AA Key Guide Costa Rica

Backpacking in Costa Rica

Advantages: Scenery, friendliness of people, public transport, beaches!
Disadvantages: Cold showers, more expensive than rest of S.America, mosquitoes

I spent a couple of weeks backpacking in Costa Rica during the rainy season (specifically, August - September). I had a fabulous time and learnt a lot about living on a budget. It is possible to live on around $15-17 dollars a day if you don't mind cutting back on the activities you do. One thing you will have to get used to is converting prices from colones to dollars to pounds. Generally, if a price is given in dollars straight away, be wary because its probably hugely marked up for tourists. I visted Monteverde, San Jose, Ciudad Quesada (In San Carlos), Montezuma and Tamarindo. Out of all these places, Montezuma was my favourite. We stayed in a hostel called Hotel Lys which I would not recommend at all. It was filthy and the manager was extremely unwelcoming. However, the beach was amazing. Quiet and beautiful with shallow, warm ...

kittykatty31 15.09.2005 · Read full review
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Review of General: Costa Rica

Costa Rica - Caribbean Coast

Advantages: spectacular and exotic wildlife, relaxed atmosphere
Disadvantages: hot & humid, possibility of storms, difficult access

within the national park is easy walking and a guide will help you to spot the various points of interest. Just north of the park lies Black Sand Beach where the sand has been turned black by rich mineral deposits. The coastline still shows evidence of the earthquake which hit the eastern coats in 1991 with fallen trees and driftwood littering the shore. North of Puerto Limon (Tortuguero and surrounds) The journey to Tortuguero is by small boat (unless you choose to fly) from Puerto Limon up the canals and rivers that proliferate along the north eastern corner of Costa Rica. Storms can often result in these waterways being impeded severely by Water Hyacinths that spread quickly all over the water. The plants become entangled in the outboard motors and can make for an epic struggle. All sorts of birds and wildlife line the river ...

stuartmelvin 21.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Caribbean Coast (Costa Rica)

Get out of here and discover beautiful Costa Rica

Advantages: Friendly, small, interesting museums
Disadvantages: There are FAR better places in Costa Rica

I have spent quite a lot of time recently in San Jose, Costa Rica - what with spending time there on my gap year and going back to visit. This review will be about San Jose itself , but in my opinion, any tourist would be well advised to visit other places in Costa Rica (eg. coast, beaches, mountains). Many hotels in San Jose organise tours, so if you use San Jose as a base than that is fair enough! If you come to Costa Rica and only see San Jose, you will have really missed out! San Jose itself is a smallish city. The best way of getting around if you are a tourist is to use one of the official cabs . These are red with yellow signs, or orange at the airport. They are incredibly cheap, and a reasonably safe option. Always sensible to agree a price with the driver beforehand just in case he tries to rip you off later, but I never ...

celticwiccagirl 21.01.2005 · Read full review
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Review of San José (Costa Rica)