Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

My sister is getting married in Costa Rica this winter. We are going down for it. Never been there before and just wondering if anyone here has, so we can get an idea of what to expect from a tourists view. How is the food, the sights, the flights, how are the locals, did you feel safe there? Any info would be great!
Thanks!!!
Bryan

I haven't been there but some good friends and family have. Great fishing from what I hear.

Been there, scenery is great outside of San Jose. Weather is cool I stayed in a non ac hotel downtown and it was comfortable. If your wife does not come it is a single man's paradise if you know what I mean.

margaritaman wrote:Been there, scenery is great outside of San Jose. Weather is cool I stayed in a non ac hotel downtown and it was comfortable. If your wife does not come it is a single man's paradise if you know what I mean.

Really Now??? Flu bug season is around the corner... With my luck, I'ld get it, though!

Ya, Ron, My future Bro'n'law was talkin about going game fishing, I hope we can! Love catching Blue Gills!

Costa Rica's the most civilized of the banana republics in Central America. It's a favorite place for Americans to retire to--when they're trying to exit from O'Bamacare. It's a very beautiful place, with great forests inland.

The major highways running north and south are pretty congested with trucks bringing goods down from Mexico. Getting from town to town takes longer than expected.

I had a friend that went there last year. He rented a car and drove down to Nicaragua. He said that place is like going back in time, and is not at all modern.

I had a friend that went there last year. He rented a car and drove down to Nicaragua. He said that place is like going back in time, and is not at all modern.

which place CR or NIC??

Nicaragua.

I had a business associate from Nicaragua when it was really a rough place. He was president of the National Bank. Over time, he had moved all the wealth of the country to a bank he owned in Miami. When the Sandinistas took over the country militarily, they stormed the bank only to find empty vaults.

As far as I know, the blue bloods of Nicaragua are still living on Key Biscayne.

Nicaragua has its good days and bad. It would not be a very desirable place to live for an ex-pat at this time.

Which part are you traveling to?? I have had a house there since 2000. However the last couple of years I hve not traveled there much. Still I am fairly familiar with alot of areas

Costa Rica is on my bucket list of places to visit so very interested in any info.

I have friends who go and love it but I have issues with leaving the boarders of the USA

rbiederwolf wrote:Which part are you traveling to?? I have had a house there since 2000. However the last couple of years I hve not traveled there much. Still I am fairly familiar with alot of areas

We are heading to Guanacaste, Liberia. Looks like a fun place!

chill'nthemost wrote:I have friends who go and love it but I have issues with leaving the boarders of the USA

Ya, I know what you mean. Went to Jamaica back in '81, right after the uprising. That was a trip. Armed guards, Jeeps with 50 cals. Manned 1/2 tracks running around all over the place. People were breaking glass bottles and cementing the sharp broken shards and bottoms to the tops on fences and planting them in yards. Being a 21 year old from rural Iowa, you could say I was a little shocked at first. But it turned out to be a hell of a trip. I'ld do it all over again.

Sorry for the late get back, been working nights!
Bryan

Where in Guanacaste? I am in the northern guanacaste region. Liberia is ok. It is a small city inland. They have built a fairly nice international airport there (only direct international airport other than San Jose). Have some decent local shopping, restaurants etc. It is really a true Costa Rican market place.

We are staying at the Guanacaste Riu resort. Leave next week! We are really excited, should be fun. i guess they have a volcano tour, zip lining, a rainforest tour and hot mud baths for the girls. Will tell you how it was after we get back!
Thanks Guys!
Bryan

Bryden24shp wrote:We are staying at the Guanacaste Riu resort. Leave next week! We are really excited, should be fun. i guess they have a volcano tour, zip lining, a rainforest tour and hot mud baths for the girls. Will tell you how it was after we get back!
Thanks Guys!
Bryan

Have fun and any pics you want to share would be cool

The wife and went some time ago and it was magnificent. We flew into Liberia and headed left to the Playa de Casa region. It was one of those experiences you never forget. Dare I say magical?

The volcanoes, zip lines, ATV tours (on and on) were cool... we did them all. But the best "tour" we did was a sailboat excursion to a secluded beach for snorkeling. This was an all inclusive deal and every tour included beer and food... what can I say. The river trip was pretty cool as well if you're into the wildlife thing. Howler monkeys throwing poo at you, crocs up the ying-yang, lots of very strange birds and food and beer.

The squirrels are marked like skunks and the monkeys wake you in the a.m. like chickens. Most of the locals speak English and are happy you are there and don't want to kill you. My only suggestion would be don't rent a car. Taxi's are cheap, the roads are marginal and the residents drive like maniacs. Driving in Costa Rica is a disaster waiting to happen. I can't imagine the hassle if you were involved in a wreck or worse, injured. This is a "third world" country.

Getting in is painless, getting out is not so pleasant. Be prepared to spread your luggage out on a table for the world to see. They go thru everything and if it don't fit their profile, it goes in the big can. They had an army of young women that went thru every pocket of every piece of clothing in our bags. I was clean but they did confiscate some $10 batteries I had for a 35mm camera I had at the time, also some spices my wife bought at one of the open air markets... more of an inconvenience than anything but be advised.

I'm old and probably will not venture outside of the country again, but if I did, Costa Rica would be at the top of the list. The people appreciate your business and that makes a huge difference in the overall experience.

Congrats to your sister and enjoy.

Mike