean have given those of us who love birding in Costa Rica an easy volume for carrying into the field. The plates are great especially with the maps showing the range of each species. The book can never replace Stiles and Skutch but it was not intended to do so. It's intention, to make it easy to carry an identification guide, is well met. I can't wait to test it on my next trip to Costa Rica.
A Great Field Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica.......2007-08-27
In the interest of full disclosure, I must reveal that I first met Richard Garriques in 2004 when he led us on a one week birding trip in CR. He was in the process of writing this new field guide and we were all dutifully carrying the classic Stiles and Skutch (S&K) volume during that outing. Everyone knows that S&K is a wonderful book on the birds of CR and that it is just too big and heavy to carry long in the field. Richard's purpose stated to us was to remedy this situation by producing a field guide that could be comfortably carried into the field and that would contain the information necessary to make field identifications with convenience by having the relevent information for each species in one location along with quality drawings. In late July, 2007, Richard again led us on another birding trip in CR which was coincidently his first since his new field guide had been released. Of course, we had his new field guide as our reference for this outing. I can personally attest to Richard's outstanding competence in identifying the birds of CR, their ranges, and the field marks of importance in making identifications. He has an incredible mastery by sight, sound, and habitat. I believe that he has succeeded admirably in achieving his stated objectives for this field guide. The information on each bird is in one place. The plates face the range maps and field marks text on the opposite pages. The field marks of most importance are in bold type. And, the book is of the size and weight that makes it easy to carry and use. As we traveled around CR we saw several other visitors carrying Richard's book and the comments were very complimentary. So, if you like seeing lots of beautiful birds, as we do, in a beautiful country with friendly people, buy Richard's book, head to CR and have him show you around!! You will not be disappointed!!
Great field reference.......2007-08-22
I bought this book for a trip to Nicaragua since there was no specific guide to Nicaragua available. I found the relatively large, colorful pictures extremely useful, and many of the birds in this guide, especially in western Costa Rica, crossover into Nicaragua. I used this book in conjunction with the Van Perlo guide to Mexico and Central America. The pictures in this book and the extended range maps in the other book (although there are Costa Rica specific range maps in this book which I could use by extrapolation) were a great combination. In addition, the relatively small sizes of both books allowed for me to easily stuff them in my back pockets while hiking around the volcanic highlands.
Very nice guide.......2007-08-08
As the author of a travel guide to Costa Rica (Explore Costa Rica, Fifth Edition), which covers flora and fauna (and especially birds) in detail, I can attest that this is a great book to take with you and makes a superb companion to Explore Costa Rica (which will be a great help with the rest of your trip).
Book Description
Recognized the world over by frequent flyers and armchair travelers alike, Eyewitness Travel Guides are the most colorful and comprehensive guides on the market. With beautifully commissioned photographs and spectacular 3-D aerial views revealing the charm of each destination, these amazing travel guides show what others only tell.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of pictures........2007-05-31
I used this guide in conjunction with the Lonely Planet guide. The Eyewitness Guide shows the reader a great deal more. While Lonely Planet provides a lot more detail, but this one doesn't leave it to your imagination since they have lots and lots of pictures. Also, this one is smaller and easier to carry.
Excellent starting point, but you'll need more.......2006-06-30
This Eyewitness Guide is devoted to Costa Rica and is a pretty typical entry in the series. It opens with a discussion of the history and culture of the country as well as an overview of some of its more prominent characteristics such as beaches, weather, and wildlife. Next, there are a number of sections detailing geographic regions such as San Jose, Central Highlands, Central Pacific, Guanacaste & Northern Nicoya, the Northern Zone, the Caribbean, and the Southern Zone. Each area gets 13 pages or so of descriptions and photographs. Listings for hotels, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and outdoor activities are presented in the back of the book rather than with the geographic region they pertain to. Finally, there is a section discussing practical information of various kinds for travelers.
The great thing about this Eyewitness Guide to Costa Rica is that it offers over 650 photographs to help bring a gorgeous country to life. Rather than picking which places you most want to visit based on imagining them from descriptions, you can see them for yourself here. The problem with this guide is that its 288 pages are dominated by those photographs rather than detailed descriptions of hotels, restaurants, activities, etc. It simply isn't possible to put comprehensive detail into a few hundred pages when you already have more than 2 photos on average for each and every page.
I would recommend buying this guide, but I would also recommend purchasing the Frommer's Costa Rica 2008 (Frommer's Complete) to help plan the details of your trip. This is a great starting point, but you'll definitely want a resource with more information before you're done.
Basically very good with accurate information.......2006-02-19
We used this guide in our recent trip to Costa Rica. In this review I will tell you the benefits of the formatting style of this guide; the strengths of the guide, and then a few weaknesses where more information would have been helpful. I will end the review by relaying my assessment of the finest resource in Costa Rica and recommendations regarding use of the guide for travel in Costa Rica.
The guide is formatted very well, as are all the Eyewitness Travel Guides. They give you basic cultural, historic and political background. They then give detailed section by section analysis of geographic areas where they identify the major points of interest and then show you a small photograph related to the item with a short basic informative description. The guide also gives more detailed two page essays with drawings and photos for major points of interest. The guide ends with traveler information on hotels, restaurants, transportation and safety.
Now I would like to tell you about the strengths of the guide in describing Costa Rica. We were interested in spending time on the Pacific beaches and visiting the lowland rainforrests. However we also wanted to spend time seeing the volcanoes in the center of the country and visiting the high mountain cloud forests.
We drove from San Jose to Manuel Antonio National Park and resort area. We stayed 3 nights in a beach hotel which was very basic but within a 5 minute walk of the beautiful Manuel Antonio beaches. These beaches have a mixed very fine sand of white silica and black volcanic pumice that is perfect for walking, relaxing, and playing. The Manuel Antonio Park is a must see attraction if you are visiting the Pacific coast. Giant varied bromeliads weight down vines and trees. Giant trees rise above the jungle to the light, buttressed by high bladed roots.The beaches within the park are excellent and the hikes to Punta Cathedral and other lookouts are worth the climb. Only 600 people are allowed to visit every day so go early. Wear or carry your bathing suit. To get to the park entrance you may have to wade through a creek in dry season. We saw spider monkeys and a family of Capuchin monkeys. The Capuchins are amazing with their pink faces trimmed with white fur and their agile black bodies and tails. We saw iguanas of every size as well as two sloths hanging from vines. We were warned not to drink local water but we drank it for 8 days while in Costa Rica without problems. To get to the park you have drive for 3.5 hours from San Jose through the mountains on twisting roads. You then drive on a long road that parallels the beach through the towns of Jaco, Puntarenas, and Quepos. The evenings cooled down to around 69 degrees, which were perfect for sleeping under a ceiling fan. The beach and park warmed up to 86 at mid-day. Driving along the beach roads you see African oil palms growing in fields that once held bananas before the Sigatoka fungus wiped them all out. One day we explored Playa Seca. We found 10 miles of undeveloped totally beautiful beaches surrounded by jungle and a few beach homes.
We then spent 3 days in a bed & breakfast in Heredia, a town north of San Jose founded in 1706 with a charming central square, cathedral and central market. From here we went on two long day trips. On the first trip we wanted to see the Poas and Barva volcanoes and the La Paz waterfall. Because of the twisty roads, expect to take far longer to visit a site that you may initially estimate. We arrived at Poas at 10:30 am and the clouds had already gathered so much that we had to wait between clouds to see the crater and its lake. We hiked to a hearby crater lake but by then the clouds were so heavy we couldn't see anything. However the hike was great with big navy blue-green hummingbirds swooping in and out of the cloud forest flowers. The La Paz waterfall was next on the list and it is very impressive. You can park your car and walk under. Then we tried to get to the top of the Barva Volcanoe. Along the way you will pass charming mountain villages and cool highland coffee plantations. Whereas on the beach you see Brahmin cattle bred to live in bright sunlight, in the mountain villages around the volcanoes you see dairy cows that provide the dairy products for the country. We finally reached the end of the road on the way to the Barva Volcanoe but found that we had to leave our car and hike 6 kms. or else try to drive over incredibly rocky dangerous roads. Our car would have been vulnerable if we left it to hike to the top whereas if we took the car, we could have easily broken an axle. Then next day we decided to try the Irazu Volcanoe and the Guayabo archeological site. Irazu was beautiful even if it took 3.5 hours to find the top. You are above the cloud line so the craters and the lake inside the principal crater were very dramatic. It took us hours to find the entrance to the Guayabo site only to discover that the road ran out and we would have to take our car over 10 kms. of the most pot hole infested dirt road I have ever seen. Again we couldn't abandon our car for several hours to walk 10 kms. into the site and 10 kms. out and yet we feared breaking an axle on the road. We then had to return to Heredia after 7.5 hours on the road to see one volcano.
So what were the weaknesses in the guide? First, because there are so few road signs in Costa Rica, a more detailed map with a few more minor roads and small village benchmarkes would have been helpful. Second, it would have been nice to be warned about the difficulty in reaching both Barva and Guayabo. Third, we tried to visit the Rainmaker Private Conservatory forest but found that there were only two tours a day with the bilingual tour at 1:00 pm for a cost of $65 per person. You could not explore except as part of the tour. I wish we had been prepared by the guide for the tour schedule and the cost. We heard that Rainmaker uses high suspension bridges rather than zip lines for tree top exploration and thus we were disappointed. Fourth, and this is the most irritating issue, is the issue of rental car insurance. We selected the lowest rate weekly car rental which was around $150 from a Coasta Rican company. We found out at 11 pm as we were picking up our car that whereas our credit card covered collision insurance, the cost of Costa Rican liability was $250 for the week, pushing the cost to $400. When shopping for the best rental car rate, make sure you explore whether Costa Rican liability insurance is included in the price quote or extra. Also, the car we rented had very little tread on the back wheels and we had a flat tire. The rental company told us it was our responsibility to pay for the tire repair which turned out to be on $3 at a filling station.
Let me end by saying that the Costa Rican people are beautiful and warm hearted. The country is full of incredibly stunning young women and model-handsome young men. The children are so beautiful they are angelic. Because we got lost 100 times, we frequently had to ask people walking along country roads for directions. I was continually amazed by the hospitality and warmth of the beautiful people of Costa Rica. This guide was very useful for exploring this fantastic country.
Book Description
Relax at the most tranquil beaches, explore the lush cloud forests, embark on a white-water rafting adventure, walk right up to the edge of steaming volcanic craters, or spot one of the many exotic species of birds that inhabit this paradise–Fodor's Costa Rica offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the country to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best –"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We frequently update our Costa Rica guide, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area at Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best–so you know you're seeing the real Costa Rica.
- Includes unique, color photos that illustrate the country's history and local activities and a full-color pullout map of Costa Rica.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
Customer Reviews:
Go with Lonely Planet!.......2007-04-12
My husband and I traveled to Costa Rica for two weeks in March 2007. We had previously purchased the Fodor's Costa Rica 2005 (which we took with us on our trip) but also checked out Fodor's 2007, Lonely Planet, and Frommers from the library before our trip. We realized when we compared the books that Fodor's fell short in many aspects - this realization was re-emphasized when we got to Costa Rica and everyone had the Lonely Planet guide except us. The Fodor's guide lacks detail - the lack of photos is disappointing and only a few of the places we stayed at or ate at during our trip (and loved!) were even in the book and others that were highly recommended shouldn't have been.
Two other items that we got for our trip were the Costa Rica Traveler's Wildlife Guide by Les Beletsky and the Costa Rica waterproof International Travel Map (we rented a car). Both of these resources were wonderful and we highly recommend them!
LOTS OF GREAT INFO.......2007-03-10
This book really helped in reagrds to restaurants, hotels, activites, etc. But, there are a lot of great activiteies that are not listed in the book. While in Costa Rica, be sure to talk to locals and make your own favorite spots.
Customer Reviews:
A bit of light reading..........2007-01-21
Do not expect an "in-depth" book about Costa Rican politics and sociology, but a light reading compendium for those who want to learn a bit about the political and social background of this wonderful country...
Dry but Informative and Readable.......2005-08-19
This book was a little dry and psuedo-academic at times, considering the informal methods used by the authors. Chapters on history and economy read a little like high school history lessons but are informative none the less. The rest of the book moves more quickly and the subjects of culture, class and society are interesting. The major strength of this book is that it burts the mythical bubble of Costa Rica as a perfectly tolerant utopian paradise where all problems have been solved by universal health care and the welfare state. It instead paints a more humane, down to earth picture of contrasts and presents a view of the dynamic social and cultural forces at work in Costa Rica. Aside from the occasionally overly-academic tone, the only other drawback is the composite picture/ broad brush approach the authors use. Many generalizations are made relative to each of the subjects covered by the book, but arguably no book that sums up an entire culture could avoid doing this--so its moot compared to the eye opening revelations presented by the authors. Lots of "guide books" are written like second rate book reports by people with no familiarity with the culture or country. This book is tryly authentic. It is not marketed as a guide book, and that makes it an even better guide!
almost as good as my favorite CR book!.......2004-05-30
While Biesanz & company have produced a lucid and info-packed "insider's" book on Costa Rica, I still find that it comes in second to my favorite CR book, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made": a hybrid of a coffee-table book, a social/ politcial discussion and a geological history in a series of essays and sidebars.
The Last Country The Gods Made truly does live up to it's scope of topics. Aside from geology and social history, it covers the political and economic history of the country and emphasizes its liberal reformist tradition as exceptional in Central America.
I just like the writing better because the subjects are leavened by humor and, at times, almost poetical diction.
Also, frankly, the photos are better! And the prices are comparable so, maybe check them both out! But if you're on a budget, just buy The Last Country.
Heading for Costa Rica? Take this book.......2000-07-04
Heading for Costa Rica? Take The Ticos along with a guidebook. The Ticos is a fascinating and beautifully written account of Costa Rica, past and present. The authors bring to bear on the subject their more than half-century of residence in the country, as well as their formidable anthropological expertise. As a permanent resident of Costa Rica, I compared my own observations and experiences with those of the Bizantzs. For every topic examined - community, health care, religion, family, education and so forth, the authors' descriptions were consistent with my own, and their keen analyses deepened my understanding of the country I have adopted as my own.
Beyond what The Ticos tells us about Costa Rica, this book is also extremely valuable for its examination of the effects of structural adjustment economic policies imposed on this country by the international financial institutions and by the United States (through bilateral agreements) as conditions for loans. These policies are having the same deleterious effects worldwide on developing countries. Normally, discussions of the impact of structural adjustment policies are abstract and academic. The Ticos, in contrast, provides us with a concrete and specific assessment of the "fall out" institution by institution, free of technical jargon. For foreign residents of Costa Rica (and prospective residents) I would say this book is a "must". But even short-term tourists will benefit from reading it.
Costa Rica History and Society.......2000-02-25
I purchased this book at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica at the end of a two week trip and read the book cover to cover on the way home to Los Angeles. It answered all my questions about why this is such a unique country. The book explained for instance why the town square was empty at San Isidro last Sunday: the World Cup soccer match was on TV. I would recomment this book to anyone who is planning to travel to Costa Rica or anyone who has completed a trip.
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Books Index
Books Home
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Atlases & Maps
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
| Atlases
| Canada
| Historical
| Maps
| United States
| World
Lonely Planet Costa Rica
Costa Rican Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press)
Frommer's Costa Rica 2007 (Frommer's Complete)
Lonely Planet Costa Rica
Moon Handbooks Costa Rica
