I'm going to Costa Rica next month and I'm getting my itinerary in order now. I'll be there for a week and I haven't done much research yet. I know I'll want to hit the zip line tour in the rainforest and drink heavily in a secluded spot on the beach.

Has anyone been down there? Do you have any advice or "must see" places that I should put on my itinerary? All help would be appreciated because otherwise I'm just going off a lonely planet book.

I would recommend being beaten and robbed, then left for dead in the jungle if you get a chance.

Aside from that, ask my wife, she has family there and has been there numerous times.

Marsupialized wrote:I would recommend being beaten and robbed, then left for dead in the jungle if you get a chance.

Have you and JGP had a falling out?

One of my best friends lived in San Jose for two years.

There is a lot of crime in Costa Rica, especially outside the tourist destinations like the vegan spa and the beaches. You live in Chicago, so you know how to deal with the sketchy already, but as a gringo you will be assumed to have a lot of money and might possibly get held up.

Since all he did was work, go to the casino to play poker, and sit home and watch TV, I don't think the other advice he gave me will be helpful to you.

Mark Hansen wrote:

Marsupialized wrote:I would recommend being beaten and robbed, then left for dead in the jungle if you get a chance.

Have you and JGP had a falling out?

Of course not, only the strongest of friendships can withstand the constant insults we hurl at each other.
All in good fun, my friend, all in good fun.


I was sorta referring to the reports her grandfather gives us when we say we wanna visit, he says it's getting real bad with crime, so bad he's moving away after living there for around 40 years....he blames the Columbians flooding in. He's an old school sicilian gangster type too, so if he's had it with crime there it's gotta be pretty bad.

Guanecaste isn't as sketchy as the area around the capital, with the possible exception of Playa Tamarindo.

I found that Playa Flamingo was where Costa Ricans go on vacation and is therefore both inexpensive and fairly secluded, for the most part.

Just don't go to CR in October. It's rainy as fuck then.

I'm going in March. 1st and last night in San Jose (which I've heard is both boring and sketchy but near the airport), a couple nights in Arenal (or possibly 1 there and 1 in Montiverde) and 2 nights in Quepos. I've heard those areas are fine as far as crime goes.

I stayed in Playa Tamarimdo and it was fucking awesome. Can't recommend it enough. Very safe in that area. If you have any street smarts at all you will be fine.

I have the ability to speak foreign languages after 3 days and 6 beers so YMMV.

We went to a local agent there and had a day trip to a local volcano with an English speaking driver/guide. Zip lines, crazy shit throwing monkeys, waterfall swims etc. It was fucking mad cheap. Damn, now I'm getting jealous.

Enjoy the trip and post pics when you return. You will have plenty.

I was there about 5 years ago. I thought it was great. The people were friendly, food was great and the surfing was outstanding. We did not stay in San Jose at all. We first went south to Dominical on the Pacific and then traveled up the coast to Quepos, Jaco and Nosara. Nosara was beautiful.

Bring back some Lizano sauce...they use it on everything there.

I was there in 2001. Stayed on a banana plantation in the jungle. Really beautiful. Watch it if you don't like creepy-crawlies though. The least light at night attracted a million bugs and we had huge spiders and occasional scorpion to deal with. Hard to say about the crime as I didn't experience any. Very different from my time in Mexico. People in CR were super-friendly, the food is great ... gallo pinto has to be the best breakfast in the world, and you can buy huge bags of green oranges there for next to nothing. The wildlife is just incredible. Really funny seeing a sloth in the wild. Unbelievable how slow they move. Incredibly cute as well. Oh and alligators and cappucino monkeys and jesus christ lizards. You can wander off into the jungle there as well as there's nothing in there that will eat you. At least I don't think so. Apart from alligators.

Oh, there's a great place down south where you can swim in pools that were heated by a volcanic explosion. as night falls you can watch the glow of the still active volcano as you sip something ridiculous out of a hollowed-out coconut. I mean, you could if you wanted to. And loads of other great stuff you lucky bleeder you.