"Despite the title, the book is not all rafting, rappelling and rainforests. A full 117 pages of the 386-page volume are introductory and background material covering history, culture, nature and, of course, all the nuts-and-bolts travel essentials. Useful, descriptive listings of hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and, true to the title, adventure-travel options fill the remaining two-thirds of the guide. But if your adventure tastes lean toward shopping in the artisan town of Sarchí rather than scaling Chirripo you'll find recommendations too. Peppered throughout the text are quotes from literature, music and popular sayings, from everyone from Gilbert and Sullivan to Martin Luther King and The Beach Boys. All fit the text, and you'll be excused from breaking away from the travel information and thumbing through to see who the Conords will quote next. The book recommends locking your passport in your hotel safe and, when you go out, carrying a photocopy that you've made before you leave home. That advice generates much debate in travel circles, a question of balancing authorities' insistence on seeing the original document with the risk of losing it. In any case, a copy made before departure without that all-important entry stamp into the country would never suffice. But these matters are small and forgivable in a guide packed with such solid information." — Tico Times   "I am here in Costa Rica in an internet cafe and had to take the time to tell everyone what a good book this is. It really gave us everything we needed to plan our trip and now that we are here, we use it to find just about everything. If you have not visited Costa Rica yet, get a copy of this book and come on down — it is fabulous. PURA VIDA!" — Ramon Vallarino   "My husband and I just spent our honeymoon in Costa Rica and believe it or not, found this Adventure Guide to be the best resource for exciting things to do and see. It was also accurate for finding hotels that had that little bit of extra ambiance we wanted for romance. We had used Lonely Planet guidebooks on other trips but found this guidebook to be much better. It's easy to use, has lovely photographs, and for rainy nights it made good armchair reading. I heartily recommend the Adventure Guide for a wonderful vacation in Costa Rica." — Amazon customer   "My fiancee and I went to Costa Rica and wanted to get away from everything. This book led us to Uvita de Osa (not even mentioned in other books). This book gave us great local information and helped us plan our vacation form start to finish. Hint: If you are travelling cheap and want a hand getting started in Costa Rica, call John at Safe Passage (costaricabustickets.com). You won't regret it!" — Eric B. Wolf   Written by the authors of our award-winning Yucatan Adventure Guide, this book offers comprehensive coverage of Costa Rica and its people. Travel to the major national parks and preserves; hike in rain forests. Explore the country's vibrant history, culture and wildlife. Firsthand advice on travel in the country's various environments — mountain, jungle, beach, city. Plant and animal life, archeology, history, attractions on and off the regular tourist path. Staggering detail. Lively text and plenty of interesting art. Over 40 maps.