Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Now, leave the tourists behind and head into the real-life Costa Rica of the northern
lowlands. Inviting ecolodges and homestays have sprung up in this historically farm-based
economy. After a couple days of connecting with easygoing Ticos, make for
La Virgen
to
raft the white water of
Río Sarapiquí
.
At least a few days in Costa Rica must be devoted to the beach. First stop:
Playa
Tamarindo
, to party with other travelers, sample some of the country's best international
cuisine and learn to surf. Visit during turtle season and
Playa Grande
will be hosting a
horde of nesting leatherbacks; if not, the human action on the beach is an equally illumin-
ating mating ritual.
Stay put or string together a series of southbound buses to visit one heavenly beach after
the next: there's stunning sand and contemporary cuisine at
Playa Sámara
or legendary
swells at
Mal País
and
Santa Teresa
. Any would be excellent places to swim in warm Pa-
cific waters. Wind down your trip with some yoga in
Montezuma
and head back to San
José via
Jacó
by jet boat and bus.
