page 5 Contents

1 Chapter 1: The Best of Costa Rica 4 My Favorite Costa Rica Moments 6 The Best of Natural Costa Rica 7 My Favorite Hikes 8 The Best Beaches 9 The Best Bird-Watching 10 Spotlight: The Resplendent Quetzal 12 The Best Adventures in & on the Water 13 The Best Adventures on Land 14 The Best Views 15 The Best Luxury Hotels & Resorts 16 My Favorite Boutique Hotels & Small Inns page 39 17 The Best Ecolodges

18 Chapter 2: Strategies for Seeing Costa Rica

24 Chapter 3: The Best Costa Rica Itineraries 26 Costa Rica Highlights 30 The Best of Costa Rica in 2 Weeks 32 Undiscovered Costa Rica 36 The Best Costa Rica Adventures 40 Costa Rica with Kids

42 Chapter 4: San José & the Central Valley 44 My Favorite San José Moments 48 The Best of San José in 1 Day 54 San José & the Central Valley in 3 Days page 62 60 Spotlight: Black Gold 62 San José with Kids 64 Irazú Volcano, Cartago & the Orosí Valley 68 San José’s COPYRIGHTEDBest Adventures MATERIAL 74 San José Shopping A to Z 81 San José Restaurant Best Bets 82 San José Restaurants A to Z 87 San José Hotel Best Bets 88 San José Hotels A to Z 93 San José Nightlife & Entertainment A to Z 98 San José Fast Facts

002_497708-ftoc.indd2_497708-ftoc.indd iiiiii 66/28/10/28/10 110:280:28 AMAM page 108

100 Chapter 5: Guanacaste 102 My Favorite Guanacaste Moments 106 Best of Guanacaste in 3 Days 108 Best of Guanacaste in 1 Week 116 Spotlight: Hot Spot 118 Guanacaste with Kids 122 Guanacaste’s History & Culture 128 Palo Verde National Park 130 Guanacaste Adventures in & on the Water 134 Guanacaste Beaches A to Z 138 Guanacaste Adventures on Land 144 Guanacaste’s Best Golf Courses 146 Tamarindo 152 Playa del Coco & Playa Ocotal page 140 156 Playa Hermosa & the Papagayo Peninsula 160 Playas Flamingo & Conchal & Nearby Beaches 164 Liberia 166 Guanacaste Fast Facts

168 Chapter 6: The Nicoya Peninsula 170 My Favorite Nicoya Peninsula Moments 172 The Best of the Nicoya Peninsula in 3 Days 176 The Best of the Nicoya Peninsula in 1 Week 180 Spotlight: The Spectacular Sea Turtle 182 The Nicoya Peninsula with Kids 186 Nicoya Peninsula Adventures in & on the Water 188 Nicoya Peninsula Beaches A to Z 190 Nicoya Peninsula Adventures on Land 192 Montezuma page 177 198 Malpaís & Santa Teresa 202 Playa Sámara 208 Nosara 212 Nicoya Peninsula Fast Facts

214 Chapter 7: The Northern Zone 216 My Favorite Northern Zone Moments 218 The Best of the Northern Zone in 3 Days 226 Spotlight: Anatomy of a Cloud Forest 228 The Best of the Northern Zone in 1 Week 234 The Northern Zone with Kids 240 Northern Zone Adventures in & on the Water 242 Northern Zone Adventures on Land 248 The Northern Zone’s Best Hikes

002_497708-ftoc.indd2_497708-ftoc.indd iviv 66/28/10/28/10 110:280:28 AMAM page 195

252 The Northern Zone’s Best Bird-Watching 254 Monteverde 260 La Fortuna 264 Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí 268 Northern Zone Fast Facts

270 Chapter 8: The Central Pacifi c Coast 272 My Favorite Central Pacifi c Coast Moments 274 The Best of the Central Pacifi c Coast in 3 Days 278 The Best of the Central Pacifi c Coast in 1 Week 284 The Central Pacifi c Coast with Kids 290 Manuel Antonio National Park 294 Chirripó National Park 298 Central Pacifi c Coast Adventures in & on the Water 302 Spotlight: Surfi ng Costa Rica’s Pacifi c Coast page 197 304 Central Pacifi c Coast Beaches A to Z 306 Central Pacifi c Coast Adventures on Land 308 Best Bird-Watching on the Central Pacifi c Coast 310 Jacó & Playa Herradura 318 Manuel Antonio 326 Dominical & the Coastline Southward 332 Central Pacifi c Coast Fast Facts

334 Chapter 9: The Southern Zone 336 My Favorite Southern Zone Moments 338 The Best of the Southern Zone in 1 Week 344 The Southern Zone with Kids 348 Corcovado National Park 352 Spotlight: Meet the Monkeys! 354 Southern Zone Adventures in & on the Water page 300 356 The Southern Zone’s Best Bird-Watching 358 Drake Bay 362 Puerto Jiménez & the Southern Osa Peninsula 366 Golfi to & the Golfo Dulce 370 Playa Zancudo & Pavones 374 Southern Zone Fast Facts

376 Chapter 10: The Caribbean Coast 378 My Favorite Caribbean Coast Moments 380 The Best of the Caribbean Coast in 3 Days 384 The Best of the Caribbean Coast in 1 Week 388 Spotlight: Reggae & Dreadlocks 390 The Caribbean Coast with Kids

002_497708-ftoc.indd2_497708-ftoc.indd v 66/28/10/28/10 110:280:28 AMAM page 346

394 Caribbean Coast Adventures in & on the Water 398 Caribbean Coast Beaches A to Z 400 Caribbean Coast Adventures on Land 404 Puerto Viejo & Southward 412 Cahuita 416 Tortuguero 420 Limón 422 Caribbean Coast Fast Facts

424 Chapter 11: Costa Rican History & Culture 426 The History of Costa Rica 430 A Timeline of Costa Rican History 432 Spotlight: A Glittering Past 434 The Lay of the Land page 378 436 Costa Rica in High & Popular Culture 440 Eating & Drinking in Costa Rica

444 Chapter 12: The Best Special Interest Trips 446 Organized Adventure Tours 447 Outdoor Activities A to Z 450 Learning Trips & Language Classes 451 Volunteer & Educational Trips

452 Chapter 13: Guide to Costa Rica’s Flora & Fauna 454 Mammals 458 Birds 462 Amphibians 463 Reptiles page 386 465 Sea Life 468 Invertebrates 469 Trees 471 Flowers & Other Plants

472 Chapter 14: The Savvy Traveler 474 Before You Go 477 Getting There 477 Getting Around 479 Tips on Accomodations 480 Fast Facts 484 Useful Phrases & Menu Terms

491 Index

002_497708-ftoc.indd2_497708-ftoc.indd vivi 66/28/10/28/10 110:280:28 AMAM