LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
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Idyllic Sunset Sites
Abundant nature + peaceful surroundings + great views = No more worries
The mountaintop hostel on Cerro Chirripó
From the lookout above El Mirador Lodge in Bahía Drake
The view of Volcán Arenal from Cabina La Fortuna
A sunset sail from Tamarindo
At La Taberna in Tortuguero sipping a cerveza
Sunset from Ronny’s Place in Manuel Antonio
Reggae-listening at the Sunset Bar in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Twilight hike in the Children’s Eternal Forest in Monteverde
On the dock of the bay at the Banana Bay Marina in Golfito
The hills of San José from the Plaza de la Democracia
Worst Roads
It is a badge of honor for travelers to boast about the disastrous roads they’ve survived in Costa Rica. A list of the most bragworthy:
Oldie, but goodie – the road from Tilarán to Monteverde
The punisher – Puerto Jiménez to Carate
Dude, where’s the transmission? – bumping and grinding to the waves at Playa Naranjo
A river runs through it – crossing the Río Ora between Playa Carrillo and Islita
You call this a road? – Golfito to Pavones
Bone-cruncher – Buenos Aires to Reserva Biológica Dúrika reserve
Car-nivore – the stretch between Tamarindo and Avellana gobbles up vehicles like candy
Road less traveled – the steep climb up to Altamira and La Amistad
Keep on truckin’ – swerving with the big rigs on the Interamericana between Cañas and Liberia
Lake defect – dodging huge potholes on the road around Laguna Arenal
Best Beaches
This is what we came for…
Manzanillo – surfing and snorkeling along the Caribbean’s most scenic stretch
Playas Coyote & San Miguel – abandoned beach, backed by rugged wilderness
Playa Conchal – crushed shells and turquoise water
Playa Grande – sweeping blonde sand backed by mangroves, great surf
Playa Matapalo – surfing the waves, hiking to waterfalls
Playa Montezuma – empty white sands and rocky coves, killer sunrises
Playa Mal País – huge, crashing surf for kilometers in every direction
Playa Negra – people of color, beaches of color
Playa San Josecito – scarlet macaws roosting in the almond trees overhead
Playa Sámara – destination of sophisticated beach goers
Playa Zancudo – gentle, luminescent waters and vast, empty sands
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