Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [473]
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Sleeping & Eating
There are several clean, basic cabinas in San Rafael de Guatuso, sometimes used on a long-term basis by farm workers, as well as a good selection of sodas and stores.
Cabinas Milagro (2464-0037; s/d US$6/10; ) This quiet, family-run place on the edge of town is a tranquil budget option. From the center, go past the church toward the Río Frío bridge and turn right just past the soccer field. Rooms have cold showers and fan.
Cabinas Tío Henry (2464-0344; r per person US$9; ) Big, clean, air-conditioned rooms here are relatively plush, with cable TV and private hot shower. The cabinas are centrally located in town, though the reception is at the vet and feed store next door.
Soda La Macha (2464-0393; mains ₡1740; breakfast, lunch & dinner) You don’t exactly get a menu at this fine soda, on the main road across from the bus stop. Everything here is cooked using a wood-fired oven. Just request your casado (set meal) or gallo (tortilla sandwich) preferences and they’ll be made on the spot.
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Getting There & Away
Guatuso lies on Hwy 4, about 40km from both Upala, to the northwest, and Muelle de San Carlos, to the southeast. Buses leave about every two hours for either Tilarán or Ciudad Quesada, some of which continue to San José. Ciudad Quesada is the most frequent destination.
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Directory
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CONTENTS
Accommodations
Activities
Business Hours
Children
Climate Charts
Courses
Customs Regulations
Dangers & Annoyances
Discount Cards
Embassies & Consulates
Festivals & Events
Food
Gay & Lesbian Travelers
Holidays
Insurance
Internet Access
Legal Matters
Maps
Money
Photography
Post
Shopping
Solo Travelers
Telephone
Time
Toilets
Tourist Information
Travelers with Disabilities
Visas
Volunteering
Work
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ACCOMMODATIONS
The hotel situation in Costa Rica ranges from luxurious ecolodges and sparkling all-inclusive resorts to backpacker palaces and I-can’t-believe-I’m-paying-for-this barnyard-style quarters. Given this astounding variety of accommodations, it’s rare to arrive in a town and find nowhere to sleep.
High- or dry-season (December to April) prices are provided throughout this book, though many lodges lower their prices during the low or rainy season (May to November). Keep in mind that prices change quickly in Costa Rica, so it’s best to see the prices in this book as approximations rather than facts.
Throughout this book, sleeping options are listed in order of budget, unless otherwise specified. Prices are inclusive of tax and given in US dollars, which is the preferred currency for listing rates in Costa Rica. However, colones are accepted everywhere, and are usually exchanged at current rates without an additional fee.
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B&Bs
Almost unknown in the country prior to the ecotourism boom, the B&B phenomenon has swept through Costa Rica in the past two decades, primarily fueled by the increasing number of resident European and North American expats. Generally speaking, B&Bs in Costa Rica tend to be midrange to top-end affairs. While some B&Bs are reviewed in this guide, you can also find this type of accommodations on several websites (although they are far from exhaustive):
BedandBreakfast.com (www.bedandbreakfast.com/costa-rica.html)
Costa Rica Innkeepers Association (www.costaricainnkeepers.com)
Pamela Lanier’s Worldwide Bed and Breakfasts Directory (www.lanierbb.com)
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Camping
BOOK YOUR STAY ONLINE
For more accommodations reviews and recommendations by Lonely Planet authors, check out the online booking service at www.lonelyplanet.com/hotels. You’ll find the true, insider low-down