From: eliota@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Eliot Anderson)
Subject: Re: Costa Rica
Organization: California State University, Sacramento
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 08:56:16 GMT

eyal@vis.toronto.edu writes:
: Hi,
: we'll be going to costa rica for two weeks in January. One week we'll
: have a car. I'd appreciate any information on where to go, what are musts
: and so on. In particular, I was wondering if anyone had experience with 
: camping they could share; how safe it was, are there kept camping sites, 
: what are particularly nice spots etc. 
: Thanx in advance for the help
: eyal
: 
I was in Costa Rica last year this time.  It was VERY crowded, so I
suggest that you make reservations before you head for your next
destination within the country.

The west coast, Manual Antonio, etc. was most crowded and touristy.  I
prefered the Caribbean side, but I tend to like secluded beaches and
little honky tonk as possible.  Arenal volcano was great, I went up to
it by jeep at night.  It was misty, so you couldn't see too much
activity, but enough to inspire awe, along with the crackling and
exploding sounds.  On the way down we stopped and soaked in some hot
springs, which was quite relaxing and beautiful under the stars.

Poas volcano is spectacular, but you have to leave San Jose before dawn,
it clouds over in the late morning and you can't see into the crater.

Monte Verde is also a place to see.  Its cool weather so bring something
warm that will keep you dry, it is a rain forest.  Also bring good water
proof hiking boots, its a long hike (~3Hrs.) and it gets quite muddy.

On the Caribbean coast I visited a village called Porta Viejo in the
south.  It was pleasantly warm and very nice.  I had some of the best
food there, some very good Carribean Sea Food restuarants (I in fact
have a recipe for fresh ginger cake I got out of the cook with some
prodding).  This time of year alot of college kids head down to the
ocean side to go surfing, so things are pretty crowded.  We got into
Porta Viejo without a reservation and had a pretty hard time finding a
place to stay.  There is a moderately expensive resort there, which we
stayed in the first night.  The next day we found a great bungalo in a
small place just south outside of the town.  It was run by a German
woman and was clean, with hammocks strung on the porch for lounging
around and about $25.00 US a night.

On the northern west coast they have tours to see the sea turtles.  I
heard horrific stories of college kids sitting on them and generally
torturing them.  Also, it is pretty crowded so I avoided that scene.

There's not too much to do in San Jose, but its worth spending a couple
of days wandering around.  The market is worth a look.  There are quite
a few good restuarants.  My favorite is a Spanish place called La Masia
de Triquell, its considered expensive by Costa Rican standards, but not
by US.  Its in an old house which is quite nice and is somewhat dressy,
dress shirt and pants.  The food is excellent.

On a street by the market is where all the coffee roasters are, great
coffee, we bought quite a few pounds and brought it back.  The smell of
roasting coffee is incredible.

The bus system throughout Costa Rica is great and reliable.  Alot of
tourists travel by bus because it is very difficult to get a rental car,
this was our exerience.  We did the whole trip by bus and had no
problems or got rides from fellow travelers.  All the buses come and go
out of San Jose, so in order to get anywhere, even to a number of near
by places to where you are, you have to return to San Jose.  Its not a
big country so this isn't too bad.  We went from the west coast to the
east coast in a day through San Jose.

I used the Lonely Planet guide to Costa Rica.  I found it useful, but
the prices they list for everything had about doubled.  The Let's Go
guide is supposedly better, I've used it for South East Asia and it was
pretty reliable. It is also somewhat safe to exchange money on the street, 
just be careful!  They do it very openly in San Jose and give a better 
exchange.  I had no problems.

I can't think off hand of much more.  Hope you enjoy your trip as I did.
Gook Luck.

Elliot
-- 
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(     Elliot Anderson    Inforia, Leading Datatologist.              (
)								     )
(    eliota@sfsuvax1.sfsu.ed      San Francisco State University     (
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