"This is Costa Rica advice the way a friend would give it to you: fiercely opinionated, funny, and brimming not only with advice about what to see and do, but also what's not worth your time.Whether you plan to hike through rainforests (and cloud forests), windsurf on Lake Arenal, bathe in geothermal pools or head to sun-soaked beaches where sea turtles nest, our expert has your back. A seasoned journalist, Nicholas Gill offers opinionated, no-punches-pulled advice on how to smartly explore this exhilarating country." -- Amazon.com.

Includes indexes.

The best of Costa Rica -- Suggested Costa Rica itineraries -- Costa Rica in context -- Costa Rica's natural world -- The best special- interest trips -- San José -- The Central Valley -- Guancaste: the Gold Coast -- Puntarenas & the Nicoya Peninsula -- The Northern zone: mountain lakes, cloud forests & a volcano -- The Central Pacific coast: where the mountains meet the sea -- The Southern zone -- The Caribbean coast -- Planning your trip to Costa Rica -- Spanish terms & phrases.