About this ebook
From lush rain forests and sprawling beaches to majestic jaguars and beautiful scarlet macaws, Costa Rica offers travelers a unique and vibrant experience and draws them in with its natural beauty. A 48-page field guide to Costa Rica's varied wildlife and habitats can help you explore and provides detailed information on local species, national parks, and preserves, plus practical tips on how to plan your trip and photograph wildlife.
Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Costa Rica.
- Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance.
- Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights.
- Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums.
- Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area.
- Area maps marked with sights.
- Detailed city maps include street finder indexes for easy navigation.
- Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights.
- Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations.
With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Costa Rica truly shows you this country as no one else can.
Series Overview: For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews. With guidebooks to hundreds of places around the globe available in print and digital formats, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides show travelers how they can discover more.
DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: the most maps, photographs, and illustrations of any guide.
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Reviews for DK Costa Rica
9 ratings1 review
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5In about a week my husband and I are heading to Costa Rica. The fact that I just finished this book yesterday should probably tell you the state of our planning. We have plane tickets. We have a hotel for the first and the last nights. That’s it.
My husband visited Costa Rica about a month after we started dating, and he’s wanted to go back ever since. He asked that instead of my regular planning, that I just get a guidebook and let us see what happens when we get there. So, I bought this one.
It’s fine. I don’t know how to review travel books – I think I should always wait until I get back, but by then I’ve moved on (I try to always review books within a day or two of finishing). This book seemed a little light though on what I think I need. Maybe it’s because it’s my first time going to a country I’m really unfamiliar with, so everything just bleeds together. I can’t tell any of the national parks apart, so I’m not really sure which ones I want to try to see.
But maybe that’s a good thing. We’ll pick a place on a map, find a bus that goes there, then open up the book and see what we’ll see.
Book preview
DK Costa Rica - DK Travel
COSTA RICA
Inspire / Plan / Discover / Experience
contents
g Contents
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price guide
Throughout the guide the following price categories have been applied:
\\\ On a budget
\\\ Mid-range
\\\ Splurge
g Contents
key to maps
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DISCOVER COSTA RICA
alt imaget The crescent-shaped coves of Parque Nacional Manual Antonio
g Discover Costa Rica g Contents
Welcome to
Costa Rica
alt imaget The stunning beach at Manuel Antonio.
Diminutive Costa Rica packs an enormous punch, with a culture as rich and vibrant as its incredible biodiversity. With wildlife galore, an idyllic climate, and friendly locals you’ve got the ideal destination. Whatever your dream trip to Costa Rica includes, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.
alt imagealt imagealt imageStraddling the Mesoamerican isthmus between North and South America, this little nation’s magnificent biodiversity is justifiably the country’s main attraction, and unsurprisingly Costa Rica’s forte is ecotourism. There’s an endless choice of nature activities and lodges, and visitors have so many ways to answer the call of the wild. Join a guided night tour of the jungle to spy the elusive jaguar. Volunteer to help sea turtle hatchlings make it to the waves or release treacle-slow sloths back into the canopy.
Its cities and villages are equally enticing. San José, the capital, is carving out its place as one of Central America’s hippest cities, with buzzing craft breweries, world-class museums, and a lively foodie scene. Westward, Liberia is a laid-back gateway to Costa Rica’s sabanero (cowboy or plainsman) culture. Embracing the Tico (Costa Rican) gospel of pura vida (pure life), beachy yoga retreats along the Nicoya Peninsula are all zen, while fun-loving Pavones, to the south, is a surfers’ paradise. Over the coffee-estate-strewn central highlands is the alluring blend of white sands, turquoise waters, and the delicious cuisine of the Caribbean coast.
With so many different things to discover, it’s hard to know where to start. We’ve broken the country down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge, and colorful, comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. However long your stay, this DK Eyewitness travel guide will ensure that you see the very best of Costa Rica. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Costa Rica. ¡Pura vida!
1 A boldly colored toucan perching on a branch.
2 Wooden stairs leading down to the base of a waterfall in the rainforest.
3 A team running the rapids on the Río Sarapíqui.
g Discover Costa Rica g Contents
Reasons to Love
Costa Rica
Its scenery is spectacular. There’s wildlife galore. It’s peaceful and easy to get around. Ask any Costa Rican and you’ll hear a different reason why they love their country. Here, we pick some of our favorites.
1 Pura Vida
alt imaget "Pura vida" (pure life) is more than a Costa Rican phrase – it’s a relaxed, no-stress philosophy of life, and one reason Ticos (Costa Ricans) have been named among the world’s happiest people.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
2 Beach Life
alt imaget Costa Rica’s palm-fringed beaches, running the length of both coastlines, are perfect for recharging. Some of the finest are on the Nicoya Peninsula and south of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
3 Turtle conservation
alt imaget The sight of an arribada (mass arrival) of sea turtles crawling up Costa Rica’s beaches is pure magic. Go to Tortuguero or Nosara to patrol nesting sites and help tiny hatchlings back to sea.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
4 Wealth of Wildlife
alt imaget Slow-moving sloths, raucous green macaws, leaping humpback whales, incurious iguanas – bring your binoculars to get face-to-face with Costa Rica’s legendary wildlife.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
5 White-Water Rafting
alt imaget With fantastic rapids tumbling down steep and treacherous slopes, Costa Rica offers world-class rapids across the country. Pack your paddle and head straight for Sarapiquí and the Pacuare River to test your skills on everything from half-day trips to multiday excursions.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
6 The Grano de Oro
alt imaget Start every day with a rich dark brew from the grano de oro, the nation’s golden bean. Coffee lovers, make a beeline for the Central Highlands to savor the full bean-to-cup experience.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
7 Scuba Diving
alt imaget The crystal-clear waters off both sides of Costa Rica teem with sealife and shipwrecks. Head to Gandoca-Manzanillo and Isla del Coco for the best dives.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
8 Extraordinary Natural Beauty
alt imaget From conical Volcán Arenal to the mist-shrouded cloud forest of Monteverde to Corcovado’s bottle-green rainforest, Costa Rica is full of inspiring scenery.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
9 Indigenous Culture
alt imaget Indigenous peoples make up only a fraction of the population, but they’ve had a huge impact on the country. Community-run tours provide an insight into their heritages.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
10 Surfers’ Paradise
alt imaget Catch perfect point and beach breaks off Playa Negra in the Caribbean and Witch’s Rock at Pacific-coast Santa Rosa year-round – surf them both in the same day, if you want to.
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
11 Five a Day
alt imaget Roadside market stalls and beachfront pop-ups burst with the bounty of fruit yielded by the country’s fertile hills. Try local favorites, such as guanábana, maracuya, and carambola, blended into a refreshing batido (fresh fruit shake).
Discover Reasons to Love Costa Rica
12 Peñas and Tertulias
alt imaget Costa Rica’s lively artistic and literary scene is best expressed in peñas and tertulias (artistic gatherings). Get involved in one of these arty salons or get-togethers of like-minded people in cultural hotspot San José.
g Discover Costa Rica g Contents
Explore
Costa Rica
This guide divides Costa Rica into seven color-coded sightseeing areas, as shown on the map. Find out more about each area on the following pages.
n Double-tap image to read the labels
DISCOVER Costa Rica
San José
Nestled at 3,800 feet (1,150 m) between the rugged Talamanca Mountains and a chain of volcanoes to the north, the capital city – affectionately known by Costa Ricans as Chepe
– enjoys a splendid setting and an idyllic climate. San José’s magnificent Teatro Nacional and pre-Columbian gold and jade museums add to its attraction. Its architecture bears little trace of its early history, but what it lacks in grandeur it makes up for in an exciting foodie scene and a frenetic nightlife. Located in the heart of Costa Rica, San José is an ideal base for hub-and-spoke touring.
Best for Buzzy nightlife, contemporary culture
Home to Teatro Nacional, Museo del Oro Precolumbino, Centro Costarricense de Cienciasy Cultura
Experience Joining a tertulia, or arty salon, to meet like-minded people
Go To: San José i
DISCOVER Costa Rica
alt imaget Hand-painted frescoes soaring above sumptuous Teatro Nacional
DISCOVER Costa Rica
Central Highlands
Simmering volcanoes dominate the landscape of the Central Highlands as they tower over the country’s central plateau – a broad valley that extends around San José. The climate is always mild, even in the height of summer. With steep slopes corduroyed by coffee fields and emerald forests in the higher reaches, the region offers stunning drives along curving mountain roads. Take in the picturesque villages whose farmers’ markets and ancient fiestas call siren songs to anyone who passes.
Best for Coffee, curving mountain passes, cooler climes
Home to Monumento Nacional Guayabo, Orosí Valley, Basílica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles
Experience Sipping freshly roasted coffee at the finca where the beans were harvested
Go To: Central Highlands i
DISCOVER Costa Rica
alt imaget A delicately painted carretas (oxcart), once used to transport coffee
DISCOVER Costa Rica
Central Pacific and Southern Nicoya
Sun-drenched, forest-fringed beaches line the flank of this rugged region. To the west, Malpaís’s wild beauty takes the full brunt of the Pacific, while the effortlessly cool bars of laid-back Monezuma make it a favorite with backpackers. Cut inland and find hiking trails alongside rivers where crocodiles lurk beneath the current. Farther south, lively surfing towns give way to glorious Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.
Best for Beach life and surf spots
Home to Nacional Parque Manuel Antonio
Experience Traveling up the Río Tárcoles to see crocodiles from the safety of a launch
Go To: Central Pacific and Southern Nicoya i
DISCOVER Costa Rica
alt imaget Wild seas and windswept rocks off Puntarenas
DISCOVER Costa Rica
Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya
In the driest of Costa Rica’s regions, come to discover dramatic landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and diverse cultures. The handsome city of Liberia is rich in sabanero (cowboy or plainsman) heritage, while farther south, in Guaitíl, you’ll find exquisite artes decorativas produced by Indigenous Chorotega potters. Easy-going Playas del Coco and Tamarindo on the coral-rimmed west coast are scuba diving and surf hubs. When it’s time to relax, turn east to the therapeutic thermal mud pools of Miravalles.
Best for Cultural insights and national parks
Home to Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, Monteverde and Santa Elena
Experience Soaking in the thermal mud pools of Las Hornillas, on Miravalles Volcano
Go To: Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya i
DISCOVER Costa Rica
alt imaget Gushing waterfall at the Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja
DISCOVER Costa Rica
Northern Zone
The rolling flatland of the north is quilted in pastureland, fragrant fruit fields, and dense, humid rainforest. To the west, La Fortuna is most people’s stopping point before exploring the majestic Volcán Arenal. Stay a while – here there are caves to dive down, rivers to raft over, and bridal paths to mosey along. Eastward, aerial trams whiz through the canopy, while visitors on the ground wade through wetland looking for jaguars. The town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí is the jump-off point for epic whitewater rafting trips and rainforest adventures.
Best for Volcanic landscapes, canopy tours
Home to Laguna de Arenal
Experience Gazing over rainforest to Arenal, hundreds of feet above the ground in Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
Go To: Northern Zone i
DISCOVER Costa Rica
alt imaget Horses grazing in the fields near La Fortuna
DISCOVER Costa Rica
The Caribbean
The Caribbean coast is incredibly diverse in terms of cultures, cuisines, landscapes, and wildlife. Its jewel is the Parque Nacional Tortuguero – an important nesting ground for green turtles. In the north, rain-sodden Barra del Colorado attracts anglers from far and wide. To the south, the city of Puerto Limón – famous for its carnival – and the beach towns of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca have strong African-Caribbean identities, where Indigenous Bribri and Cabécar guides can provide a rich insight into their cultures. There are also great places to go surfing and spot wildlife such as howler monkeys and sloths.
Best for Turtle spotting and Carnaval celebrations
Home to Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Parque Nacional Cahuita
Experience Sampling the culinary scene, then patrolling turtle nesting beaches at midnight
Go To: The Caribbean i
DISCOVER Costa Rica
alt imaget Boats beached on sugar-white sands under a halcyon sky
DISCOVER Costa Rica
Southern Zone
Stretching toward Panama, the Southern Zone bears some of the least-explored, least-developed land in the country. To the north, the peaks of Chirripó invite hikers to power up to the summit. All along the steamy jungled shore, epic breaks attract surfers to chilled-out Dominical and Pavones. Down south, the rainforest-swathed Osa Peninsula hugs Golfo Dolce – a calm bay luring sportfishmen eager to hook the big one. Crossing the waters takes you to Isla del Coco to discover pre-Columbian burial sites and hammerhead sharks.
Best for Untrammeled rainforest, Indigenous cultures, whale-watching
Home to Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Península de Osa, Parque Nacional Chirripó
Experience Scuba diving with sharks off Isla del Coco
Go To: Southern Zone i
DISCOVER Costa Rica
alt imaget Passing a wall of grunts beneath the waves at Isla del Coco
g Contents
COSTA RICA ITINERARIES
alt imaget Crowds going about their day in downtown San José.
g Discover Costa Rica Itineraries g Contents
Discover Itineraries
2 Weeks
across Costa Rica
Costa Rica is remarkably varied for its relatively small size, and it’s easy to combine visits to its different regions. The entire country is easily navigated, but requires careful planning. These itineraries will inspire you to make the most of your visit.
Discover Costa Rica Itineraries
alt imaget La Fortuna waterfall cascading into a pool below.
g Discover Costa Rica Itineraries g Contents
Discover Itineraries
5 DAYS
in the Central Highlands
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4