Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There have been some attempts at growing bananas organically, but according to
some experts, those efforts will never be enough to replace the intense agribusiness that
currently supplies the world with its fourth major foodstuff, after rice, wheat and milk.
Costa Rica is sometimes thought of as a country of coffee producers, a nation built on the
work of humble, independent farmers. But the fact is that bananas remain the country's
number-one agricultural export - as they have been for decades. They are an inextricable
part of the country's DNA. And, unless everyone suddenly starts putting sliced apples in-
to their cereal, that likely won't change any time soon.
Sleeping
Guápiles
Cabinas Irdama
CABIN
( 2710-7034;
hotel.cabinas.irdama@gmail.com
;
s/d with fan US$23/29, r with air-con US$32)
This well-tended motel-like structure near the center of town offers 22 clean rooms and a
small attached
restaurant
(meals US$6; 6am-8pm)
serving breakfast and
casados
(set
meals). Look for it 50m north of the Más x Menos supermarket (about 1km northeast of
the bus terminal).
Hotel Country Club Suerre
HOTEL
( 2713-3000;
www.suerre.com
; s/d US$90/124, each additional person US$20; )
On the road to Cariari, 1.5km north of the Servicentro Santa Clara, this Holiday Inn-like
business resort has 98 spacious, tidy rooms and two restaurants. The meticulously main-
tained grounds house a casino, a large pool, a gym, shaded tennis courts and a children's
play area.
Around Guápiles
Casa Río Blanco B&B
B&B
(
2710-4124;
www.casarioblanco.com
;
s/d/tr/q incl breakfast US$53/77/93/107;
)
