Originally Posted by
Udaman
Anyone been to Costa Rica and have suggestions for things to do, places to go? My wife and daughter are going this summer (she's 20, the daughter, not the spouse). They like hiking and nature stuff. Will spend probably 2 days at the beach, but the rest of the time would like to see cool rain forests, hanging bridges, etc. Any recommendations would be great, including cool places to stay.
Thanks!
Here's my take from about five trips there. Costa Rica is the preferred destination for new students of tropical biology around the world. The reasons are germane for tourism: (1) A wide variety of tropical habitats, from dry deciduous forests (northwest); wet, humid forests on the Caribbean side; high mountains (including timber lines and mist forests); etc., etc. (2) It's safe. (3) The roads are good. (4) Tropical diseases, like malaria, are largely absent.
The central valley including the capital San Jose is relatively high and comfortable (cools off when the sun goes down). I have done white-water rafting in CR -- the water is much warmer than here in the Rockies.
The Osa Peninsula is really, really wild, and there are small eco-resorts there.
I would personally always go to La Selva, a rain forest area run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (HQ is at Duke), where guided tours are available (bring binoculars if you have them). Accommodations on the preserve are basic, but fine. Then there is Monte Verde, where one can see the Resplendant Quetzal.
I personally don't care as much for Guanacaste, the northwest province -- it's really hot and dry -- but there are numerous resorts plus the airport at Liberia. When I went on a bird trip there many, many years ago, we used the Birds of Mexico for the Guanacaste and the Birds of Panama for the rest of the country.
Haven't written all this, I now want to go back.
Sage Grouse
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'When I got on the bus for my first road game at Duke, I saw that every player was carrying textbooks or laptops. I coached in the SEC for 25 years, and I had never seen that before, not even once.' - David Cutcliffe to Duke alumni in Washington, DC, June 2013