Frommer's Costa Rica 2003 Book

	List of Maps	viii
	What's New in Costa Rica	1
1	The Best of Costa Rica	4
1	The Best of Natural Costa Rica	4
2	The Best Beaches	5
3	The Best Adventures	9
4	The Best Day Hikes & Nature Walks	10
5	The Best Bird-Watching	12
6	The Best Destinations for Families	13
7	The Best Luxury Hotels & Resorts	14
8	The Best Moderately Priced Hotels	15
9	The Best Ecolodges & Wilderness Resorts	16
10	The Best Bed-and-Breakfasts & Small Inns	17
11	The Best Restaurants	18
12	The Best Views	19
13	The Best After-Dark Fun	19
14	The Most Useful Websites for Costa Rica	20
2	Planning Your Trip to Costa Rica	22
1	The Regions in Brief	22
2	Visitor Information	25
3	Entry Requirements & Customs	25
4	Money	27
	The Colon, the U.S. Dollar & the Euro	29
5	When to Go	31
	Costa Rica Calendar of Events	32
6	Health & Insurance	34
7	Tips for Travelers with Special Needs	37
8	Getting There	40
	What Travel Agents Don't Tell You	43
9	Planning Your Trip Online	44
	Frommers.com: The Complete Travel Resource	45
10	Getting Around	46
11	Spanish-Language Programs	50
12	Tips on Accommodations	52
13	Tips on Dining	54
14	Tips on Shopping	55
15	Suggested Itineraries	56
16	Recommended Reading	56
	Fast Facts: Costa Rica	58
3	The Active Vacation Planner	63
1	Organized Adventure Trips	63
2	Activities A to Z	66
	Where to See the Resplendent Quetzal	69
	In Search of Turtles	75
3	Costa Rica's Top National Parks & Bioreserves	76
	Monkey Business	81
4	Tips on Health, Safety & Etiquette in the Wilderness	82
5	Ecologically Oriented Volunteer & Study Programs	83
4	San Jose	85
1	Orientation	86
	"I know there's got to be a number here somewhere...": The Arcane Art of Finding an Address in San Jose	90
	The Neighborhoods in Brief	91
2	Getting Around	91
	Fast Facts: San Jose	93
3	Where to Stay	97
4	Where to Dine	111
	Only in the Central Valley: Dining Under the Stars on a Mountain's Edge	114
5	What to See & Do	118
	Suggested Itineraries	119
6	Outdoor Activities & Spectator Sports	124
7	Shopping	126
	Joe to Go	127
8	San Jose After Dark	131
9	Side Trips from San Jose	135
	Holy Smoke!: Choosing the Volcano Trip That's Right for You	138
5	Guanacaste & the Nicoya Peninsula: The Gold Coast	145
1	Liberia	146
2	La Cruz	153
3	Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama & Bahia Culebra	156
4	Playa del Coco & Playa Ocotal	160
5	Playas Flamingo, Potrero, Brasilito & Conchal	164
6	Playa Tamarindo & Playa Grande	170
7	Playa Junquillal	181
8	Playa Nosara	183
9	Playa Samara	187
10	Playa Tambor	192
11	Playa Montezuma	194
12	Malpais/Santa Teresa	201
6	The Northern Zone: Mountain Lakes, Cloud Forests & a Volcano	204
1	Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui	204
2	Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna	212
	Boats, Horses & Taxis	213
	Taking a Soothing Soak in Hot Springs	215
3	Along the Shores of Lake Arenal	224
4	Monteverde	228
7	The Central Pacific Coast: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea	242
1	Puntarenas	242
	Diving Trips to Isla del Coco (Cocos Island)	246
2	Playa de Jaco	248
3	Manuel Antonio National Park	259
4	Dominical	277
5	San Isidro de El General: A Base for Exploring Chirripo National Park	282
8	The Southern Zone	289
1	Drake Bay	289
	Those Mysterious Stone Spheres	293
2	Puerto Jimenez: Gateway to Corcovado National Park	297
3	Golfito: Gateway to the Golfo Dulce	305
4	Playa Zancudo	310
5	Playa Pavones: A Surfer's Mecca	313
9	The Caribbean Coast	316
1	Barra del Colorado	317
2	Tortuguero National Park	320
3	Limon: Gateway to Tortuguero National Park & Southern Coastal Beaches	327
4	Cahuita	331
5	Puerto Viejo	338
Appendix A	Costa Rica in Depth	349
1	The Natural Environment	349
2	Costa Rica Today	351
3	History 101	352
	Dateline	352
4	Gallo Pinto, Ceviche & Frescos: Costa Rican Food & Drink	355
Appendix B	Glossary of Spanish Terms & Phrases	358
1	Basic Spanish Phrases & Vocabulary	358
2	Some Typically Tico Words & Phrases	359
3	Menu Terms	360
	Index	362
	General Index	362
	Accommodations Index	367
	Restaurant Index	371