The country is a tourist mecca, so just about everywhere you go there's activities lined up for tourists, from the thrill-seeking to the more mundane. But there's no denying the natural beauty, weather, and quality of the food here, consider this: Here you can actually drink the tap water, and it tastes great! The cost however, comes with increasingly steep prices.
San Jose
Tin Jo - A classy Thai/Indian/Chinese/Japanese/Vegetarian restuarant, a little steep but quite cheap compared to equivalents back home. I sat at large tables, twice, and everyone raved about their dishes. Service is excellent, and if it's not your birthday, tell them it is for the cake and staff singalong. Highly recommended if you feel like blowing $15 - 20 a head. T: 221.7605. Calle 11, Ave 6 y 8. Might want to reserve a spot, it gets busy.
Cafe Mundo - Another classy option that feels like fine dining at mid-level prices. Popular with tourists and well-to-do, the garden setting is perfect for hot tropical romantic nights!. T: 222.6190. Ave 9 C15.
Pizzeria Akropolis - Val's secret pizza joint, cheap cheap, small, good, and always busy. Up the road from the Versuvius Hotel, across the railtracks.
La Fortuna
Don Rufino's - One of the town's better establishments, memorable for the good cheap Chilean house wine, a night of Texas Hold'Em, sizzling steak and delicious appies.
Lava Rocks - You gotta try the banana-espresso milkshake, and the portions are enormous (I did the schnitzel and still wonder how on earth they found a chicken big enough for that plate!
Monteverde/St Elena
Restuarante El Marquez Internacional - It was getting late, and then there was power failure. So we walked down the hill into town this fish house was serving by candlelight. The fish kebab was great, but then again, everything tastes great with Costa Rica's Lizano Salsa - available everywhere, and sort of a mixture between Worcestershire Sauce and Curry Hot Sauce.
Playa de Carmen (Malpais/Santa Theresa)
The Argentinean Chicken Joint - "Try our chicken - it's the shit!" read the board outside, and it is. Outstanding flame grilled chicken, good value, often packed (on one night, they ran out of birds!). Typical Argentine flair, and the chilli sauce with the pollo is legendary. On the strip, before the river, which is the closest landmark I can give you!
Buena Luna - A taste of Israel, especially the humus, which is excellent. Order the chicken pita because when you get the chicken plate, you're just going to stuff it into the pita anyway. Also close to the dip in the road when it crosses the river.
The ceviche from the Ice Cream Shop - Here's a hot tip from Elizabeth, and she's right on the money. At the ice cream shop next to the supermarket by Frank's Place, they make fresh ceviche every day, dished in cups from a tub in the fridge. It's the best I had in Costa Rica, and the cheapest too!
Playa del Carmen (Malpais/Santa Theresa)
Tranquilo - The kind of hostel where you arrive for a few days, and stay until your money runs out. It's a surfers paradise, and Tranquilo is full of beautiful people, usually wearing swimming shorts and bikinis 24/7. Pretty new, the hostel has free internet, great hammocks, DVD's, free pancakes, and toilets that actually flush with the paper! Even if you don't surf, you can just lose your days drinking rum from the supermarket next door.
Pangea - Bustling hostel with a swimming pool, lockers, 20 free internet terminals, great budget restaurant, and excellent vibe. Not far from the Coca Cola Bus Station, it's clean, safe and secure, central, and can arrange airport shuttles.
La Fortuna
Desafio Adventures - Suresh and Christina have a pro operation that specializes in fun. ATV, River Rafting, Volcano Viewing, but best of all is the canyoneering. Good people offering good times all round. Desafio means "challenge", by the way. W: www.desafiocostarica.com. T: 479.9464. Office is a block from the main square.
Baldi Termae - A warm night, a cold beer, a dozen thermal pools full of half naked people on holiday - the potential is there for all sorts of fun. A bit pricey (about $US20)_, but this is the cheap option compared the another joint up the road. If you arrive early, maybe a little sloshed, you can't go wrong feeling like a Roman emperor on his way to an orgy.
Monteverde/St Elena
Sky Trek and Sky Walk - Ziplining has become huge in Costa Rica, but this is probably the best, through cloud forest, along lines up to 770m long and over 100m high. The bundle package includes a canopy walk over 2.5 km of suspension bridges and trails through the jungle. If its raining, which it seems to do alot in a cloud forest, raincoats are provided. Total fun all round, heavy winds or not. Night Walks, excellent horse riding in the surrounding area and froggy fun at the Frog Pond can all be booked with Janet at the local Desafio office in town.
