The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor Fifi LaMode tells us how to navigate this "rich coast" nation for less than you might think. —TBB
by Fifi LaMode
By popular demand, I have been asked to review
Costa Rica as a holiday destination.
Here's the bad news - there is none. Don't be put off by the "What to do in case of an earthquake" sheet in your room (Costa Rica lies on a fault, like California). This is a win-win place to visit: They have healthy rain forests, people are friendly, food is good, and it's affordable for every budget.
In one week you can do the following: Start off in San Jose, the capital. You don't want to stay in the city because there's nothing there to see - the tours usually stay at resorts outside town, your best bet, because they are located on acres and acres of lush property with gorgeous flowers and colorful birds all around. Ours even had a resident toucan! You can book day trips at your hotel or get a package deal where it's all included, which is what we did.
We went down a river where there were loads of monkeys in a tree; strange flowers that looked green and yellow till you looked closely, then they opened up into shades of purple, red and orange all in one; and various furry things with long tails crossed our path. I mention these creatures because there were more than one and I really have no idea what they are to this day - some look like cats, some look like anteaters, and some look like lemurs. They are all indigenous to the area and are very nonchalant about having people around.
Another day trip was to the Arenal Volcano, where we actually got close up to the caldera. Neat. We were then taken to a coffee plantation in the mountains, where the temperature was cooler and the air was very fresh, as opposed to the more tropical lowlands. Then we descended back into more tropical surroundings and saw a typical village and had a typical meal called a 'casada', meaning 'married', because when women marry they're expected to cook this for their husbands: Steak topped with fried egg, a variation of spanish rice, fried plantains, and some other veggies...yummmmm. We had this at the coffee plantation too. Twice in one day. They keep feeding you here.
Another day we visited the Monteverde Cloud Forest, a couple hours' drive from the city. Once there, you travel in these cabins about 3 feet over the forest canopy. This is so you don't actually step on the ground and upset the balance of nature. While waiting to go on this 'ride' we looked at the hanging flower pots and saw loads of tiny colorful hummingbirds flying around. They're about the size of a thumbnail and at first we thought they were bugs but they were lovely little things in bright greens. Dumb us made the mistake of travelling in August when it's sunny in the morning and rains the rest of the day. I mean RAIN. We're talking monsoon. We got stuck on this cloud forest tram and got soaked. The bus got us out in time before the roads to the forest closed. When it rains here, it rains.
The Cloud Forest had a resident furry thing as well with a strange name. It was friendly. After a few days in the San Jose area, we took a short plane ride (the pilot had the window open - this was a first) to the Guanacaste beach area and stayed at some golf resort. We don't play golf but the accommodations were self-standing little houses. Outside our door was a tree filled with parrots. There was also a cat, or what we thought was a cat, resting at the bottom of the stairs. It wasn't a cat, but I don't know what it was. I'm sure you can find out in a book of Fauna of Central America, but we were content knowing it wasn't attacking us and it was kind of cool that these wild animals were all over the place. This resort also had iguanas. Big iguanas that just basked in the sun on the sidewalks and didn't move when they saw people. Cool.
I am a huge advocate of washing clothes at home, either by hand or in the washing machine, even when the tag says "dry clean only." Washing garments at home is better for your clothes, your health, the environment AND your wallet. 
