The New Key to Costa Rica (14th ed) (Paperback)

by Beatrice Blake (Author), Anne Becher (Author) "To understand the unique character of the Costa Rican people today, it helps to know something of their history..." (more)
Key Phrases: tico times, canopy tour, table fans, Puerto Viejo, Manuel Antonio, San Isidro (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
With a special focus on ecotourism, the authors of The New Key to Costa Rica help you discover the diversity of this colorful country's remarkable flora and fauna (from tree ferns to sloths) and learn ways you can contribute to efforts to preserve it. A well-researched sustainability rating highlights lodgings that are active in protecting an environmental, economic, and cultural balance.

The book offers complete coverage of sights, lodging, dining, and outdoor adventures, including wildlife viewing, parks and reserves, surfing, fishing, horseback riding, and diving. --Kathryn True

Review
Costa Rica's oldest guidebook remains the best, with information on ecotourism and local communities, cultural traditions and adventures. -- Martha Honey, Ph.D., Executive Director of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)

The latest edition of The New Key to Costa Rica sets the standard for environmentally and socially responsible tourism guides. -- Andy Drumm, Director, Ecotourism Program, The Nature Conservancy

This guide places envirnomental conservation, biodiversity and responsible tourism in the spotlight with practical tips for the travler. Highly recommended. -- Ron Mader, host of planeta.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 500 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Pr; 14th edition (November 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569751463
• ISBN-13: 978-1569751466
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,607,786 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST HAVE for travel to Costa Rica!, August 28, 2005

By	Robster (Miami FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Key to Costa Rica, 17th Edition (Paperback)

This book is amazing! I am from San Diego and we flew into San Jose for a two-week vacation. We had very little planned. We knew we were going to rent a car and drive the entire west coast. I read parts of this book prior to our travel and I was by far the most prepared. I brought most of what she recommended and was very happy I did. Honestly, this book made my trip memorable. A lot of this information is hard to find once you are there. It has detailed descriptions of every place (big, small, popular, hidden, etc). Costa Rica holds a special place in my heart because of this book. I learned so much from it! I learned about the culture, environment, and people. My travel buddies were a little apprehensive about relying on a book. But soon, they were demanding to know what it said! Blake includes information about restaurants, hotels, cabinas, etc. Most of the time she even includes information about the owners of such places! Furthermore, her information about safety is impeccable. Pay attention to her view of a town and the beaches. If she says it has a lot of crime, you can bet it does. If she says it gets rowdy at night (Pavones), it does. If she says don't miss this, don't miss it. Her information was always right on. It is incredible! Please do yourself a favor and take this book with you to Costa Rica, your trip will be the BEST because of it!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great EcoTourism guide, January 12, 2000

By A Customer

Great Family guide. We traveled and volunteered for six weeks with a 12 and 14 year old, and found the book invaluable. Everything was accurate and helped use get around on a limited budget. Bus schedules and directions were great. Since we got back, we have compared it to several other books for places we stayed, no other book compared. It has great reviews of the national parks and the country Map includes the National Parks.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST TRAVEL BOOK, April 13, 2000

By	Patricia Bliss (Escazu, Costa Rica) - See all my reviews

As a president and founder of the Bed and Breakfast Asoociation and Central Reservation System for B & B's in Costa Rica for the past 10 years, I highly recommend "The New Key to Costa Rica". The information provided is invaluable. Both of the authors have lived and travelled extensively for over 14 years in Costa Rica. Readers couldn't possibly find a better updated travel book written, by the book's authors who have experienced and continue to travel this wonderful country first hand.