Lonely Planet Guide to Costa
Rica
By
Lonely Planet
The latest series of Lonely
Planet guides takes you to Costa
Rica.
Mention Costa Rica and people
think paradise. The country's
Disney-like cast of creatures —
ranging from howler monkeys to
toucans — are prolific and
relatively easy to spot. The
waves are prime, the beauty is
staggering and the sluggish pace
seductive.
Costa Rica, despite being such a
tiny nation, draws well over a
million visitors every year -
and you can see why. The
incredibly varied topography
means you can cruise a cloud
forest one day, climb a volcano
the next, and finish passed out
on a hot sandy beach.
When to go:
The early months of the rainy
season (May to July) are a
wonderful time to travel to
Costa Rica with some towns
experiencing a mini-high season.
During this time, rivers start
to swell and dirt roads get
muddy, making travel more
challenging. Remote roads may
not be accessible to public
transport, so always ask locally
before setting out. Bring your
umbrella and a little patience.
For surfers, the Pacific coast
sees increased swells and
bigger, faster waves during the
rainy season, peaking in the
worst rainy months of September
and October. The Caribbean side
has better waves from November
through May.
Wildlife enthusiasts may wish to
plan their trip around high
visibility seasons. The best
time to spot the resplendent
quetzal is between November and
April. The peak season for
leatherback turtles from April
to May; for green turtles it's
during August and September.
Fishing is good year-round, but
you might choose your season if
you have your heart set on a
specific fish. Anglers head to
the Caribbean coast between
January and May in search of
tarpon, while autumn is the
season for snook. On the Pacific
coast and in the Golfo Dulce,
the best time to snag that
sailfish is between November and
May.
Fast Facts:
Country Full Name - Republic of
Costa Rica
Population - 4,133,884
Currency - Name: Costa Rican
Colon, Code: CRC, Symbol: ¢
Electrical Plugs: 120V 60Hz
Languages Spoken - Official:
Spanish
Time Zones - GMT/UTC -6
Country Dialing Code - +506
Weights & Measures - Metric |
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