Costa Rica 2013
by Eliot Greenspan
Published by:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
Copyright 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978/750-8400, fax 978/646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201/748-6011, fax 201/748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Wiley and the Wiley logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Frommers is a trademark or registered trademark of Arthur Frommer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
ISBN 978-1-118-28766-8 (paper); 978-1-118-33369-3 (ebk); 978-1-118-33481-2 (ebk); 978-1-118-33146-0 (ebk)
Editor: Jennifer Reilly
Production Editor: M. Faunette Johnston
Cartographer: Roberta Stockwell
Photo Editors: Richard Fox and Cherie Cincilla
Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services
Front Cover Photo: Three-toed sloth Lars-Olof Johansson / Johner Images / Alamy Images
Back Cover Photos: Left: Tourist riding a zip-line canopy tour Thornton Cohen. Middle: Surf shot from shore of Witch's Rock Thornton Cohen. Right: Ocelot Adrian Hepworth.
For information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877/762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317/572-3993 or fax 317/572-4002.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic formats.
Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
About the Author
Eliot Greenspan is a poet, journalist, musician, and travel writer who took his backpack and typewriter the length of Mesoamerica before settling in Costa Rica in 1992. Since then, he has worked steadily as a travel writer, food critic, freelance journalist, and translator, and continued his travels in the region. He is the author of Frommers Belize, Frommers Ecuador, Frommers Guatemala, Costa Rica For Dummies, and Costa Rica Day by Day.
Dedication
Id like to dedicate this edition, with love, appreciation and gratitude, to Warren Greenspan, November 26, 1932January 11, 2011.
Eliot Greenspan
Acknowledgments
I say this every year, but I continue to be eternally grateful to Anne Becher and Joe Richey, who were instrumental in getting me this gig muchas gracias . Id also like to thank my parents, Marilyn and Warren Greenspan, who showed unwavering love, support, and encouragement (well, one out of three aint bad) when I chose words and world-wandering over becoming a lawyer or a doctor. Jody and Ted Ejnes (my sister and brother-in-law) deserve a mention; they risked life and limbliterallyleading to two important tips that may help you save yours. (I now believe Ted, and he may have actually almost stepped on a crocodile.) And a big tip of my hat to Jennifer Reilly for her editorial diligence and patience.
Eliot Greenspan
How to contact Us
In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful placeshotels, restaurants, shops, and more. Were sure youll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, wed love to know that, too. Please write to:
Frommers Costa Rica 2013
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
frommersfeedback@wiley.com
Advisory & Disclaimer
Travel information can change quickly and unexpectedly, and we strongly advise you to confirm important details locally before traveling, including information on visas, health and safety, traffic and transport, accommodations, shopping, and eating out. We also encourage you to stay alert while traveling and to remain aware of your surroundings. Avoid civil disturbances, and keep a close eye on cameras, purses, wallets, and other valuables.
While we have endeavored to ensure that the information contained within this guide is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication, we make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. We accept no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracy or errors or omissions, or for any inconvenience, loss, damage, costs, or expenses of any nature whatsoever incurred or suffered by anyone as a result of any advice or information contained in this guide.
The inclusion of a company, organization, or website in this guide as a service provider and/or potential source of further information does not mean that we endorse them or the information they provide. Be aware that information provided through some websites may be unreliable and can change without notice. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any damages arising herefrom.
Frommers Star Ratings, Icons & Abbreviations
Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).
In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature icons that point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for:
special finds those places only insiders know about
fun facts details that make travelers more informed and their trips more fun
kids best bets for kids and advice for the whole family
special moments those experiences that memories are made of