Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [312]
What makes Costa Rica so unique? Costa Rica is such a tiny country with only a few million people, so you would think that it would be hard for us to have a strong identity. On the contrary, there are so many unique things about Costa Rica that give us Ticos a strong sense of pride and love for our country. For instance, everyone knows that our country is home to some of the world’s most virgin rainforest, and that we haven’t had a standing army for decades. To me, however, what makes this country so unique is that we are honest people who work hard for what we have. The reality is that we will never be one of the world’s largest economies, though people here are extremely satisfied with their lives, which is why we are so passionate about having fun!
What is the best way for travelers to experience Costa Rica? The great thing about this country is that it has a youthful spirit, so you don’t have to be 18 or 21 to have a good time here. In Costa Rica the great social equalizer is beer, so all you have to do is grab a bottle and just interact with the people around you.
What is the best part of being in the hostel business? The answer is definitely meeting backpackers from all around the world, and knowing that, at the end, we are all human beings. When you work in an international environment like a hostel, it’s a daily affirmation to learn that we all share the same wants, needs and desires.
What is the most challenging part of the hostel business? Keeping it real, keeping it Costa Rican. This is the way our business has always been, the way it is, and the way that it will always be. Others may be motivated by profit, but for me, it’s about sharing my pride in being Tico with every single backpacker that steps foot through the front door.
Costa Rican Hostel Network accommodations: Hostel Pangea, Hostel Toruma, Arenal Backpackers Resort, Monteverde Backpackers and Tamarindo Backpackers.
At the end of the road you’ll find the Bahari Beach Bungalows (2787-5014; www.baharibeach.com; cabins/tents US$55/105; ) with luxury safari-style beachfront tents and a small clutch of cabins. All of the tents are fully furnished and have electricity, tiled bathroom with hot shower, hand-painted sink and ocean views. The cabins, across the road, are also beautifully decorated and come ornamented with fresh flowers. There’s a pool overlooking the ocean, a spa and an excellent restaurant featuring continental cuisine.
Buses between Quepos and Dominical can drop you off at the turnoff to the village; from there it’s a couple of kilometers to the beach.
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HACIENDA BARú NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Located on the Pacific coast 3km northeast of Dominical on the road to Quepos, this wildlife refuge (2787-0003; www.haciendabaru.com; admission US$6, each extra day US$2) forms a key link in a major biological corridor called ‘the Path of the Tapir.’ It comprises more than 330 hectares of private and state-owned land that has been protected from hunting since 1976. The range of tropical habitats that may be observed here include pristine beaches, riverbanks, mangrove estuaries, wetlands, selectively logged forests, secondary forests, primary forests, tree plantations and pastures.
This diversity of habitat plus its key position in the Path of the Tapir biological corridor accounts for the multitude of species that have been identified in