Nov 11, 04
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BRING IT ON!!! sharks are pretty, and spiders like the bottom of my shoe!  i'm going to watch turtles do their thing! woot! 
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Nov 11, 04
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All I can say is enjoy... I spent 4 four months there 8 years ago and went back last year for a 6 week stay.. Lots has changed in that time,, but this place is paradise you just have to go look for it. Adios
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Nov 11, 04
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I lived there for two years, came back in March 2003. What do you want to know?
First tip: get the hell out of San Jose. The rest of the country is beautiful, and the people are friendly and cool - but San Jose is *not* a vacation destination. Trust me. Lived there.
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Nov 11, 04
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Lucky bum!
I also lived there for 6 months....it's a truely amazing country with the most beautiful country side and beaches, down to earth people, and so much to do! I think one of the most exciting things I did there was ride the canopy's - like wow! You fly through the trees like Tarzan attached to a zip line, so cool! There are many of them throughout Costa Rica. I would suggest going to Tortuga Island, it's just breathtaking. I also went scuba diving in Tamarindo, which was like nothing I've ever done in my life. River rafting there is awesome too! So much fun! I want to go back so badly not only for country, but also for the incredible friends I made when I was there. And yes, I am soooooo jealous :silly:
Where are you going and for how long?!
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Nov 11, 04
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My friend went down there and said its awesome, very cheap, lotsa drinking but he saw a shark in the water and never went in again lol... don't try the coke he said he almost had a heartattack it was so good! Make sure u go surfing though!
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Nov 11, 04
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I'm going there in soon!
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Nov 11, 04
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The weed looks like poop and tastes like ammonia aparently, lucky for me I don't smoke it! And yes the coke is cheap and very high quality according to some guy who was down there with us from Van, unlucky for him he got very addicted :(
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Nov 11, 04
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i'm going sometime in the earlier part of december. right now it looks like i might just stay there for christmas cause that would give me the cheapest tickets.
i'll be staying with a friend in tamarindo, but i'm hoping to do a lil backpacking round on my own. do you think it's safe for a girl alone? hitchhiking? would you suggest wearing long sleeve shirts and pants for the mosquitoes? are tank tops and short skirts that inappropriate? i can't get a ticket from van to san jose with my airmiles, so i think i'm going to fly to either toronto or houston then to san jose, or preferably liberia. how did you guys get out there? what do you think is the best route? what other cities should i check out? i want to do a lil hiking, see some colorful animals, learn to surf...any suggestions?
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Nov 11, 04
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I don't think you should hitchhike alone, no. But it's easy to take the bus around the country. I didn't get one single mosquito bite and it would be too hot most of the time in most area's to wear long sleeve shirts and pants, so shorts and t-shirts or tank tops is just fine.
I flew from here to houston to san jose - I think that's the cheapest way to fly. My bf went through Toronto, cuba and a couple other places and it was quite expensive. Since you will be in Tamarindo, definately check out Montezuma and Jaco (where I went horse back riding through the mountains and it has great surfing waves for beginners). And for sure if you can take a catameran to Isla Tortuga (from Puntarenus) - you won't regret it. I don't know a whole lot about many of the beaches along the coast there - but do your research for the best beaches for swimming etcetc. And about the culture of the cities/towns. You will have an amazing time no matter where you go. How long will you be there for?
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Nov 11, 04
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I saw something on TV about the Cloud Forest. That alone made me want to go.
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Nov 11, 04
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You'd do well to head to Jaco - that's pretty much the city with the biggest non-sketchy gringo population; lots of backpackers and travellers. Stay the night in one of the hostels, and you're bound to meet interesting people with similar backpacking ideas. Hook up with a few - it's reasonably safe in CR (everywhere except San Jose, that is), but it's aaaaaaalways better to travel in groups, especially since you're female. I don't know if what Mystique says (CR has the most sharks in the world) is true or not, but what I can tell you is this: I've been snorkling 10' away from a large white-tip shark, and it didn't want anything to do with me. There may be more sharks, but that's not what you want to look at - there's waaaaaay more shark *attacks* off the coast of Australia and southeast Asia. Also (this may be reassuring, or maybe not) - I understand that the *vast* majority of shark "attacks" in Central/South America are the shark taking a nip, deciding you're not what it thought you were, and beating a hasty retreat. Mind you, that nip could need a bunch of stitches, but hey, awesome scar! Puntarenas is beautiful, but by far my favourite place in CR has to be Montezuma (pronounce the "z" as an "s" if you want to sound local). For Valentines' Day 2003, Erin and I went there, then rented a quad and rode up over the mountain, about 8 km's over to Mal Pais, which is IMHO the most beautiful beach ever. Tamarindo is awesome. You'll love it there. Another awesome place on that coast is Manuel Antonio, which is a huge nature preserve full of amazing wildlife. The carribean coast has a *completely* different culture - try to head for Puerto Viejo if you can. It's a long drive, but worth it (not *that* long anyway, it only takes about 5h to drive across from the Atlantic to the Pacific, tho much longer on a bus!). Erin is a photo nut, so there's a *lot* of pics of our time in CR on her website... the photos are organized by year, then by... well, by camerafull. Check them out: http://reelgeek.com/photography/photos_2001.html http://reelgeek.com/photography/photos_2002.html http://reelgeek.com/photography/photos_2003.html (mouseover the thumbnails for a description of each collection) Feel free to ask any questions, I'll try to answer.
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Nov 11, 04
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i'm hoping to stay for 7+ days. i'd stay longer, but i don't think i'll have much money. i'll probably do that flight out to houston, or maybe atlanta, and then too liberia!
i really want to check out Jaco, sounds neat! what are the bus systems like? i've googled stuff up, but it keeps going to private charter lines and rent a cars. i can't find anything on their public transit. i thought gray line was their public bus line?!?! do you have to buy tickets beforehand on most routes? my main concern is getting from liberia to tamarindo. i heard it's an hour drive, is it worth taking a cab? would i have to go to san jose then transfer to tamarindo? is coca cola terminal really that dangerous? should i leave my short skirts at home? hahah i'm goign to be a mess the week before i leave! this is my first trip on my own :/ thanks you for the help btw!
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Nov 11, 04
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The busses are basically old busses from North America - usually in terrible shape, but it's very rare to hear about a bus accident. Quote:
Is someone meeting you at the airport? If not, expect to be accosted by cabbies when you arrive, all claiming to be the right one to take and trying to carry your luggage for you. Likely there'll be a guy in uniform and an actual taxi stand - the 'official' airport cabs are usually newish and bright orange (at least at San Jose airport), regular taxis are red. Quote:
After travelling for hours by bus, you're prolly not going to look that great in a short skirt anyway. ;) Opt for comfortable pants and hiking shoes or sandals. Quote:
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Nov 11, 04
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oh and 1 weird thing my friend found was that girls down there are way different from up here...... u'll notice they aint shy... my friend said girls easily approached him and said he was sexy and all this other shit........ there were more asertive than men here......... The girl he went down with even got compliments from the girls.......... they are very outgoing people he said...... he loved it...
enjoy, look your best :)
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Nov 11, 04
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^ uhh i think those were hookers
so my sister doesn't want me going. she's scared i'm goign to get kidnapped because i'll be by myself and i don't know spanish. should i be scared and should i think this over? Last edited by Kelster; Nov 11, 04 at 03:00 PM.
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Nov 11, 04
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IMHO, you're in more danger in downtown Vancouver at night. It'd be very wise to pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet guide to CR, or one of the similar ones - they tell you everything you need to know, up to and including emergency spanish phrases. There's a pocket-sized version, iirc.
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Nov 12, 04
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i know nothing about costa rica..
'cept that im uber jealous that youre going! ;)
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Nov 12, 04
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I cant tell you anything about costa rica...
But I can tell you lots about 3rd world travel. I have a book taht gives out excelent information and tips. Even has a chapter jsut for the single femal traveler :D My advise, If your looking for a cultural experince travel on your own and "when in rome do as the roman's do" Try their food and try to learn some of the language. Dont get cought up in all the bad stuff you hear. I think anywhere you go youll run into bad a bad person and other places usualy have alot of the same promblems we do. Just be wearing and ask losts of questions as you usualy run into good ppl as well who are willign to help you out. You have a good head on yoru shoulders Kelly, just dont let your guard down to quick. Anyways my other advise is stay ther as long as you can... more will come out from one day there then a month back home. Also check out lonlyplanet.com ... they will give you an awsome out line of any country/coty :D Last edited by Ree Fresh; Nov 12, 04 at 08:13 AM.
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