Fodor's Essential Costa Rica

by Fodor's Travel Publications

Overview

Whether you want to surf in Manuel Antonio, zip-line through the Monteverde Cloud Forest, or hike around Arenal Volcano, the local Fodor's travel experts in Costa Rica are here to help! Fodor's Essential Costa Rica guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has been fully-redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos. Fodor's “Essential” guides were named by Booklist as the Best Travel Guide Series of 2020!

Fodor's Essential Costa Rica travel guide includes:

• AN ILLUSTRATED ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE to the top things to see and do
• MULTIPLE ITINERARIES to effectively organize your days and maximize your time
• MORE THAN 30 DETAILED MAPS and a FREE PULL-OUT MAP to help you navigate confidently
• COLOR PHOTOS throughout to spark your wanderlust!
• HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCALS on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, performing arts, activities, side-trips, and more
• PHOTO-FILLED “BEST OF” FEATURES on “Best Beaches,” “Best Eco-Lodges,” “Best Outdoor Adventures,” “Best Surfing,” and more
• TRIP-PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including when to go, getting around, beating the crowds, and saving time and money
• HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS providing rich context on the local people, politics, art, architecture, cuisine, music, geography and more
• SPECIAL FEATURES on “Ecotourism in Costa Rica,” “Weddings and Honeymoons in Costa Rica,” “What to Watch and Read Before You Visit,” and “What to Eat and Drink”
• LOCAL WRITERS to help you find the under-the-radar gems
• Spanish-LANGUAGE PRIMERS with useful words and essential phrases
• UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE ON: San Jose, Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna, Cara National Park, Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forests, Guanacaste, surfing, beaches, sloth sanctuaries, and more

Planning on visiting Belize? Check out Fodor's Belize.

*Important note for digital editions: The digital edition of this guide does not contain all the images or text included in the physical edition.

ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor's has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. For more travel inspiration, you can sign up for our travel newsletter at fodors.com/newsletter/signup, or follow us @FodorsTravel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We invite you to join our friendly community of travel experts at fodors.com/community to ask any other questions and share your experience with us!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640975392
Publisher:	Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	11/15/2022
Series:	Fodor's Travel Guides Series
Edition description:	4th ed.
Pages:	528
Sales rank:	100,857
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel advice for every stage of a traveler's trip. We hire local writers who know their destinations better than anyone else, allowing us to provide the best travel recommendations for all tastes and budgets in over 7,500 worldwide destinations. Our books make it possible for every trip to be a trip of a lifetime.

Table of Contents

1 Experience Costa Rica 6

18 Ultimate Experiences 8

What's Where 16

Best Beaches in Costa Rica 18

Best Ecolodges in Costa Rica 20

What to Eat and Drink in Costa Rica 22

Costa Rica Today 24

Ecotourism in Costa Rica 26

Costa Rica Outdoor Adventures 27

Weddings and Honeymoons 33

The People of Costa Rica 34

Kids and Families 35

What to Watch and Read 36

2 Travel Smart 37

Know Before You Go 38

Getting Here 40

Essentials 49

Helpful Phrases 58

What to Pack for Costa Rica 60

Tours 61

Great Itineraries 64

Contacts 76

3 Biodiversity 77

4 San José 119

Welcome to San José 120

Souvenir Shopping in San José 122

Planning 125

Downtown 131

West of Downtown 143

North and East of Downtown 149

5 The Central Valley 159

Welcome to the Central Valley 160

Carata National Park 162

Poás Volcano 164

Irazú Volcano 168

Planning 169

Escazú 171

Santa Ana 175

Grecia 178

Sarchí 179

Carara National Park 180

San Antonio de Belen 182

Alajuela 182

Heredia 188

Poás Volcano National Park 197

Cartago 199

The Drosi Valley 203

Turrialba 206

6 Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands 211

Welcome to Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands 212

Arenal Volcano 214

Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge 216

Planning 219

Arenal and La Fortuna 221

Nuevo Arenal 233

Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena 234

Tenorio Volcano and the Rio Celeste 252

Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge 255

7 Guanacaste 257

Welcome to Guanacaste 258

Rincon de la Vieja National Park 260

Santa Rosa National Park 262

Planning 264

Bahía Salinas 267

Playa Bahía Junquillal 270

Santa Rosa National Park 271

Guanacaste National Park 272

Rincón de la Vieja National Park 273

Liberia 276

Papagayo Peninsula 278

Playa Hermosa 281

Playas del Coco 283

Playa Ocotal 291

Las Catalinas 294

Playa Potrero 295

Playa Flamingo 298

Brasilito and Playa Conchal 300

Playa Grande 303

Tamarindo 307

Playa Langosta 315

Playa Avellanas 324

Playa Negra 326

Playa Junquillal 328

8 The Nicoya Peninsula 329

Welcome to the Nicoya Peninsula 330

Palo Verde National Park 332

Planning 334

Nosara 336

Sámara 343

Playa Carrillo 349

Punta Islita 351

Palo Verde National Park 352

Barra Honda National Park 354

Curú National Wildlife Refuge 355

Playa Tambor Area 356

Isla Tortuga 358

Montezuma 358

Malpais and Santa Teresa 362

9 Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Coast 367

Welcome to Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific Coast 368

Manuel Antonio National Park 370

Planning 373

Tárcoles 375

Punta Leona 376

Playa Herradura 378

Jacó 379

Playa Hermosa 387

Esterillos Este 389

Quepos 392

Manuel Antonio 395

10 The OSA Peninsula and the South Pacific 407

Welcome to the Osa Peninsula and the South Pacific 408

Chirripó National Park 410

Ballena Marine National Park 412

Corcovado National Park 414

Planning 417

Zona de Los Santos 420

San Gerardode Dota 421

San Isidro de El General 424

San Gerardo de Rivas 427

San Vito 428

Dominical 431

Ballena National Marine Park 437

Golfito 445

Playa Zanctido 448

Playa Pavones 450

Puerto Jiménez 452

Corcovado National Park 459

Cabo Matapalo 461

Carate 463

Drake Bay 464

11 Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast 467

Welcome to Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast 468

Tortuguero National Park 470

Cahuita National Park 472

Planning 475

The Sarapiquí Loop 477

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí 478

Tortuguero 481

Cahuita 489

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca 497

Coffee, the Golden Bean 189

Canopy Tours 235

Choosing a Beach 284

Surfing Costa Rica 316

Index 510

About Our Writers 528

Maps

Costa Rica's Ecozones 80-81

Downtown San Jose 134-135

West of Downtown San José 146-147

North and East of Downtown San José 150-151

West and North of San José 177

Alajuela 185

East of San José 200

Arenal and La Fortuna, and Nuevo Arenal 226

Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena 248

Far Northern Guanacaste 268

Guanacaste Pacific Coast and the Northern Nicoya Peninsula 304

Tamarindo and Playa Langosta 310

Sámara 345

Jacó 382

Manuel Antonio 396

The Central Highlands and Valle de El General Region 425

The Golfo Dulce and the Osa Peninsula 453

The Sarapiquí Loop 479

Tortuguero 434

Cahuita 490

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca 498-499

Editorial Reviews

Fodor’s is pitched a few notches higher….aimed at a fairly discerning traveler with an appetite for background and the occasional surprise.” – New York Times

“The Fodor’s guides are notable for their ratings of sights, restaurants, shops, accommodations and attractions.” – Chicago Tribune

“In terms of comprehensiveness of coverage, the very accessible format, and the enthusiastic tone, this series remains one of the best on the market.” – Booklist

“Fodor’s super-informative guidebooks are known for accuracy and attention to detail.” – Sacramento Bee

“Fodor’s can help you plan the perfect adventure.” – Arizona Republic

From the Publisher