Lonely Planet Publications

17

Contents
On the Road

Los Yoses & San Pedro

Escaz

112
117

Costa Rica Highlights 5

Central Valley &

Highlands

Destination
Costa Rica

20

Getting Started

22

Itineraries

28

ALAJUELA & THE NORTH

OF THE VALLEY
Alajuela
Butterfly Farm
West to Atenas
Northwest to Sarch
Palmares
San Ramn
Los Angeles Cloud Forest
Reserve
Zarcero
Parque Nacional Juan
Castro Blanco
Parque Nacional
Volcn Pos
Los Jardines de la
Catarata la Paz
HEREDIA AREA
Heredia
Barva
Parque Nacional Braulio
Carrillo
Rainforest Aerial Tram
Moravia
CARTAGO AREA
Cartago
Parque Nacional Volcn
Iraz
Valle de Orosi
TURRIALBA AREA
Turrialba
Monumento Nacional
Arqueolgico Guayabo
Parque Nacional Volcn
Turrialba

History

35

The Culture

46

Food & Drink

54

Environment

61

Adventure Travel

72

San Jos

78

History
Orientation
Information
Dangers & Annoyances
Sights
Activities
Walking Tour
Courses
San Jos for Children
Quirky San Jos
Tours
Festivals & Events
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking
Entertainment
Shopping
Getting There & Away
Getting Around
AROUND SAN JOS

79
79
79
82
83
91
91
92
92
93
93
94
94
100
104
105
107
108
111
112

Northwestern
Costa Rica

124
125
128
133
133
134
137
137
137
138
138
139
141
141
141
144
146
148
148
149
149
151
152
157
157
160
162

164

INTERAMERICANA NORTE
Refugio Nacional de Fauna
Silvestre Peas Blancas &
Around
Costa de Pjaros
Juntas
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Reserva Biolgica Bosque
Nuboso Monteverde

168
168
169
169
170
190

18

CONTENTS

Wildlife Guide

193

Reserva Santa Elena

Ecolodge San Luis &
Research Station
Puente La Amistad
Caas
Volcn Tenorio Area
Volcn Miravalles Area
Bagaces
Parque Nacional
Palo Verde
Reserva Biolgica Lomas
de Barbudal
Liberia
Parque Nacional Rincn
de la Vieja
Parque Nacional Santa
Rosa
Refugio Nacional de Vida
Silvestre Baha Junquillal
Parque Nacional
Guanacaste
La Cruz
Baha Salinas
ARENAL ROUTE
Ciudad Quesada
(San Carlos)
La Fortuna & Around
Parque Nacional
Volcn Arenal
El Castillo
Laguna de Arenal Area
Tilarn

Pennsula de
Nicoya

201
202
202
203
205
206
208
208
209
210
215
218
221
222
226
227
228
228
230
241
244
245
251

253

NORTHERN PENINSULA
Playa del Coco
Playa Hermosa
Playa Ocotal
Beaches South of Playa
Ocotal
Playa Grande
Parque Nacional Marino
Las Baulas de Guanacaste
Playa Tamarindo
Playas Avellanas & Negra
Playa Junquillal
Santa Cruz
CENTRAL PENINSULA
Nicoya
Parque Nacional Diri
Parque Nacional Barra
Honda
Puente La Amistad
Nosara Area

254
255
261
263
263
267
269
270
277
280
281
283
283
286
286
287
287

Refugio Nacional de
Fauna Silvestre Ostional
Playa Smara
Playa Carrillo
Islita Area
Playas San Miguel &
Coyote
SOUTHEASTERN
PENINSULA
Playa Naranjo
Islands near Baha
Gigante
Paquera
Refugio Nacional de
Vida Silvestre Cur
Playas Pochote & Tambor
Cbano
Montezuma
Mal Pas & Santa Teresa
Cabuya
Reserva Natural Absoluta
Cabo Blanco

Central Pacific
Coast

292
293
296
297
298
300
300
300
302
302
303
304
304
310
314
314

316

PUNTARENAS TO
QUEPOS
Puntarenas
Around Puntarenas
Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park
& Around
Parque Nacional Carara
Trcoles & Around
Playa Herradura
Jac
Playa Hermosa
Playa Esterillos
Parrita
Rainmaker Aerial Walkway
QUEPOS & MANUEL
ANTONIO
Quepos
Quepos to Manuel
Antonio
Manuel Antonio Village
Parque Nacional Manuel
Antonio
QUEPOS TO UVITA
Rafiki Safari Lodge
Matapalo
Hacienda Bar National
Wildlife Refuge
Dominical
Escaleras
Uvita
Parque Nacional Marino
Ballena

317
319
322
323
323
326
328
328
339
339
340
341
341
341
346
352
353
357
357
358
359
359
362
363
365

Southern
Costa Rica

367

THE ROAD TO CHIRRIP 368

Santa Mara & Valle
de Dota
368
San Gerardo de Dota
369
Parque Nacional Los
Quetzales
372
Cerro de la Muerte
373
San Isidro de El General
374
San Gerardo de Rivas
377
PARQUE NACIONAL
CHIRRIP
378
Orientation
379
Information
379
Wildlife-Watching
379
Hiking
379
Tours
380
Sleeping & Eating
381
Getting There & Around
381
THE ROAD TO LA
AMISTAD
381
Buenos Aires
381
Reserva Biolgica Drika 382
Reserva Indgena Boruca 382
Palmar
384
Neily
384
Paso Canoas
386
Wilson Botanical Garden 387
San Vito
387
PARQUE INTERNACIONAL
LA AMISTAD
389
Orientation & Information 390
Activities
391
Sleeping & Eating
392
Getting There & Away
393

Pennsula de Osa
& Golfo Dulce
TO CORCOVADO VIA
BAHA DRAKE
Sierpe
Humedal Nacional
Trraba-Sierpe
Baha Drake
Baha Drake to
Corcovado
Reserva Biolgica Isla
del Cao
TO CORCOVADO VIA
PUERTO JIMNEZ
Reserva Forestal Golfo
Dulce
Puerto Jimnez
Cabo Matapalo
Carate

394
397
397
397
399
404
406
407
407
408
413
415

 Lonely Planet Publications

C O N T E N T S 19

PARQUE NACIONAL
CORCOVADO
416
History
416
Orientation & Information 416

Green Costa Rica

417

Activities
Tours
Sleeping & Eating
Getting There & Away
GOLFO DULCE
Golfito
Parque Nacional Piedras
Blancas
Playas San Josecito,
Nicuesa & Cativo
Zancudo
Pavones
Parque Nacional Isla
del Cocos

Caribbean Coast

425
428
429
430
431
431
435
436
437
439
441

444

THE ATLANTIC SLOPE

Gupiles & Around
Cariari
Gucimo
Siquirres
Puerto Limn
Around Puerto Limn
NORTHERN CARIBBEAN
Parismina
Parque Nacional
Tortuguero
Tortuguero Village
Barra del Colorado
SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN
Reserva Biolgica
Hitoy-Cerere
Cahuita
Parque Nacional Cahuita
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Puerto Viejo to
Manzanillo
Manzanillo
Refugio Nacional de Vida
Silvestre GandocaManzanillo
Bribr
Sixaola

Northern
Lowlands
HIGHWAY 126 TO SAN
MIGUEL
Vara Blanca & Around

445
447
448
449
449
450
455
456
456
458
461
465
467
468
468
475
477
486
490
491
494
495

497
498
498

SAN MIGUEL TO LOS

CHILES
Venecia & Around
Boca Tapada Area
Muelle de San Carlos
San Rafael de
Guatuso Area
Upala
Refugio Nacional de Vida
Silvestre Cao Negro
Los Chiles
SAN MIGUEL TO PUERTO
VIEJO DE SARAPIQU
La Virgen
La Virgen to Puerto
Viejo de Sarapiqu
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqu
& Around
SOUTH OF PUERTO
VIEJO DE SARAPIQU
Estacin Biolgica
La Selva
Sueo Azul Resort
Heliconia Island
Rara Avis

Transportation

540

Health

551

503
505

Language

557

506
509

Glossary

565

511
511

The Authors

567

514

Behind the Scenes

569

Index

577

GreenDex

588

World Time Zones

590

Map Legend

592

500
500
501
502

516
519
519
520
520
520

521

Directory

Regional Map Contents

Northwestern
Costa Rica
pp166-7
Pennsula
de Nicoya
pp256-7

Northern
Lowlands
p499
Central Valley
& Highlands
Caribbean
pp126-7
San Jos Coast
pp446-7
p80
Central
Pacific Coast
p318
Southern
Costa Rica
pp370-1

Pennsula de Osa
& Golfo Dulce
p396