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Not at Rincon de la Vieja

The trail along the crater rim of Rincón de la Vieja disappears into the distance.

Rincón has so much diversity it was a bit tough coming up with a list of what not to expect to find in the area.  Of course it's inland an a volcano so there are no beaches but even that's less than an hour away so you could pop down for the sunset after lunch. No Hiking Trails to the … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Not on the Osa

One of the best ways to access the trackless wilderness is in a charter plane. There may not be roads but there are landing strips.

Sometimes it's as helpful when planning to know what's not readily available in an area as it is to know what's there and there are a few things you're not likely to find in Corcovado national park or anywhere on the Osa peninsula for that matter. Luxury Resorts & Spas Not that there aren't … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Not at Nicoya Peninsula

Fording German Creek (?) on the way from Cuajiniquil to the Murcielago sector of Santa Rosa National park

Highways, Bridges & Easy Access There's an unpaved road that runs the length of the Pacific coast of the Nicoya peninsula but it's not always passable.  In May or June through November vehicles may not be able to cross some of the rain swollen rivers and have to turn inland to the paved … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Not Monteverde

White water rafting on the Pacuare river NOT near Monteverde

Sometimes it helps as much when planning to know what's not easy to do in an area as to know what's there and below are some of the things you shouldn't expect to find in or around Monteverde. Beaches It's not really that people expect there to be beaches on the mountain top, but many hope they … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Not Manuel Antonio

Tabacon

Sometimes it's as helpful when planning to know what's not readily available in an area as it is to know what's there.  Of course none of the things listed below are absolutely impossible but the area is not particularly known for them or you may have to travel farther to find them. Miguel San … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Not Guanacaste Beaches

Lago Barva in the Cloud Forest

Rainforest and Cloud Forest It's not surprising that the majority of Costa Rica's international luxury resorts are in the Papagayo region since it has more dry, hot sunny beach weather than anywhere else in the country but some people are surprised that the lack of rainfall also means there's … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Not in the Caribbean

October weather and rainfall map for Costa Rica

It shouldn't be surprising that the Caribbean is different.  It's clear across the continent from the resorts of the Pacific side. The Same Weather as the Rest of Costa Rica Just as the southern Caribbean follows the beat of a different, Reggae drummer it has different weather patterns than … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Not at Arenal

Arenal really raging back in 2003

What is Not in the Arenal Volcano Region It's helpful when planning to know what doesn't work well from the Arenal region and what you won't find there that you might elsewhere. Lately the thing that's been most conspicuously absent from Arenal are the views of lava and red hot boulders … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

Most Popular Places

Aerial view of San jose

This objective list of the most popular places to visit in Costa Rica is compiled from ICT, SINAC and MINAE statistics, talking to people in the travel industry, and looking around while we're there.  These aren't necessarily the best places in Costa Rica, but they are the most … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact

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Top 10

Top 10
  • Top Ten
  • Best Kept Secrets
  • Beaches of Guanacaste
  • Arenal Volcano
  • Monteverde
  • Osa & Corcovado
  • Manuel Antonio
  • Tortuguero
  • Tenorio, Celeste & Miravalles
  • The San Gerardos
  • Nicoya Peninsula
  • Southern Caribbean
  • Rincon de la Vieja
  • Turrialba & Orosi Honorable Mention
  • San José Honorable Mention
  • Jacó & Hermosa Honorable Mentions
  • Dominical, Uvita Honorable Mention
  • Not at the San Gerardos
  • Not in Tortuguero
  • Not at Tenorio & Miravalles



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