Costa Rica's National Parks and Preserves: A Visitor's Guide, Second Edition (Paperback)

~ (Author), Joseph Dimijian (Photographer) "Travel in the tropics, particularly in the backcountry, presents some challenges that may be unfamiliar to a traveler from more temperate climes..." (more)
Key Phrases: hiking time, short side trail, montane rain forest, Costa Rica, San José, March Transportation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Unspoiled beaches, tropical jungles, volcanic mountains, exotic wildlife-Costa Rica's natural areas and preserves offer remarkable geographical and biological diversity for adventure-loving travelers. With complete profiles of forty accessible parks and preserves, including five newly protected areas, this book guides visitors through the unique terrain, and discusses each area's climate, flora, and fauna. Whether you are a hiker seeking a panoramic view from a volcanic summit, a kayaker longing to glide downriver under a jungle canopy, or a naturalist eager to observe an incredible array of exotic wildlife, this guide is the key to exploring Costa Rica's best natural areas with an emphasis on environmental awareness.

Explorers will find descriptions of hikes, nature walks, and water trails, plus information on each park's facilities, attractions, and history. Hikes range from short walks to extended backpacking trips, and a complete planning section details when to go, what to expect, what to bring, and health precautions.

From the Publisher

The new, second edition of this book includes five new national parks and preserves, plus updated and expanded descriptions of all 40 of Costa Rica's protected areas. Featuring new maps and photos, and new information on government agencies, park fees, and transportation.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books; 2 edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898865603
• ISBN-13: 978-0898865608
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #778,359 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for nature lovers, October 13, 2000

By	Ron Mader "Planeta.com Founder" (Mexico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

(From Planeta Journal) - One of the first guidebooks to focus on the parks and preserves, this book is now in its second edition. It's an invaluable resource for visitors who'd like to get to know Costa Rica's lesser known parks and includes trail directions, dozens of hikes and descriptions of local flora and fauna. The new, second edition of this book includes five new national parks and preserves, plus updated and expanded descriptions of all 40 of Costa Rica's protected areas.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good supplement to travel guides, August 31, 2004

By	Simone (Tome, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This book is great for what it is. It's much better than most travel guides for specific park info. It includes maps of trails, information on getting to the parks, whether the park itself has accomodations available, and wildlife/ecosystem information for each park.

DO NOT use this as your only guide. There is no info on accomodations or restaurants in the area. Also, some of the best places to go in Costa Rica are private reserves, rather than national parks.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for the nature-conscious traveler, November 2, 2002

By A Customer

Contrary to the last review, we found this book to be extremely useful, and it contained background information and useful maps (such as the area around Sirena ranger station in Corcovado) not contained in other more general guidebooks. Also, there is a considerable amount of natural history information that was not contained in the other books that we had with us, such as the Lonely Planet guide.