The Bottom Line
While Explore Costa Rica just is as comprehensive as any of its more well-known contenders like Lonely Planet and Rough Guides, the enthusiasm of its author sets it apart. Pariser’s infatuation with Costa Rica shines through on every page.
Pros
- Informative side bars explore environmental concerns
- Prices are neatly categorized from low-budget (under $20 US) to ultra-luxury (over $140 US)
- A complete Costa Rica bus guide (fantastic!)
- Useful “Tourist Trap Alternatives” for venturing off the beaten path
- Simple and comprehensible formatting
Cons
- A number of typos, can be distracting
Description
- 648 pages, Paperback
Publisher: Manatee Press, 5th edition (2006) - ISBN: 1893643557
- Purchase direct from the publisher at www.savethemanatee.com/CR
Guide Review - Explore Costa Rica Travel Guide - By Harry S. Pariser
Explore Costa Rica’s approach to travel in Costa Rica is singularly ecological, which is not only refreshing, but essential in this day and age. Also refreshing is the author’s approach to tourism—he encourages journeying beyond the typical tourist haunts (Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Tamarindo, etc.) for unique, eye-opening experiences. Travel with Explore Costa Rica, and you’ll feel as if you have an actual guide in your suitcase or backpack, instead of the impersonal, disembodied feeling you’ll find with other guidebooks.
Explore Costa Rica shows you where to watch biologists milk the venom from some of Costa Rica’s most poisonous snakes, where to view a real Costa Rican rodeo, and how to escape the crowds and explore Tortuguero via canoe. The author describes some of the country’s most fascinating wildlife in detail, from the pale-faced kinkajou to the resplendent quetzal. He provides in-depth history about most destinations, and his accommodations and dining suggestions are broad and invaluable.
All in all, this guidebook’s a winner.
