The Rough Guide to Costa Rica (Travel Guide eBook)

Book excerpt: Practical travel guide to Costa Rica featuring points-of-interest structured lists of all sights and off-the-beaten-track treasures, with detailed colour-coded maps, practical details about what to see and to do in Costa Rica, how to get there and around, pre-departure information, as well as top time-saving tips, like a visual list of things not to miss in Costa Rica, expert author picks and itineraries to help you plan your trip. The Rough Guide to Costa Rica covers: San José, The Valle Central and the highlands, Limón Province and the Caribbean coast, The Zona Norte, Guanacaste, The Central Pacific and southern Nicoya, The Zona Sur Inside this travel guide you'll find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Costa Rica, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in San José to family activities in child-friendly places, like Liberia or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Limón. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS Essential pre-departure information including Costa Rica entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES Carefully planned routes covering the best of Costa Rica give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip. DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options. INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for bird spotting, beach hopping and turtle-watching. HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS Rough Guides' rundown of San José, Cartago and Heredia's best sights and top experiences help to make the most of each trip to Costa Rica, even in a short time. HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS: Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, to help to find the best places in Costa Rica, matching different needs. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter features fascinating insights into Costa Rica, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Teatro Nacional and the spectacular Rio Celeste Waterfall. COLOUR-CODED MAPPING Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in The Valle Central, southern Nicoya and many more locations in Costa Rica, reduce need to go online. USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.