www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Well, when I visited I also did the tourist seen. There exists some nice museums, e.g., the Jade Museum was interesting; I took a city tour with a private outfit, which helped me to learn the grid pattern; I toured the cathedral, where the bishop sits; there are several craft markets in addition to the Central Market; and the list goes on and on.

Obtain a copy of the Lonely Planet or like publication. There are two good bookstores, as well. Yes, I sampled some good restaurants. And at the end of the day, I saw the Del Rey.

I think that San Jose is not the best destination for "regular" tourists, especially near the gulch. For those who want to see the jungles, wildlife, fish, do the beaches etc it is best to get out of San Jose ASAP. Most regular tourists love Costa Rica and hate San Jose. Fortuanately I love both.

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If it floats, flies or fucks, rent it, dont buy it.

There's something outside San Jose????


Personally I like the Blue Zone, where you can always find stray kittens of all shapes and sizes, that you can pet for far less than the HDR.

If you want to observe the early morning feeding habits of "Turistas Regulares", you can't beat the hotel Pres. breakfast buffet. Arrive early (later morning you'll only see boring "abnormal touristas") and bring your camera, there is usually a diversified herd elbowing each other like pigs at a trough to scarf down the poorly prepared food, something about the "free breakfast" concept that brings out the worst in this species. Many large females can be seen bossing their pitiful mates around and some will even have wild offspring with poor social skills terrorizing the other sleepy, hungry tourists. If you get close enough you'll even notice some speak different languages like french and I think I heard pig-latin once. The good news is they soon after put on their backpacks and flip-flops to go out and explore the beautiful city of SJO (urban backpackers) or surrounding country on day tours, sure you could join them if you wanted.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

El Ciego listed a lot of places, and I'll add the National Museum as well. I also always like to walk around Parque Nacional, unlike the usual concrete plazas that pass for parks in SJ it's like a small aboretum with mowed lawns and labeled trees and plants. I make the park a part of longer 60-90 minute walking circuit.

While it's true that there isn't much to see in the SJ itself, and many of the typical ecotourists just start and stop their trip there if they're not going directly to their beach resort/rain forest lodge, the city does make a good base for doing day trips to the surrounding area. There's Poas and Irazu volcanoes, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, the Rain Forest Aerial Tram, whitewater rafting on several rivers, Lankester Gardens, the Cartago cathedral, Orosi Valley, the Cafe Britt and Doka Estate plantations, INBIO parque and Sarchi comprising most of the main places. Haven't been to Sarchi yet, and want to finally do a rafting trip in July, but I've been to all the other places listed, some of them multiple times. A great all-day trip is the one that does Poas, La Paz and the Sarapiqui river.

I always get a good laugh at these Urban Backpacker types . IMHO better herds of Urban Backpackers than herds of Urban Fudgepakers . They look so out of place to me trying to be "different" or finding themselves? So many experienced mongerers I see seem to know how to look natural while being relaxed & blend in better.

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"Run silent, run deep"
Spunk glazed Chicas are the building blocks of the universe!

I don't know that they enter there by mistake. Let's face it the place is not a big secret. Don't you think the tourists come there to see us. How many of them enter with camera in hand hoping to get a photograph of a legend like Vegas Bob, Don Gordo, PacoLoco, Latino heat, Easy , Irish Drifter, or even the legendary Dacey. Even Berk probably has a Following.

Lee

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

The last time I visited Jaco I had decided to stay at one of those Hostels. I chose the hostel del hahn on Bohia. I emailed them and ask them about their overnight guest policy, they replied it was an extra 5 bucks. Private room, no a/c , no tv, decent shower and fan, clean, 2 minutes to the beach, 10 to the beetle bar. The commons area had satelite tv, free internet, snacks, drinks, beetr etc.. 25 bucks a night.I met many regular tourist there, 2 girls from london, a couple of Iraqi solders on their exit vacacation, califonia surfers etc.. Everybody was very friendly. I took girls from the beetle bar there every night, no problem. Each person staying there gets a key to the front gate. Most were surfing and sight seeing.

Regular tourists? You mean not eveybody comes here to disturb latin poosey?

numeral uno: anyone on this site is no where close to normal!

numeral dos: the normal ones use frommers and lonely planet and pay the tourista prices--fact--even though they make it sound like a deal--not!

numeral tres: what happened to talking about good latin pu*sy?

obtw: anyone know a good MP near La Fortuna or Arenal?

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

1) Costa Ricans think the tourist "outfit" (shorts, Costa Rica t-shirt, fanny pack, backpack, sports sandals, sunburn) is hilarious and it's a surefire way to get charged extra for almost anything.

2) Almost all the hotels in tourist areas listed in guidebooks are more expensive than the places you can find by just showing up to some place, like the beach, and asking around for cabinas. Many beach people rent rooms super-cheap, some with food and laundry included. It's not for everyone though. Also, high season may leave you screwed if you have no reservations.

3) The beaches are great, but if it's not raining you should also check out some of the hills and mountains bordering the Central Valley. I live on one, and the views and walks are incredible. It's like being in some magical, semi-tropical, rural Europe.