Moon Costa Rica

by Christopher P. Baker

Overview

This full-color guide includes vibrant photos and detailed maps to help with trip planning.

Award-winning travel writer Christopher P. Baker shows travelers the way to the best of Costa Rica—whether it's surfing the beaches of Golfo Dulce, hiking in Corcovado National Park, or dining in the upscale Escazu barrio in San José. Along with his in-depth coverage, Baker includes unique trip ideas for a variety of interests, such as "Sweet Retreats," "Best Beaches," and "Adrenaline Rush." Complete with details that range from where to surf to which spots are the best for seeing wildlife, Moon Costa Rica gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Coverage includes:
San José
The Central Highlands
The Caribbean Coast
The Northern Zone
Guanacaste and the Northwest
The Nicoya Peninsula
Central Pacific
Golfo Dulce and the Osa Peninsula
South-Central Costa Rica

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631211393
Publisher:	Avalon Publishing
Publication date:	11/03/2015
Series:	Moon Handbooks Travel Series
Edition description:	Tenth Edition, Tenth Edition
Pages:	624
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 5.80(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Christopher P. Baker was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. He received a BA in geography from University College, London, and masters degrees in Latin American studies from Liverpool University and in education from the Institute of Education, London University.

He began his writing career in 1978 as a contributing editor on Latin America for Land & Liberty, a London-based political journal. In 1980, he received a Scripps-Howard Foundation Scholarship in Journalism to attend the University of California, Berkeley.

Since 1983, Christopher, the 2008 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year, has made his living as a professional travel writer, photographer, lecturer, and tour guide. He specializes in Cuba and Costa Rica, about which he has written six books each, including Moon Cuba; his most recent coffee-table book, Enchanting Costa Rica. He is also the author of the Costa Rica Pura Vida! travel app. He has contributed to more than 150 publications worldwide, including CNN Travel, National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, and The Los Angeles Times. He is a Getty Images and National Geographic contributing photographer.

Christopher has been profiled in USA Today, appears frequently on radio and television talk shows and as a guest-lecturer aboard cruise ships, and has spoken at the National Press Club, World Affairs Council, and on National Geographic Live. He is a National Geographic Resident Expert and leads tours of Costa Rica, Panamá, Colombia, and Cuba for National Geographic Expeditions, as well as group motorcycle tours of these destinations for MotoDiscovery and Motolombia.

Christopher promotes himself through his website: christopherpbaker.com.

Read an Excerpt

Costa Rica's Best Beaches with Christopher P. Baker

1. For sheer beauty, which Costa Rica beach takes your breath away?

Costa Rican beaches are less about scintillating white sands and more about physical context. For a sheer scenic “Wow!” reaction, I’d give top marks to Playa Guiones in Nosara. Wider than a football field at low tide, this favorite of surfers has tide pools and is great for horseback riding. I’m still bowled over every time I visit Manuel Antonio’s Playa Espadilla Sur, too—not the main Playa Espadilla which fronts the resort area, but the long scimitar separated from the former by a rocky outcrop and river, which sweeps around the crook of a tombolo and ends at a large knoll called Punta Catedral. The views of Manuel Antonio from there are fantastic. I love arriving by Zodiak off the National Geographic Sea Lion when I escort tours. Monkeys are almost always there to greet us, along with coatis, iguanas, and sloths and boas in the trees.

2. If a traveler is craving privacy and a secluded spot to relax, what’s your recommendation?

Costa Rica is largely about nature. If you’re seeking a total escape where you can relax in a hammock with a good book and a pair of binoculars to spot birds and wildlife, there are a few options. If you’re in the mood for deluxe rusticity, try Casa de Tranquilidad—it has its own rainforest wildlife reserve. On a lesser budget, the experience of literally being eye-to-eye with the monkeys in your own treehouse is unbeatable: Lapa’s Nest Costa Rica Tree House gets my vote. Two favorite “chill out and relax” hotels that immerse you in nature but also offer something intangible and unique are Iguana Lodge, which is on the Osa Peninsula, and Monteverde Lodge, which edges up against the cloud forest in Monteverde.

3. What should a visitor know about beach etiquette? For example, are there clothing-optional beaches? Or is nude sunbathing not appropriate?

I’m always amazed at how often I see European women walking through beach towns, such as Quepos, in bikinis. Costa Rica isn’t Brazil! It’s much more conservative, and such dress is considered inappropriate by locals. There are no nude beaches, nor even topless beaches in Costa Rica. Gay locals and visitors used to have their “own” nude beach (Playa Dulce Vida) at Manuel Antonio, but it is now the domain of the magnificent Arenas del Mar, which I recently blogged about.

4. Is beach camping permitted in Costa Rica?

Camping is not permitted on any beach. For many years, locals paid no attention to the regulation; now it’s being enforced more, but you will still find many Costa Rican families pitching their tents beneath the coconut palms (which is actually one good way to ruin your day—more people are killed by falling coconuts than by venomous snakes in Costa Rica).

5. What beaches are best for snorkeling?

Costa Rica has relatively few great snorkeling spots, especially compared to its neighboring countries. There are, however, small coral reefs and fabulous fish life to be seen off Cahuita, on the Caribbean side; off Playa Manuel Antonio, in the Central Pacific Coast; and further south (and most notably) at Uvita. Riptides are a danger at many beaches, and you should always inquire about local conditions before swimming.

6. Where can visitors combine a beach day with seeing wildlife?

The ability to combine beach with wildlife is one of Costa Rica’s major fortes. On most beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, the forests spill over the sands. The large-scale resort development that has characterized the beaches of northern Nicoya Peninsula has driven away much of the wildlife that was previously easily viewed in the dry forests backing the beach. Elsewhere, however, the world’s your oyster. My favorites—all of which are served by eco-sensitive hotels—include Tortuguero (good for viewing marine turtles nesting), Manuel Antonio (although it can get crowded, it offers guaranteed viewing of creatures), and the beaches of Cahuita National Park.

7. What’s a good beach for people who love to surf, but aren't seasoned surfers?

Surf’s up! Are you a beginner? Me too. If I were to choose my preferred learn-to-surf spot, I’d opt for Tamarindo: it’s the most developed beach resort for surf schools and offers a wide choice of beaches for every level. There are also women-only and kids’ classes. Plus, since it’s “surf central” you get all the fun of chilling with fellow surfer dudes and checking out a crazy bar scene, if that’s your thing.

8. A day at the beach is always good, but what if someone wants to do good as well? Are there any volunteer programs you'd suggest?

Tremendous! Again, lots to choose from. For example, beach-goers can help save the planet’s endangered marine turtles at Playa Matapalo’s Portalon Ecological Wildlife Refuge, and with the Sea Turtle Conservancy at Tortuguero. Also at Tortuguero, Costa Rica Expeditions offers an innovative way for guests to donate a few hours of their time in local schools.

Editorial Reviews

Best of Costa Rica:

Few visitors have time to explore Costa Rica from tip to toe, but the following itinerary takes in half a dozen of the best national parks, a potpourri of active adventures, and many of the best sights.

Day 1
Arrive in San José. Take the afternoon to visit the Museo del Jade and Museo del Oro Precolombino, then dinner at Hotel Grano de Oro.

Day 2
An early-morning visit to Parque Nacional Volcán Poás is followed by a visit to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. In the late afternoon, get a feel for Costa Rica's coffee culture with a tour at Café Britt or Doka Estate.

Days 3–4
Head to La Fortuna and fill your days with hiking at Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal; a ride on the Sky Tram, including the zip line; and a soak at Tabacón Hot Springs. A traditional meal at Choza de Laurel is a good way to end the day.

Day 5
Transfer via Laguna de Arenal and Tilarán to Monteverde, where the Monteverde Lodge makes a fine base. After lunch, head to Selvatura for a canopy adventure.

Day 6
Rise early for a guided hike in Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve or Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. In the afternoon, visit the Serpentario and Frog Pond. In the evening, take a guided twilight walk at Bajo del Tigre.

From the Publisher