Travelers will get the scoop on the mysterious cloud forest, dense jungle, deserted sandy beaches, and gorgeous white waterfalls and rushing rivers. Features include where to go for great watersports and world-class fishing, a definitive treatment of lodging, restaurants, and nightlife, inside tips on visiting national parks, and special places to hike around majestic volcanoes and ancient ruins n plus extensive travel planning advice ranging from responsible eco-touring to taking the kids. The author takes readers to great beaches, fishing villages and small towns, aboard chugging trains and canal boats. In-depth coverage is given to San Jose, but we take you far afield, from famed Lake Arenal to the wilds of the Caribbean coast, from hidden beach "finds" on the Nicoya Peninsula to undiscovered wildlife refuges in the Pacific South.

Special sections include Best Places to Stay, how to see all of Costa Rica's famed volcanoes in one day, a glossary of local phrases, eco-tourist tips, where to raft rapids or gently cruise down a jungle river. Above all, Open Road's Costa Rica Guide gets you off the main tourist venues and tells you where the locals hang out.