Costa Rica Guide

The Costa Rica travel and vacation guide website is a companion to the Toucan Guides waterproof travel map.

Costa Rica Pictures

Home to detailed information about all the adventures shown on the map from canopy tours to butterfly gardens. Descriptions of the rain forest, turtle nesting beach and volcano National Parks include maps, hours, hiking trails and what to do.

Orchid Every tourism location page automatically maps out hotels, activities, and other parks in the same region so you don't have to search around for them.

The Costa Rica Guide covers practical information on weather, safe travel, money, airfare, rent a car, health, and packing for Costa Rica, and we round it out with fun sections on food and Costa Rican recipes, pictures, and travel stories.

So whether you’re considering travel to Costa Rica on an all inclusive tour, an ecology expedition to spot animals, a surfing safari, real estate shopping or you just want a relaxing vacation on the beach, pick a topic from the menu on the left and welcome to the Costa Rica guide…

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Ok, so you might need a guide book and a bird book as well but this map goes a long way to provide a Costa Rica map and guide book wrapped into one. I would have paid $100 for this map twelve years ago just for the information about paved roads, something that most map makers are reluctant to include since those roads change so quickly in a place like Costa Rica. Indeed, I headed off to San Jose in March of 1993 with my bike in a box and only a vague idea of road quality around the country. My trip went fine and I discovered some pretty interesting unpaved roads as well. But you are always at an advantage when you have current information. And this map has it as of January 2005 (and should be good for 3-4 years). Besides current road quality and surface status Krueger-Koplin has included detailed listings and locations of beaches, parks, reserves and refuges, butterfly gardens, canopy tours, fresh water fishing locales, surfing and scuba schools and more. How many times have you found yourself trying to plot all these locations on a map from your guidebook? This already has it done for you. As far as I know no other Costa Rica map goes this far.
Headed out on your bike or bird watching in the cloud forest? Not to worry. The "polyart" (plastic) this map is printed on will withstand afternoon downpours, morning drizzles and bike grease as well. This map isn't perfect but I've not seen anything comparable for the active traveler to Costa Rica. Just wish I'd had it twelve years ago. . .
—from Amazon.com reviews—R. Price, Colorado

Just got back from 2 weeks in Costa Rica. Your map was GREAT! It got doused by a leaky waterbottle before we even got off the plane in San Jose, and it still stayed together for the whole trip. It totally saved us in San Jose proper, and was very easy to follow for our cruise to Quepos, then up to La Cruz. Your website was extremely helpful in planning our trip. Everything you had to say about the roads and the drivers was absolutely true. Thanks a lot! Pura vida,
—Diane, Boulder CO

You have a great and informative website. I travel to Costa Rica in November (first time, solo trip) and am trying to read as much as possible..your website is quite informative. I plan on going back and back again for information!
—Thanks! T.S.

My husband and I are going on vacation for a week in December, and I've been looking for info on Costa Rica. Your site has been the most enlightening and enjoyable.
—L.K., USA

Wow!! What a bloody good website - thanks for all the info.. cheers
—S.S., Australia

We just got back from Costa Rica. We had 4 sets of maps in our car and yours was our main map. My wife and I were struck by the major inconsistencies between maps, especially the free ones like from Europcar rental car. We had others, but yours is much more accurate.
Your map has a more emphatic classification of road types (major vs. minor vs. dirt). This is welcome and very helpful.
Thanks for the great maps.
Regards,
—R.L., USA

Hi folks --
I have just returned from my trip to Costa Rica cycling with my 13 year old daughter. We had a blast! People were extremely friendly and kind (and incredulous that we were on bicycles). We started out... Thanks again
—K.H.

I am planning a trip to Costa Rica in September and was surprised out difficult it is to find comprehensive information on the Internet. Thank you for creating a site, that isn't trying to sell something, and provides a great deal of information!
—A.W.

Ray, Thank you for much for your response. I have been having a h--- of a time trying to determine the best route. Your directions look perfect! Pura vida
—B.B.

We just got back from Costa Rica. We had 4 sets of maps in our car and yours was our main map. My wife and I were struck by the major inconsistencies between maps, especially the free ones like from Europcar rental car. We had others, but yours is much more accurate.
Your map has a more emphatic classification of road types (major vs. minor vs. dirt). This is welcome and very helpful.
Thanks for the great maps.
Regards,
—R.L., USA

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