Contentsmedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/costa-rica-9-contents.pdf · 2013-11-22 · CONTENTS 15 Directory 523 Transportation 541 HealthSueño Azul Resort 509 552 Language 558 Glossary

Contents13

On the Road 4Costa Rica Highlights 5

Destination Costa Rica 16Getting Started 17Itineraries 25History 32The Culture 41Food & Drink 49Environment 55San José 66History 67Orientation 67Information 67Dangers & Annoyances 72Sights 73Activities 79Courses 80San José for Children 80Tours 80Festivals & Events 81Sleeping 82Eating 88Drinking 92Entertainment 92Shopping 94Getting There & Away 96Getting Around 99AROUND SAN JOSÉ 100Los Yoses & San Pedro 101Escazú 105

Central Valley & Highlands 113ALAJUELA & THE NORTHERN VALLEY 114Alajuela 114Butterfly Farm 123

Parque Nacional Volcán Poás 124West to Atenas 126Northwest to Sarchí 128Zarcero 130Bajos del Toro 131Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco 132Palmares 132San Ramón 132Los Ángeles Cloud Forest Adventure Park 133HEREDIA AREA 134Heredia 134Barva 137CARTAGO AREA 138Cartago 138Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú 140Valle de Orosi 141TURRIALBA AREA 145Turrialba 146Monumento Nacional Arqueológico Guayabo 149Parque Nacional Volcán Turrialba 151

Northwestern Costa Rica 153ARENAL ROUTE 155Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos) 155La Fortuna & Around 158Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal 171El Castillo 174Laguna de Arenal Area 175Tilarán 180

Costa Rica Wildlife Guide 181INTERAMERICANA NORTE 189Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Peñas Blancas & Around 189Costa de Pájaros 190Juntas 190Monteverde & Santa Elena 191Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde 211Reserva Santa Elena 214Ecolodge San Luis & Research Station 215

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14 C O N T E N T S

San Gerardo de Rivas 372PARQUE NACIONAL CHIRRIPÓ 374Orientation 375Information 375Wildlife-Watching 375Hiking 376Tours 377Chirripó for Children 377Sleeping & Eating 377Getting There & Around 377THE ROAD TO LA AMISTAD 377Buenos Aires 378Reserva Biológica Dúrika 378Reserva Indígena Boruca 378Palmar 380Neily 381Paso Canoas 382Wilson Botanical Garden 382San Vito 383PARQUE INTERNACIONAL LA AMISTAD 385Orientation 385Information 386Activities 386Sleeping & Eating 388Getting There & Away 389

Península de Osa & Golfo Dulce 390TO CORCOVADO VIA BAHÍA DRAKE 393Sierpe 393Humedal Nacional Térraba-Sierpe 393Bahía Drake 395Bahía Drake to Corcovado 400Reserva Biológica Isla del Caño 402TO CORCOVADO VIA PUERTO JIMÉNEZ 403Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce 403

Costa Rica Outdoors 405Puerto Jiménez 413Cabo Matapalo 418Carate 420PARQUE NACIONAL CORCOVADO 421History 421Orientation & Information 422Activities 422Tours 425Corcovado for Children 427

Playas Pochote & Tambor 297Cóbano 298Montezuma 298Cabuya 303Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco 304Mal País & Santa Teresa 305

Central Pacific Coast 310PUNTARENAS TO QUEPOS 311Puntarenas 313Around Puntarenas 317Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park & Around 317Parque Nacional Carara 318Tárcoles & Around 320Playa Herradura Area 321Jacó 322Playa Hermosa 332Playa Esterillos 334Parrita 335Rainmaker Aerial Walkway 335QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO 336Quepos 336Quepos to Manuel Antonio 341Manuel Antonio Village 347Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio 349QUEPOS TO UVITA 352Rafiki Safari Lodge 352Matapalo 352Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge 354Dominical 354Escaleras 357Uvita 358Parque Nacional Marino Ballena 359Ojochal Area 360

Southern Costa Rica 362THE ROAD TO CHIRRIPÓ 363Santa María & Valle de Dota 363San Gerardo de Dota 365Parque Nacional Los Quetzales 367Cerro de la Muerte 368San Isidro de El General 369

Puente La Amistad 216Cañas 216Volcán Tenorio Area 218Volcán Miravalles Area 221Bagaces 222Parque Nacional Palo Verde 223Reserva Biológica Lomas de Barbudal 224Liberia 225Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja 231Parque Nacional Santa Rosa 234Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Bahía Junquillal 237Parque Nacional Guanacaste 237La Cruz 239Bahía Salinas 240

Península de Nicoya 245NORTHERN PENINSULA 246Playa del Coco 247Playa Hermosa 253Playa Ocotal 255Beaches South of Playa Ocotal 256Playa Grande 260Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas de Guanacaste 262Playa Tamarindo 263Playas Avellanas & Negra 271Playa Junquillal 274Santa Cruz 275CENTRAL PENINSULA 277Nicoya 277Parque Nacional Diriá 279Parque Nacional Barra Honda 279Puente La Amistad 281Nosara Area 281Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Ostional 285Playa Sámara 286Playa Carrillo 290Islita Area 291Playas San Miguel & Coyote 292SOUTHEASTERN PENINSULA 294Playa Naranjo 294Islands near Bahía Gigante 295Paquera 296Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Curú 297

C O N T E N T S 15

Directory 523Transportation 541Health 552Language 558Glossary 566The Authors 568Behind the Scenes 570Index 575GreenDex 586Map Legend 588

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí & Around 505SOUTH OF PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUÍ 508Estación Biológica La Selva 508Sueño Azul Resort 509Heliconia Island 509Rara Avis 509HWY 126 TO SAN MIGUEL 511SAN MIGUEL TO LOS CHILES 511Venecia & Around 511Boca Tapada Area 512Muelle de San Carlos 513Los Chiles 514Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro 516Upala 519San Rafael de Guatuso Area 520

Sleeping & Eating 427Getting There & Away 427GOLFO DULCE 428Golfito 429Parque Nacional Piedras Blancas 432Playas San Josecito, Nicuesa & Cativo 433Zancudo 434Pavones 435Parque Nacional Isla del Cocos 438

Caribbean Coast 442THE ATLANTIC SLOPE 443Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo 444Rainforest Aerial Tram 445Guápiles & Around 447Cariari 449Guácimo 450Siquirres 450Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure Park 451Puerto Limón 451Around Puerto Limón 456NORTHERN CARIBBEAN 457Parismina 457Parque Nacional Tortuguero 458Tortuguero Village 461Barra del Colorado 467SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN 468Reserva Biológica Hitoy-Cerere 469Aviarios del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary 469Cahuita 469Parque Nacional Cahuita 477Cacao Trails 479Puerto Viejo de Talamanca 479Puerto Viejo to Punta Uva 488Manzanillo 492Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo 494Bribrí 496Sixaola 497

Northern Lowlands 498THE SARAPIQUÍ VALLEY 499La Virgen 499La Virgen to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí 503

& HighlandsCentral Valley

p116

p446Coast

Caribbean

p68San José

p392& Golfo Dulce

Península de Osa

p364Costa RicaSouthern

p312Pacific Coast

Central

p248de NicoyaPenínsula

p156Costa Rica

Northwestern p500LowlandsNorthern

Regional Map Contents

(300km; See inset)To Isla del Cocos

NicoyaGolfo de

O C E A N

P A C I F I C

Golfo dePapagayo

LIBERIA

SanCarlos

UpalaNegroCaño

ChilesLos

Muelle

Carlosde San

La Fortuna

San Rafael

Tilarán

Nuevo Arenal

de Guatuso

Jabillos

(San Carlos)Ciudad Quesada

Zarcero

RamónSan

Monteverde

ElenaSanta

Miramar

San Mateo

EsparzaPUNTARENAS

Jacó

CeciliaSanta

PeñasBlancas

La Cruz

Bagaces

Filadelfia

El Coco

Bebedero

Santa

Nicoya

Cruz

HumoPuerto

Hojancha

Coralillo

Tambor

Sámara

Nosara

Carmona

Bejuco

Paraíso

Tamarindo

Huacas

Sapoá

Mal País

San José

NaranjoPlaya

Cañas

Paquera

Montezuma

ParqueNacionalCarara

Santa RosaNacionalParque

náraliT ed arellidr

oC

etsa

cana

uG ed arellidroC

(1633m)Volcán Arenal

MaríaSanta

(1916m)(1895m)

de la ViejaVolcánVolcán Rincón

86ºW

11ºN

10ºN

9ºN

8ºN

86ºW

85ºW

85ºW

Lago deNicaragua

de ArenalLaguna

ayociN ed alusníneP

G u a t u s o sL l a n u r a d e

Playa Santa Teresa

PlayaTamarindo

Playa Grande

Ferry

oí rF oíR

solraC

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acnarraB oíR

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T oíR

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AmistadPuente La

Cerro

(634m)Iglesias

87º02'W87º04'W87º06'W

5º32'N

5º30'N

5º34'N

Isla del Cocos

2 miles4 km

00

ELEVATION

2000m

3000m

500m

1000m

0

354

1

34

1

1

4

6

18

21

21

160

150

an

acir

ema

retnI

VOLCÁN ARENAL (p171)

fire fly out of famous Arenalfor viewing fireflies and

Find that sweet, secret spot

on the riverbankscanopy and crocodiles

Spot scarlet macaws in theCARARA (p318)

PARQUE NACIONAL

organic-farming movementbirthplace of the country's

artisanal cheeses in theFind space-age topiary and

ZARCERO (p130)

thermal poolsmud pots, waterfalls and

circuit around the volcanicHike and horseback-ride the

DE LA VIEJA (p231)

lefts and rights

MONTEVERDE &

SANTA ROSA (p234) PARQUE NACIONAL

Rock to surf its legendaryCatch the boat to Witch's

VOLCÁN RINCÓN

TERESA (p305)MAL PAÍS & SANTA

Give in to the delicious

at noon, sushi before bedcycle of surf at dawn, yoga

in the cloud forestQuakers and queso

coexistence of quetzals,Mull over the surprisingSANTA ELENA (p191)

LEGEND

Tertiary RoadUnsealed Road

Secondary RoadPrimary Road

40 km20 miles

00

S E A

C A R I B B E A N

DulceGolfo

CoronadoBahía de

lareneG oíR

naJna

u

oíR S

Tortuguero

Bribrí

Cahuita

de TalamancaPuerto Viejo

Siquirres

Parismina

Moravia

LIMÓNPUERTO

Pandora

Puerto Viejo

TapadaBoca

Pital

Guápiles

MiguelSan

ALAJUELA

Pacayas

Paraíso

CARTAGO

Tapantí

Santa María

ColónCiudad

de Tarrazú

de AcostaSan Ignacio

San Marcos

SAN JOSÉ

HEREDIA

de PuriscalSantiago

de Sarapiquí

ColoradoBarra del

Guácimo

Turrialba

Cariari

Lajas

Sixaola

Changuinola

Almirante

Guabito

Santa

Sabalito

Elena

Ujarrás

AiresBuenos

RealPaso Grande

Potrero

San

Palmar

SierpeCortés

Ciudad

Norte

Amubri

David

Concepción

Neily

Sereno

CanoasPaso

ArmuellesPuerto

ClaroRíoGolfito

PlayaZancudo

Rincón

Carate

JiménezPuerto

BuenaAgua

Vito Río Boquete

El GeneralSan Isidro de

Dominical

Quepos

Parrita

Savegre

Uvita

Rivas

del ToroBocas

de Dota Shiroles

84ºW

NacionalParque

Tortuguero

Volcán PoásParque Nacional

ChirripóNacionalParque

NacionalLos Quetzales

Manuel AntonioParque Nacional

CorcovadoNacionalParque

Parque

acnamalaT

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añetsoC aliF

rtn IrazúVolcán

idro

C

eCarell

PoásVolcán

la (3432m)

(2704m)

ChirripóCerro

(3820m)

11ºN

10ºN

83ºW

9ºN

8ºN

83ºW84ºW

LagunaCorcovado

CañoIsla del

T o r t u g u e r oL l a n u r a d e

S a n C a r l o sL l a n u r a d e

S a n t a C l a r aL l a n u r a d e

Valle deCoto Brus

GeneralValle del

Penínsulade Osa

ColoradoValle de Coto

ParritaValle de

Ferry

nózatneveR oí

R

allertsE oíR

oroT oí

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oreugutroT oíR

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N I C A R A G U A

P A N A M A

DúrikaBiológica

Reserva

3210

36

4

32

34

2

2

anacir

e

maretnI

PARQUE NACIONAL

nesting on wild black-sand beachesStay up late to spy endangered sea turtles

in the view from the summitvolcanic earth after taking

Allow your jaw to hitVOLCÁN IRAZÚ (p140)

TORTUGUERO (p458)

SAN JOSÉ (p66)

main cultural scenetaverns and the country’s

world-class eateries, vintage The cosmopolitan capital has

the world's fiercest rapidsafter rafting some of

Ride your adrenaline highTURRIALBA (p146)

Caribbean beach townin this happening

groove to reggaetón at nightchallenging waves by day andSurf one of the country's most

TALAMANCA (p479) PUERTO VIEJO DE

CHIRRIPÓ (p374)PARQUE NACIONAL

of Costa Rica's tallest peakClimb to the lofty heights

country's last great wildernessEndure the multiday trek across the

CORCOVADO (p421) PARQUE NACIONAL

MANUELPARQUE NACIONAL

ANTONIO (p349)Get up close and personalwith rare squirrel monkeys

Pacific beach townthis terminally laid-back

Surf until sunset atDOMINICAL (p354)

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