Explore Costa Rica, 5th Edition

Harry S. Pariser
Manatee Press (2007)
ISBN 9781893643550
Reviewed by Kelley Anderson for Reader Views (4/07)


“Explore Costa Rica” is a well-written, in-depth guide to visiting Costa Rica. The introduction gives a comprehensive overview of the land, climate, vegetation, animal and social life of Costa Rica. It presents this varied country’s past and present, reflecting on how the history of the country affects the travel and culture today.

Everything you could want to know about Costa Rica is in the book. From money conversion to places to stay, this is an excellent guide to plan your travels. The book breaks down the country into six distinctive areas and presents the unique travel experiences in detail. It is also full of maps, pictures and suggestions from the author, who is obviously very well versed in Costa Rica, both travel and lifestyle.

The writing is simple and expressive. I had never thought to travel to Costa Rica, but found myself absorbed in the many possibilities for a vacation or immersing myself in the culture. Each suggestion also comes with a price guide, making it easier to plan your expenses. This includes everything from hotels, local transportation, food, entertainment and more. I have never seen such a thorough guide about any place, especially a foreign country.

“Explore Costa Rica” would be a helpful planning tool for any age traveler.  I noticed in each section headings of "Men traveling alone," "Gay and Lesbian travel" and "Traveling with children." This seems very insightful and obviously planned by the author to be useful to anyone thinking about visiting Costa Rica. Also, when considering traveling to a foreign country, I always think of two main concerns, health and hygiene and dealing with the local laws which can both be very different from living in the USA. Both of these subjects were covered to my satisfaction, making me feel confident that if I did choose to visit Costa Rica, I could navigate safely through my vacation. “Explore Costa Rica” had an extensive amount of information on the country, more than I would have thought to ask before traveling. Any traveler considering a vacation to Costa Rica should purchase a copy of this book well before booking any rooms or flights, and carry it with them on their trip.

Make comment on weblog