Explore Costa Rica

by Harry S. Pariser

Book Overview

Travel with award-winning travel guide author Harry S Pariser around Costa Rica and experience its wonders! Dive and snorkel off the coast of the remote Osa Peninsula. Experience the Caribbean coast... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1893643557
• ISBN13: 9781893643550
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Manatee Press
• Length: 622 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.5" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

A Quality Guide to a Beautiful Country

As co-author of the sixth edition of Lonely Planet Costa Rica, acquaintances often ask me which guidebook I recommend, now that my own is out of date. Explore Costa Rica is the perfect choice for independent-minded travelers interested in learning more about the country from travel writer who has been covering Costa Rica since at least 1992. A detailed field guide of flora and fauna will help you appreciate Costa Rica's fabulous national parks, while useful advice on "Picking a Tour" is accompanied by listings that include everyone from slick, international package-tour operators to scruffy beachtown-based independent guides. Hotel and restaurant listings span a wide range of prices and expectations, and descriptions tend to be more detailed than in thinner guidebooks - at 621 pages, there's plenty of room. I especially appreciate events listings; you just haven't lived until you've attended a loud, guaro-soaked Costa Rican fiesta, and Pariser makes sure you know what's on while you're in the country. My only quibble is with the maps - they're accurate and useful for towns and cities, and are more than sufficient for travelers using public transport. If you're planning to drive, however, be sure to ask for a free country map from your rental car company or any tourist office. Regardless, this book gets five stars because it is accurate, updated and insightful.

Best Guide to Costa Rica!

I truly enjoyed Harry Pariser's 5th edition 'Explore Costa Rica' as it offered many insights on the history of the country, off the beaten trail destinations, travel tips, little known traveler spots, and much more! With very descriptive information and brilliant photos, Costa Rica's myriad of activities seems to come alive. I would strongly recommend this to anyone interested in *experiencing* Costa Rica through the lens of an expert who knows this country like the back of his hand.

Only guide book you'll need

Reviewed by Kelley Anderson for Reader Views (4/07) "Explore Costa Rica" is a well-written, in-depth guide to visiting Costa Rica. The introduction gives a comprehensive overview of the land, climate, vegetation, animal and social life of Costa Rica. It presents this varied country's past and present, reflecting on how the history of the country affects the travel and culture today. Everything you could want to know about Costa Rica is in the book. From money conversion to places to stay, this is an excellent guide to plan your travels. The book breaks down the country into six distinctive areas and presents the unique travel experiences in detail. It is also full of maps, pictures and suggestions from the author, who is obviously very well versed in Costa Rica, both travel and lifestyle. The writing is simple and expressive. I had never thought to travel to Costa Rica, but found myself absorbed in the many possibilities for a vacation or immersing myself in the culture. Each suggestion also comes with a price guide, making it easier to plan your expenses. This includes everything from hotels, local transportation, food, entertainment and more. I have never seen such a thorough guide about any place, especially a foreign country. "Explore Costa Rica" would be a helpful planning tool for any age traveler. I noticed in each section headings of "Men traveling alone," "Gay and Lesbian travel" and "Traveling with children." This seems very insightful and obviously planned by the author to be useful to anyone thinking about visiting Costa Rica. Also, when considering traveling to a foreign country, I always think of two main concerns, health and hygiene and dealing with the local laws which can both be very different from living in the USA. Both of these subjects were covered to my satisfaction, making me feel confident that if I did choose to visit Costa Rica, I could navigate safely through my vacation. "Explore Costa Rica" had an extensive amount of information on the country, more than I would have thought to ask before traveling. Any traveler considering a vacation to Costa Rica should purchase a copy of this book well before booking any rooms or flights, and carry it with them on their trip.

It's a Gem

I found "Explore Costa Rica" incredibly user friendly in terms of easy to read text, wonderful descriptions of resorts, inns and jungle haunts to stay, maps, color and black and white photos. It covers absolutely everything one needs to navigate the rainforests, beaches, rivers--including the guided tours, wildlife tips, safety, history and complete travel details. It's a gem.

An Eco-friendly Guidebook

The focus of this book underlines Costa Rica's status as the ecotourism capital of Latin America, and almost a quarter of the main introduction is devoted to the country's flora and fauna. Pariser is of the school that believes that selling the environment as a tourist attraction will contribute to its preservation in a commercial world. Minimum impact is an obvious consideration as he guides visitors gently through the rainforests or along the coral reefs. However, conventional city trippers won't be disappointed by Harry's 21 pages of detailed accommodations listings for San Jose, and it's significant that pricewise he starts at the top and works down. Smaller numbers of upscale visitors will leave fewer footprints than backpacking masses from Lonely Planet. Harry's eco-friendly values are also reflected in his detailed six-page chart of public bus services. Sightseeing from behind the wheel of a polluting vehicle is not his way. The food, festivals, and sports and recreation sections of this book are also very good, and you'll even find a precise guide to the local radio stations and detailed tips on volunteering. This book has an individual flair but it's as professional as they come. It's a welcome change from the stale consumerism of Frommer and Fodor. END