What is the best places when visiting Costa Rica?

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Lulu

I went last year and stayed in a small town named Carillo, just south of Samara on the Guanacaste Peninsula. It was absolutely wonderful, but very simple and small! Costa Rica is very diverse in terrain, sites, styles, so it really depends on what you want to see.

If you want to do the typical tourist vacation, Manuel Antonio is the best part to visit. Monkeys are quite interactive there, the National Park is there with hiking and lots of sloths, the beaches are gorgeous and plentiful, lots of vacationers and restaurants catering to them. English is widely spoken there. Prices are high for food. (My experience: ~$12-$24 a plate for dinner, as opposed to $5 for the same stuff but more authentic in Carillo). This part of Costa Rica is rich in rainforest and animals.

Up in the Guanacaste region, it is more dry lands. During their summer months, the trees are not in bloom like during the rainy season, but it is still beautiful. It's easier to get there by car because the rivers are drier, so you don't have to ford through with your rental car! It is more secluded, but the people in this region were all extremely polite, welcoming, genuine, laid back, etc. In Manuel Antonio, many people are from San Jose, and tended (in my opinion) to be more hustle-and-bustle.

Although I haven't been myself, I hear the East Coast is just like any other part of the Caribbean.
Hope this helps!

C_Bar

I stayed near Manuel Antonio, and loved it. Great combination of beach, wildlife and accomodations and restaurants. Plenty of rainforest activities, as well as horseback or hiking trails, kayaking among the mangroves.

Not near, Monteverde is great, and, if you are lucky enough to be there at night when it is active, the Arenal volcano is great.

But really, I recommend anyplace in the country. It is small, and if you want you can see much of it in 10-12 days -- and if instead you just choose one area, you won't be disappointed.

Atilla

That depends on what you want to see. If you want to see beaches and monkeys, head to Manuel San Antonio/Quepos.

If you want to check out incredible views, awesome rain forests and an incredibly relaxing town, that's Monteverde. Lots of awesome critters there, too...certain spots are just silly with coatis. And try the Original Canopy Tour! FUN!

If you want to see an erupting volcano, take one of the tours in La Fortuna. They take you for an evening jungle hike, then you can unwind in the natural hot springs and watch Volcan Arenal fart out red-hot chunks of rock the size of Volkswagons. Good times!

If you just want some wild times, hang out in San Jose and go to a soccer match. Any match between Saprissa and Alajuelense will be a blast!

graybear

I stayed by San Jose, which was alright, but it's mostly just a dirty city. When you think of Costa Rica, you think of beaches and wildlife and rainforests, right? Definitely make those places a priority. I spent two days in Manuel Antonio. We planned three, but went during the rainy season and it was just a downpour, we stayed in the hotel almost the whole time, but definitely an awesome place in the tourist season. I also went to Alajuela county, but there wasn't much up there. Finally, we went to the east coast (don't remember the name of the city) and went white water rafting. It was a beautiful drive, but too far for one day.

costaricense

my hubby and i live in jaco we purchase a beautiful piece of property and we love it here so try it and if you need a friend during your visit give me a call elena 637-8327 or e-mail me at efickett2005@yahoo.com

Amanda L

definitely go zip lining! it gives such great views of the rainforest! also see some of costa rica's waterfall's. they're SO beautiful.

bigdogthepirate

Gas station

Professor Campos

Jaco, Manuel Antonio, and the southern Pacific areas.

If you are looking for the Bohemian lifestyle, and a lot of drugs, try the Pacific Northwest, especially Malpais.

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