Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [9]
Guías Costa Rica (www.guiascostarica.com) Links that connect you with everything you’d ever need to know – from entertainment to health to government websites.
Lanic (http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/ca/cr) An exceptional collection of links to the websites (mostly in Spanish) of many Costa Rican organizations, from the University of Texas.
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) Provides information on travel in Costa Rica, links to accommodations and traveling tips from the all-important Thorn Tree community forum.
Tico Times (www.ticotimes.net) The online edition of Costa Rica’s excellent English-language weekly newspaper.
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Itineraries
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CLASSIC ROUTES
THE BEST OF COSTA RICA
PACIFIC COASTAL EXPLORER
CARIBBEAN COASTAL EXPLORER
ROADS LESS TRAVELED
RIDING RÍO SAN JUAN & SARAPIQUÍ
HIKING IN THE TALAMANCAS
TAILORED TRIPS
SURFING SAFARI
RAFTING SAFARI
EXPLORING OSA
FUN FOR KIDS
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CLASSIC ROUTES
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THE BEST OF COSTA RICA
Two Weeks to One Month / Northwestern Costa Rica & Península de Nicoya
For a taste of all that Costa Rica has to offer, this classic route will take you into the mountains and cloud forests of the interior before sweeping you down into the Península de Nicoya.
This route takes travelers by bubbling volcanoes, hot springs and tranquil cloud forests before hitting the sun-kissed beaches of the Nicoya.
From San José (Click here), head north to La Fortuna, where you can hike through forest on the flanks of Volcán Arenal (Click here), then soak in hot springs. Come down from the mountain, take a boat across Laguna de Arenal, then a bus to Monteverde (Click here), where you can search for the elusive quetzal at Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde.
For a change of scene, head west to the biggest party town in the Nicoya, Playa Tamarindo, and enjoy the excellent surf in this brash town. Nature buffs will not want to miss the nesting leatherback turtles at Playa Grande, while hard-core surfers should head straight south to Playas Avellanas and Negra.
Continuing south, don’t miss the stunning beaches and cosmopolitan cuisine at Playa Sámara and legendary swells at Mal País and Playa Santa Teresa. Wind down your trip at laidback Montezuma and head back to San José via Jacó by jet boat and bus.
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PACIFIC COASTAL EXPLORER
One to Two Weeks / Central Pacific Coast
This excursion continues where the Best of Costa Rica route ends, and winds through the beaches and rainforests of the central Pacific region.
For days on end of sun, surf and sand, head south along the central Pacific coast for back-to-back beach towns dedicated to the pursuit of hedonism.
Kick things off in the resort town of Jacó, a cosmopolitan enclave of fine dining and raging nightlife. In case you need a reminder that you’re still in Costa Rica, backtrack a bit north up the coast to Parque Nacional Carara, home to large populations of enchanting scarlet macaws.
Heading south along the coast, your next stop is the port town of Quepos, which serves as a convenient base for the country’s most popular national park, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. Here, the rainforest sweeps down to meet the sea, providing refuge for rare animals, including the endangered Central American squirrel monkey.
Continue on south to Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge, where you can clamber on a canopy platform and sloth-spot in the trees. If you haven’t had enough of the postcard-perfect Pacific coast, keep heading south to Dominical to catch some more waves, or to tiny and tranquil Uvita to escape the tourist crowds.
From Uvita, you can either continue south to the far-flung Península de Osa (Click here), or head back to San José en route to the Caribbean coast.
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CARIBBEAN COASTAL EXPLORER
One to Two Weeks / Caribbean Coast
The Caribbean coast is a world unto itself, and provides a striking and memorable contrast to time spent elsewhere in the country.
Spanish gives way to English,