Table Of Content

INSPIRE / PLAN / DISCOVER / EXPERIENCE COSTA RICA 000011__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 11 1100//0066//2211 22::4455 PPMM 000022--000033__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 22 1155//0066//2211 33::1166 PPMM EYEWITNESS COSTA RICA 000022--000033__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 33 1155//0066//2211 33::1166 PPMM EYEWITNESS CONTENTS COSTA RICA 000022--000033__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 33 1155//0066//2211 33::1166 PPMM 000044__000055__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 44 1100//0066//2211 22::4411 PPMM DISCOVER 6 Welcome to Costa Rica .............................8 Costa Rica Itineraries ...............................20 Reasons to Love Costa Rica .................10 Costa Rica Your Way .................................28 Explore Costa Rica .......................................14 A Year in Costa Rica ..................................48 Getting to Know Costa Rica ..................16 A Brief History ..............................................50 FIELD GUIDE 54 Costa Rica’s Habitats ................................ 56 Conservation ................................................60 Terrain and Flora ......................................... 58 Animal Directory..........................................62 EXPERIENCE 100 San José ..................................................102 Northern Zone ....................................194 Central Highlands ..............................126 The Caribbean .....................................212 Central Pacific and Southern Nicoya ......................154 Southern Zone ...................................226 Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya ......................168 N EED TO KNOW 246 Before You Go ............................................248 Index .................................................................257 Getting Around .........................................250 Phrase Book ..................................................267 Practical Information ..............................254 Acknowledgments ...................................270 Left: A tiny red-eyed tree frog emerging from a wet leaf Previous page: Picturesque vista of the majestic Arenal Volcano Front cover: The stunning Catarata del Toro waterfall during sunset 000044__000055__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 55 1100//0066//2211 22::4411 PPMM DISCOVER 6 DISCOVER Welcome to Costa Rica .............................8 Costa Rica Itineraries ...............................20 Reasons to Love Costa Rica .................10 Costa Rica Your Way .................................28 Explore Costa Rica .......................................14 A Year in Costa Rica ..................................48 Getting to Know Costa Rica ..................16 A Brief History ..............................................50 FIELD GUIDE 54 Costa Rica’s Habitats ................................ 56 Conservation ................................................60 Terrain and Flora ......................................... 58 Animal Directory..........................................62 EXPERIENCE 100 San José ..................................................102 Northern Zone ....................................194 Central Highlands ..............................126 The Caribbean .....................................212 Central Pacific and Southern Nicoya ......................154 Southern Zone ...................................226 Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya ......................168 N EED TO KNOW 246 Before You Go ............................................248 Index .................................................................257 nio o Getting Around .........................................250 Phrase Book ..................................................267 Ant Practical Information ..............................254 Acknowledgments ...................................270 uel n a M al n o aci N e u q ar P of es v o d c e p a h nt-s e Left: A tiny red-eyed tree frog emerging from a wet leaf esc Previous page: Picturesque vista of the majestic Arenal Volcano e cr Front cover: The stunning Catarata del Toro waterfall during sunset Th 000044__000055__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 55 1100//0066//2211 22::4411 PPMM 000066--000077__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 66 1100//0066//2211 22::4411 PPMM Welcome to Costa Rica ...............................8 Reasons to Love Costa Rica ...................10 Explore Costa Rica ........................................14 Getting to Know Costa Rica ...................16 Costa Rica Itineraries .................................20 Costa Rica Your Way ..................................28 A Year in Costa Rica ....................................48 A Brief History ...............................................50 000066--000077__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 77 1100//0066//2211 22::4411 PPMM WELCOME TO COSTA RICA Welcome to Costa Rica ...............................8 Reasons to Love Costa Rica ...................10 a c Diminutive Costa Rica packs an enormous punch, Ri a with a culture as rich and vibrant as its incredible Explore Costa Rica ........................................14 ost biodiversity. Add wildlife galore, an idyllic climate, C Getting to Know Costa Rica ...................16 me to adnedst firniaetniodnly. lWochaaltse, vaenrd y yoouur’ dvere gaomt tthriep itdoe Caol sta o Rica includes, this DK Eyewitness travel guide c Costa Rica Itineraries .................................20 Wel is the perfect companion. R E V O Costa Rica Your Way ..................................28 C S DI A Year in Costa Rica ....................................48 A Brief History ...............................................50 1 2 3 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. 4 The stunning beach at Manuel Antonio. 4 8 000066--000077__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 77 1100//0066//2211 22::4411 PPMM 000088--000099__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 88 1100//0066//2211 22::4433 PPMM Straddling the Mesoamerican isthmus between culture. Embracing the Tico (Costa Rican) gospel North and South America, this little nation’s of pura vida (pure life), beachy yoga retreats mag nificent biodiversity is justifiably the coun along the Nicoya Peninsula are all zen, while try’s main attraction, and unsurprisingly Costa funloving Pavones, to the south, is a surfers’ Rica’s forte is ecotourism. There’s an end less para dise. Over the coffeeestatestrewn cent ral choice of nature activities and lodges, and highlands is the alluring blend of white sands visitors have so many ways to answer the call of and turquoise waters, indigenous culture and the wild. Join a guided night tour of the jun gle delicious cuisine of the Caribbean coast. to spy the elusive jaguar. Volunteer to help sea With so many different things to discover, it’s turtle hatchlings make it to the waves or release hard to know where to start. We’ve broken the treacleslow sloths back into the canopy. country down into easily navigable chapters, Its cities and villages are equally enticing. San with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge, José, the capital, is carving out its place as one and colorful, comprehensive maps to help you of Central America’s hippest cities, with buzz ing plan the perfect visit. However long your stay, craft brew eries, worldclass muse ums, and a this DK Eyewitness travel guide will ensure that lively foodie scene. Westward, Liberia is a laid you see the very best of Costa Rica. Enjoy the back gateway to Costa Rica’s sabanero (cowboy) book, and enjoy Costa Rica. ¡Pura vida! 9 000088--000099__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 99 1100//0066//2211 22::4433 PPMM Straddling the Mesoamerican isthmus between culture. Embracing the Tico (Costa Rican) gospel R EASONS TO LOVE North and South America, this little nation’s of pura vida (pure life), beachy yoga retreats mag nificent biodiversity is justifiably the coun along the Nicoya Peninsula are all zen, while try’s main attraction, and unsurprisingly Costa funloving Pavones, to the south, is a surfers’ C OSTA RICA Rica’s forte is ecotourism. There’s an end less para dise. Over the coffeeestatestrewn cent ral choice of nature activities and lodges, and highlands is the alluring blend of white sands visitors have so many ways to answer the call of and turquoise waters, indigenous culture and the wild. Join a guided night tour of the jun gle delicious cuisine of the Caribbean coast. to spy the elusive jaguar. Volunteer to help sea With so many different things to discover, it’s a c turtle hatchlings make it to the waves or release hard to know where to start. We’ve broken the Ri Its scenery is spectacular. There’s wildlife galore. It’s peaceful and easy to treacleslow sloths back into the canopy. country down into easily navigable chapters, a Its cities and villages are equally enticing. San with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge, ost get around. Ask any Costa Rican and you’ll hear a different reason why they José, the capital, is carving out its place as one and colorful, comprehensive maps to help you e C love their country. Here, we pick some of our favorites. of Central America’s hippest cities, with buzz ing plan the perfect visit. However long your stay, v o craft brew eries, worldclass muse ums, and a this DK Eyewitness travel guide will ensure that o L 1 lively foodie scene. Westward, Liberia is a laid you see the very best of Costa Rica. Enjoy the s t PURA VIDA back gateway to Costa Rica’s sabanero (cowboy) book, and enjoy Costa Rica. ¡Pura vida! n “Pura vida” (literally “pure o s life”) is more than a Costa Rican a e phrase – it’s a relaxed, no-stress R R philosophy of life, and one E reason Ticos (Costa Ricans) V O have been named among the SC world’s happiest people. DI 2 BEACH LIFE 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 (p154) and south of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (p223). 3 TURTLE CONSERVATION The sight of an arribada (mass arrival) of sea turtles crawling up Costa Rica’s beaches is pure magic. Go to Tortuguero (p218) or Nosara (p188) to patrol nesting sites and help tiny hatchlings back to sea. 9 10 000088--000099__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 99 1100//0066//2211 22::4433 PPMM 001100--001133__EEWW__CCoossttaa__RRiiccaa..iinndddd 1100 1100//0066//2211 22::4433 PPMM