Anybody been to Costa Rica in the past couple of years and have any advice on what to see and do? Possibly going for about a week and wondering if there are any must sees or things/places to avoid.

Thanks

I havent gone, but my wife has. Things she loved: Mt. Arenal and the Tabacon hot springs. TONS of ziplines that are awesome. Butterfly santuary. Parts of San Jose.

She HATED the cloud forest. Local coffee is very weak. She didnt get to the beach.

Spent some time on the Pacific Ocean side a couple of years ago. Don’t go during the rainy season, I’ve never seen it rain that hard for that long. You could almost time it everyday, certainly didn’t want to be out in it. Food was great, people are extremely nice, never felt unsafe even in some areas that looked very rough. Can’t say enough about the locals, just all around great people. I speak a little Spanish, but most people I conversed with spoke better English than I did Spanish.

I took a ten day all-inclusive Caravan tour of Costa Rica. Loved it! My favorite parts were the Arenal volcano area and primarily the east coast (Carribean) in the Tortuguera region. But you have to take boats to get there. Amazing wildlife.

I spent nearly two months in the general area, half was in Panama. It did rain hard, but the rain usually stopped after half a day or so. It is beautiful and fairly clean. There is been problems with pick pockets, so be careful. Lots and lots of N. Americans in Costa Rica. Great, and I mean great, ocean fishing.

Watch out for the Fer de lance!

I had some horndog buddies who owned a house in CR but they mainly used it for whoring around. I was invited but never partook of the legal CR poontang.

We’ve been a couple of times, the last one for 3 weeks kayaking the entire Golfo Dulce.

You’ll find the people very friendly and as you probably know they take US Dollars.
The offshore fishing on the Pacific side is off the charts good. We’ve caught several sailfish as well as my first Marlin.

Do you have something specific in mind?

Mrs.BurtonRW and I have been five (six?) times. Shoot me an email and I’ll send you my unofficial travel guide. (Long word doc.)

-Rob

I went last year on a tour that took us to the Selva Verde Lodge (a nature preserve), the Arenal Volcano, the hanging bridges near Arenal, a river trip safari, a white water rafting trip (including a stop for fresh pineapple!), the cloud forest in Monteverde, and some leisure time in San Jose. I visited a coffee plantation, a pineapple plantation, a bat "jungle," a local school, a chocolate presentation, a look at the Quaker community, and more. No beach trips, but you've got your choice of Atlantic and/or Pacific (it's about a five hour drive between them).

Great food, great fruit, great coffee! In fact, I now have a subscription that delivers a pound of fresh-roasted Costa Rica Tarrazu to my door every month!

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
Mrs.BurtonRW and I have been five (six?) times. Shoot me an email and I’ll send you my unofficial travel guide. (Long word doc.)

-Rob

Rob: thank you for the offer. email sent.

No nothing specific. Just some place the wife has wanted to visit and I have finally run out of excuses to not go.

A buddy went to Costa Rica. He went to surf. He did it all country though. Meaning, he went off the beaten trail, stayed with a nice host family in the jungle somewhere that put him up for a week. And he did it all for less than a few thousand bucks.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigfan Roy:
No nothing specific. Just some place the wife has wanted to visit and I have finally run out of excuses to not go.

If you rent a car, carry only a $20 in your wallet along with ID and a few credit cards. Keep the rest of your cash elsewhere on your person. You will get pulled over in some off the beaten path towns and the cop will try to say you were speeding, etc...….pull out your wallet, tell him you only have $20 in cash and hand it to him and be on your way. It's a scam they love to play on tourists.

Anyone have any suggestions for surfing lessons on the Pacific side, closer to Liberia? My wife wants to learn and we are both curious about checking the country out. Thanks!

The northwest area is like any other beach resort. To see the natural beauty venture out.

Nosara isn't too far from Liberia airport. I've surfed there several times. Cocunut Harrys surf
shop (think that was the name) had board rentals and offered lessons.
Manuel Antonio was flat when I traveled through that area and is much further from Liberia.
Cocunutharrys

quote:

Originally posted by jonrem:
Anyone have any suggestions for surfing lessons on the Pacific side, closer to Liberia? My wife wants to learn and we are both curious about checking the country out. Thanks!

You'll find the surf capital of Costa Rica in Manuel-Antonio. Can't throw a rock without hitting a surf instructor there.

-Rob

As an undertaker, I notice that tourists sometimes die down there. It can happen anywhere. But if someone does, I recommend cremation there and bring the urn home. Shipping a body home is not a pretty sight....

Yeah, I'm a killjoy

^^^
Good to know. You have to plan for all contingencies. I am sure you have interesting tales to share. Probably better ones than the TV show Six Feet Under.