Book Description

Stroll through pristine cloud forests and peer into simmering volcanoes, catch the perfect turquoise wave and howl back at howler monkeys, gaze at the waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific from the top of Mt Chirripo - Costa Rica is an adventurer's dream.Packed with expert advice on making the most of your trip, our authoritative guide will help you discover your own paradise in the land of pura vida.

• GET WILD - our full-color wildlife guide gets you in touch with the swingers, the swimmers and the slitherers • GO NATURAL - an expert ecologist gives you the scoop on Costa Rica's stunning national parks in our environment chapter • TAKE IT OUTSIDE - our adventure travel chapter has you covered, from hiking and surfing to rafting and kayaking • GET AROUND - 77 user-friendly maps, more than any other guidebook to Costa Rica • REST EASY - from treehouse hammocks to luxury ecolodges, accommodations to please every style and budget ... Read more

Book Description

The most comprensive guide for surfers traveling to Costa Rica. Details over 70 breaks on both coasts and over 100 hotels nearest the breaks. Includes a helpful tips section including what to pack and how to pack surfboards. Many maps and helpful driving directions. A down-and-dirty backpack ready guide. If Indiana Jones surfed, this would be his guide to this most perfect of surf destinations. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

If you surf, don't even stop to think about it...just buy it
It's nearly impossible to put a price on the value of the information in this book if you surf. So at $21, it's an absolute steal.

The book is simply crammed with detailed, up to date information on where to surf, stay and eat in Costa Rica. And in a country that's tough to get around, Parise's information can save you tons of wasted travel time.

I can't recommend this book enough if you're planning a trip to Costa Rica to surf. Trust me...you'll be thankful to have this incredibly informational resource in your possession.

indispensable for the serious tico surf traveller!
it is written in common parlance, and therefore it is easy to understand. I can tell when reading this that the author speaks from experience. he mentions many things to avoid, and important handy tips that will make your surfing stay much more enjoyable. he also realizes the importance of getting as much "surf time" as possible by delineating routes that will minimize the time driving, and maximize time in the tube.
also it is written in a lighthearted fashion that reminds you that you are on a surf trip, and helps you forget the stresses of being in completely different country.
on the downside, there are a few comments in this book that are not the most considerate. for example, this book somehow assumes that the reader is a man and tackles the subjects of jock itch, balls (testicles), and lugging your girlfriend/wife around. a female friend who surfs found this aspect a tad inconsiderate. however, these trespasses are a mere annoyance, which does not discredit this from being an overall very good book.

Awesome book a must for costa rica
My hat goes off for Mike Parise, job well done. A super book for anyone wanting to ride waves. a lot of other great information as well about being able to survive in a different culture. Made my trip much more enjoyable and was a book that I picked up the first day in Costa Rica at a surf shop. Great work period.

Worth its weight in gold if you're surfing CR
If you're planning on going down to Costa Rica to surf, the only two books you need are this one (a must have to learn about all the breaks) and the Moon Handbooks: Costa Rica by Christopher P. Baker. Forget the others. I bought them and found them useless.

Don't surf CR without it
I took this book with me to Costa Rica a couple of years ago and it was worth every penny and them some. Everything including the tips on packing, where to stay, and where to surf was good, solid, useful information. The maps were a little crude, but there are driving instructions on how to get to the breaks. (To be fair, the author does not claim that this is a map book and recommends a company that specializes in road maps.) The book focuses on those issues and needs from the perspective of a traveling surfer, nothing in here about kayaking or bird watching. There are several charts, organized by location, showing dozens of places to stay with information about prices and amenities. Like most surfers, I don't like to commit to a place and time weeks in advance, so it really helps to have a handy reference to local lodging (especially in a foreign country). Given how hard it is to describe how a spot will break at all times on all tides, the description of the surf breaks was generally accurate (at least on the dozen or so spots I did visit). If you're traveling to Costa Rica to surf, take this book. ... Read more

Book Description

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Reviews (4)

A Huge Help!
Read the book, visited the country and plan to move there soon. While in Panama I found everything I read in the book to be true. I consider this guide to be an excellent buy. Thank you Mr. Howard for writng such a great guide.

Ok info, bad presentation
Although the content of this book was somewhat helpful, I could hardly get past the typos. It looks as though the rough draft might have been mistakenly published. Also, several of the websites listed were not available. There is some advertising in the book here and there and some of those businesses are also not accesible via the internet. For the price of the book, I felt it to be poorly put together and would not recommend spending the money.

A] Great Help!
Buy this guide if you want to live or invest here. I did and it changed my life. It has virtually everything you need to know about making the move. This book made it easy.

It's About Time Someone Wrote a Book Like This for Panama
Similar books have been written about neighboring countries but this is the first long-awaited guide on the subject. Mr. Howard's handy book is a valuable tool for anyone considering living, retiring or investing in Panama. It provides a tremendous amount of information on virtually every aspect of living in Panama and is very easy to read. It allows you to understand all the nuances of the country and truly see what living there is like. Anyone who reads this book should have more knowledge that many current residents. I've been here 7 years and have learned a few new things I didn't know. I won't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants to move here. The book is a logical first step to making the move. I would like to meet Mr. Howard to congratulate him on this masterpiece. I shouldn't expect less from Mr. Howard since he has worked for National Geographic, has lived in Central America for over 20 years and authored 5 other bestselling guidebooks about the area. I have read all of his other books and consider this one the best first edition of any of the guides he has written. ... Read more

Book Description

In Costa Rica, it's impossible not to get caught up in the feeling of Pura Vida, 'pure life'. So whether selecting from the huge range of traditional dishes, dancing the merenge at a fiesta, or cheering a toro brava, 'fighting bull', this book will help you get into the swing.

• join in the crowd at a rodeo, street festival or salsa club
• loads of cultural & traveling tips, whether you go by bus, scooter or donkey
• sections on diving, hiking and surfing
• includes Lim n Creole, the language of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast
• music, food, shopping, art & more

Reviews (15)

Travel more intelligently with this phrasebook
I was extremely pleased to see that Lonely Planet came out with a phrasebook specific to Costa Rica. Prior to this, they (and most other guidebook companies) had only general Latin American Spanish phrasebooks. This was silly as Spanish varies considerably from country to country in Latin America. The author, Mr. Kohnstamm, does an amazing job of including the nuances of the Costa Rican dialect while offering interesting cultural insight and traveling tips. This book is perhaps a little over the head of your average tour group or package tourist. However, for those who see travel as a way or life and as an art form, this is an indispensible text. Costa Rica is a travel hot spot and sees greater numbers of foreign visitors each year. This phrasebook will help the reader to respect the local culture and conduct themselves in an efficient, responsible manner while traveling in Costa Rica. I highly recommend this phrasebook to anyone plannning to live, study or take an extended trip to Costa Rica.

in defense of criticisms
I am the author of this phrasebook and would like to respond to recent criticisms on the content of the book. Please excuse my star rating of my own text, but ... will not let you post a review without a rating. I would like to make 3 basic points.

1. This is a phrasebook for travellers, it is not the official Costa Rican Colloquial Dictionary, nor a list of idiomatic expressions. It was written to help travellers to conduct themselves in Costa Rica, not to determine every aspect of the Costa Rican dialect. Many of the more esoteric expressions that were originally included in the book were cut in order to appeal to Lonely Planet's market. Once again, this was not intended to be a dictionary for Ticos.

2. There was consultation and editorial assistance by a bilingual Costa Rican throughout the entire writing process. He is credited in the acknowledgements. Although I am not a native speaker, my experience in different parts of Latin America enables be to determine regional differences in the language.

3. This is a unique book, unlike other phrasebooks on Latin American Spanish. Perhaps if Mr. Mora were not Costa Rican, he would have the perspective to see how the Spanish in the book differs from the Spanish of other parts of Latin America and other phrasebooks. He is taking many of the vocabulary and grammar nuances for granted.

This is a phrasebook to help travellers to communicate and conduct themselves specifically in Costa Rica. If that is what you want, this book will help you in ways that other phrasebooks cannot. Thank you, Thomas

Dialogue & Dialects
This little phrasebook is invaluable because Costa Rican Spanish is dialectical! Another book I found that spoke to Costa Rica's idiosyncracies was "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," sort of a hybrid of a coffee-table book, a social/ politcial discussion and a geological history of the country in a series of essays and sidebars. It truly does lives up to it's scope of topics. Aside from geology and social history, it covers the political and economic history of the country and emphasizes its liberal reformist tradition as exceptional in Central America.A series of essays by the two authors A good read, especially while one is traveling because the 2-30 page segments stand on their own.

Buy a good bilingual dictionary instead
As a professor of Spanish I was hoping to find a good phrasebook on Costa Rican Spanish for a group of students that will be studying in San Jose next summer. I have always used Lonely Planet's guides when travelling abroad. However, I was very disappointed with this phrasebook. Beginning with the explanation of pronunciation, which is basically a guide to pronouncing Spanish with a strong American accent, the book is full of elementary mistakes regarding grammar, vocabulary and phonetics. For example, the "o" in Spanish is never pronounced as the "o" in "hot". There are similar mistakes throughout the pronunciation section. Perhaps one of the most important facts about Costa Rican Spanish is the complete absence of the subject pronoun "tu" (you) and its accompanying verb conjugations, as is the case in most of Central America, Argentina and many regions throughout Latin America. All Costa Ricans either use the more formal "usted" or the less formal "vos". You will never hear "tu tienes" (you have) in Costa Rica but rather "vos tenes". But this phrasebook claims that the "vos" forms are less common than "tu", when in fact the later doesn't even exist there. There are many more mistakes in the explanation of grammar, the subjunctive, "ser" and "estar", and others. The rest of the book is a series of phrases with the English translation. You would assume that Lonely Planet would have the resources to provide better material for travelers.

Don't leave home without it
This book was immensely helpful when myself and two other girls traveled to Costa Rica for a week and a half. You don't need to speak spanish in Costa Rica, but it's much more fun when you can immerse yourself in their culture. And the Costa Rican people are so nice and more than willing to help you learn. This phrase book was great and had all phrases under the sun that you might need. We used mine so much the binding has fallen apart. This thing went everywhere, the pool, horseback riding, whitewater rafting... and survived. The two-way dictionary was great when shopping in small markets where no english was spoken. It's very organized too. I highly recommend this book when you go to Costa Rica. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

perfect pocket knowledge!
You gotta have this little book of wildlife treasures on hand, because you will see most of these creatures if your visit is at least a week!

Another book I read before my visit was "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," one of the most imaginative travel-writing efforts I have read lately. Like an anthropolgical text with far too many tangents, it gathers the best and brightest attractions in Costa Rica to explore in essays the various themes of the country. This means that the selections are as diverse and strange as the points-of-view they represent. Standouts include "House Made of Rain" about a day in the rainforest, "Why No Empire?" explaining why the Spanish Invasion apparently skipped Costa Rica, and "Women Under Tico Paternalism." ... Read more

Book Description

Imagine yourself living in Costa Rica. You stroll home past lush vegetation after a long day of surfing. You know the locals and speak Spanish with ease. You show visiting friends around with the confidence of one who belongs. Author Erin Van Rheenen shows you how to make your dream take shape. She left her life as a guidebook editor in the San Francisco Bay Area to make a home abroad in Costa Rica. While some give up-daunted by the financial, bureaucratic, and decision-making issues that accompany a move so extraordinary-you'll be led step-by-step through the information you need on visas, money, jobs, housing, safety, language, culture, and history. Erin has done the research and made the mistakes-so you don't have to. There's a place that matches your budget, needs, and dreams: perhaps it's an impressive new condominium in the upper-class San José suburb of Escazú, a wooden house on stilts in the isolated Caribbean coast town of Tortuguero, or a mountain retreat with a view of the Arenal Volcano. You can make it happen. With Living Abroad in Costa Rica, it's easier than you think. ... Read more

Book Description

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Costa Rica features gorgeous color photos of the lush rain forest, the amazing array of wildlife, and the spectacular beaches that await you. Personally researched by a longtime resident, it's the only truly up-to-date guide that gives you such in-depth coverage of this fast-changing country, with recommended accommodations in every price category. You'll visit rugged wilderness preserves and sleepy beach towns, spectacular orchid gardens and mineral hot springs at the foot of a steaming volcano. There are adventures here to suit all ages and abilities: swooping from treetop platform to treetop platform on a canopy tour, taking a dip in a jungle swimming hole, spotting playful spider monkeys as you hike through lush foliage, windsurfing on Lake Arenal, or watching endangered sea turtles nest on the beach. With Frommer's in hand, you'll experience the wonder of Costa Rica's amazing biodiversity, as we point out the best places to see hundreds of unique, colorful species of animals and plants. You'll even get a color fold-out map! ... Read more

Book Description

Since its creation in 1973, the award-winning Moon Handbooks series has become a top choice among travelers who want a completely unique experience, a new perspective -- and a few new stories to tell. Want to know about your destination's history, culture, and social issues? Looking for the lowdown on recreational opportunities, dining and accommodations options, and the most interesting regional sights and entertainment? No problem. Big or small, mainstream or obscure, every worthwhile detail is included in these books. Moon Handbooks: Nicaragua features an insider's perspective of the natural beauty and compelling history, including the impact of the Civil War and Hurricane Mitch. It provides cutting edge information on the rapidly expanding new economy and tourist industry and highlights the country's vast system of national parks, reserves, and refuges. In addition to color photos, illustrations and maps, this comprehensive guide shares advice on how to understand and interact with the Nicaraguan people. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

finally a travel guide, from people who know Nicaragua
This by far is the best Nicaraguan travel guide on the market. It puts the Lonely Planet (Central America on a Shoe String) to shame. I lived in Nicaragua for almost 3 years, and I know these guys have done their research. To know about most of the places they mention in the book, they would have had to them in person, because most of them are not tourist destinations, they are true Nicaraguan secrects. This book is not like most of guide books I've read (lonely planet). Where the authors just ask a few people for some names of places they liked then without even visiting them there selves write about how great they are. These guys got it all right, every little hot spot for food, lodging, hiking, and not to mention the night life.

If you are looking for something different in life, some adventure, a story to tell all of your buddies back home. Check out Nicaragua, you wont regret it and I promise you that this book will not only give you a better understanding of the history and culture of Nicaragua, but it will also insure that your adventure is both exciting and rewarding.

Thanks Randy and Joshue, for the great Book

Not Just Another Travel Guide
I have been a great fan of Moon Handbooks and my family and I use them when we are able to in plannning our travels. This book is very readable and informative. We are planning a trip to Nicaragua and will write a follow up after our trip, but now we have the incentive and information to go to spots we would have never thought of and in fact never knew existed. The book seems to impart a comprehensive amount of "local" knowledge, which is not strange given the background of the authors. The picures and maps are helpful and entertaining. The amount of detail as well range of information is extensive, especially compared to the few other current resources available on Nicaragua. I rank this book as one of Moon's best efforts to date and we look foward to our trip.

Best guidebook ever
This is not only the best guidebook for Nicaragua, this is the best guidebook, bar none, of any I have ever read for any location on the planet(and I've read lots). Berman and Wood have not only done their homework about where to go, they've included well-written segments on regional history, geography, culture, language, people-watching, environmental concerns, infrastructure availability, volunteer opportunities in addition to very well documented sources with contact information when appropriate. I have never read a guidebook with such complete information (and clearly-understood, clever writing) until this one. Even if you don't plan on travelling to Nicaragua, this book is highly recommended reading.

If you really want to see Nicaragua, this is your book
Until this book came along, solid guidebook options on Nicaragua were limited at best. You've basically got three choices: Lonely Planet Central America, Moon Handbooks Nicaragua, and the Footprints guide. For anyone planning on staying more than a few days in Nicaragua, there is no question that this book will enhance your trip significantly. I recently spent three months travelling through Nicaragua and ended up ditching the other two guides b/c they lacked up to date material and were severely limited and outdated in their descriptions of where to stay, eat, and visit (basically the things that you really need to know). For those of you looking for a more local experience, or at least a way to get off the beaten path, this book will be a lifesaver. It is clear that these guys have lived in Nicaragua for a decent chunk of time. I'm tired of bashing on the other guidebooks, but there are many parts of the country that the other books fail to cover in any relevant detail or even mention at times.

As far as writing style goes, these guys are actually hilarious. I'm not looking for comedy in a guidebook (just solid info which they've provided in full), but it's a bonus to find a book which provides what you need and presents it in a way that's intelligent and amusing. Their list of fiestas patronales is a must have for those who have the time to stick around the country and check them out. I would also suggest picking up a copy of Waves (a free magazine published in Nicaragua for tourists) for more on what is going on in Nicaragua during a specific month. There's no question that Nicaragua has some amazing sites and incredibly friendly people, so it's nice to finally have a guidebook that allows people to enjoy the experience more fully. If you're heading to Nicaragua, this is your book.

Phenomenal
The other reviews pretty much sum it up... I just wanted to add my support. I've travelled a fair amount and read my share of guide books. This is the best I've ever sniffed out. I'm a slow reader and I read the entire thing cover to cover in 2 days. Quite an accomplishment for me. The "intro" and "on the road" sections were super informative and really helped me better understand/appreciate the confusing situation in Nicaragua. Frankly, I'd recommend you get this book even if you aren't going to travel to Nicaragua ;) ... Read more

Book Description

On Your Own in El Salvador is the most comprehensive guidebook to El Salvador, a reference for travelers and anyone interested in the history and life of this fascinating country.Thorough and easy-to-follow guides to lodging, transportation, museums, shopping, and entertainment are couple with detailed and insightful descriptions of El Salvador's history and culture.Includes practical information a traveler might need regarding safety, visas, and vaccinations.No other publisher, including Lonely Planet, Moon, and Fodor's has a guidebook to this country. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

as good as you'll find -- but they need to update it
This is really the only comprehensive guidebook to El Salvador that is widely available. The Lonely Planet and Let's Go and other books have chapters on El Sal in their books on Central America, but none of them go into real detail. In fact, I've noticed that most of the guidebooks don't recommend going to El Salvador, or skipping it if you're short on time.

Well, you should go. There is a lot to see and do but it's important to realize that it's different from the other Latin American countries. It's maybe a little less pretty and the people are a bit more hardened from the long guerra civil. This book does a good job providing sociopolitical background and anecdotes from important periods in history. Other than that, it's your basic guidebook, going region by region in the country, detailing sights, hotels, transportation, all that stuff. There are also several pages of decent color photos.

The one problem is that the book is now nearly ten years old. While most of the things are still accurate, a lot has changed. Things like prices and bus routes especially. There are also many different sights, museums, roads and enormous Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises that did not exist when the book was published. Likewise, some things no longer exist. The only way to find out, unfortunately, is to go and discover these things for yourself.

El Sal is not the most tourist-friendly nation in the sense that the infrastructure is not really there to support a heavy flow of tourists. The people are _wonderful_, don't get me wrong (don't think for a second that it's the people's fault), but to give one example, some of the bus routes to tourist sites make absolutely no sense and can be very frustrating to navigate. This is the fault of the government. Likewise, the El Sal government tourism agency could do themselves a big favor by publishing or funding an up-to-date guide.

But this book is as good as it gets.

A Great Help for a Native Absent for 20 Years
I found this book quite helpful. I'm a native from El Salvador who had been out of the country for 20 years. I found it a good supplement to other sources of information (e.g., local phone books in El Salvador, people and friends). Although some of the directory information may be dated, most of the facts and directions still hold. It's best to cross-reference the book with a local phone book for more accuracy. Yet, the book is a great trip planning tool. It allows you to pick and chose places and things to do at a pace that not even locals can keep up. It's clear that a lot of good work went into making the book. The level of detail is beyond what any local can know all by himself (e.g., bus routes, mores, festivals, local rituals, etc.). I found the hand-drawn maps most helpful and the history/background informaiton information least helpful. Advisories should apply to all locations outside the central city or popular foreign tourist attractions. Also, the book does not address which locations are most ideal to visit depending on the small universe weather conditions, e.g., heavy rains or dry, hot to extremely hot temperatures. I recommend this book. I've found no other books as helpful as this one but feel that the book and its contents could be much improved, e.g., day-trips, sports events, local festivity schedules, shopping information, entertainment options, ground and non-ground recreational activities, specific coverage and related-activities regarding aviation, boatin, sailing, surfing, fishing, golf, lakes, rivers and bodies of water, etc. (perhaps on future editions, beyond the 2nd). I currently own both of the first two editions. They're both pretty much worn out and it's because they go with me and take me places each time I visit there. I just wish the book were more expansive and provide material for all the other sites that one encounters while going from place to place, yet this would make it too thick and heavy. Also, if you ever go to El Teleferico, please say Hi to Mr. Moon (a local cartoonist) there for me!

The Best Book On El Salvador Travel Ever!
For years I looked for a book that would cover travel to El Salvador. I have been married to a Salvadorena for 16 years and have made five trips to the country since 1991. I love El Salvador, its beauty and its wonderful people. You can't travel there without this book! Buy it today!

This book is the best
I'm Salvadoran and I'm married to a Jewish-American woman. She bought this book for us to take a tour in El Salvador. Let me tell you, this is the best guide book I've ever read. It's so easy to use and it has ALL the information about this little beautiful country that you need. I even used some of the information on my website, of course with the permission from the authors. Thank you Jeff, Julian and Veronica for making this possible.

A Good, Lively Guidebook
This is the only real English-language tour book available about El Salvador, but it's a good one (better in fact than any of the Spanish ones that are sold inside the country). I used it several times when I was living there and found it very useful, especially when traveling to small towns in the countryside. ... Read more

Book Description

This fully revised edition is packed with words and phrases to help travellers get the most out of their visit.

• a surfista in search of the best onda
• a gourmand trying the mouthwatering vatapá
• travellers after a pensão to rest
• understanding a taxi's tabela
• getting to know the locals

Reviews (6)

Excellent except for the pronunciation guide
(This is for the 3rd edition Oct. 2003) An excellent pocket guide to Brazilian Portuguese. Good use of color and illustrations rarely seen in a foreign language dictionary. Begins with important grammar points, then covers various subjects (accommodation, shopping, etc.) and concludes with English-Portuguese dictionary (& vice-versa) in the back. The entire dictionary section has a purple color tab, making it hard to find where English-Portuguese ends and Portuguese-English begins.

My only real sore point is with the pronunciation. They seem to have forgotten this isn't Spanish!! Letter 'D' changes to something between the English "DZ" and "J" sound when followed by vowels E, I, and ÃO. In Brazilian Portuguese "Pode" sounds like "POO-jay" and "cidade" like "see-DAH-jay". Yet this book has you pronouncing them as if they were Spanish words. Direct pronuncation quote: "see.daa.de" (with "daa" in italics which are hard to see--CAPS for stress would be better.)

Overall, a great book at $7.99 list--just remember the 'D' rule!!

Too grammatical
You don't want grammar in a phrase book! But this one is full of it. Nouns, adjectives, definite articles, indefinite articles, pronouns, subjects, objects, regular verbs, irregular verbs, double-stemmed verbs, you-name-it verbs. If I wanted a grammar, I would have bought one. You don't want grammar lessons in a phrase book. I find this amount of grammar in a phrase book quite out of place.

Don't buy this book!
Don't even think about trying to survive in Brasil on this book. While other LP language guides (I have used their guides to Latin American Spanish, Mongolian, and Russian) are thorough, and provide lots of conversational phrases to get you into and out of almost any key travel situation, this one is woefully lacking in any aspect. Not enough vocabularly, not enough questions, not enough areas. After three weeks in Brasil, I managed to successfully use this book twice. It's cheap but it's not worth the purchase price.

This is a Brazilian Portuguese book
As the book title says it's a Brazilian phrasebook, and for those who said that most pages have multiple errors in spelling and grammatical errors, all I can say is that it's so not true. As a Brazilian born and native Brazilian Portuguese speaker, I can guarantee that. But you must remeber that Brazilian Portuguese and Portugal Portuguese are almost two different languages, so you can't use this book to survive in Portugal.

The right perspective
As one reader put it, this book has nothing to do with Portuguese. In fact it is on Brazilian language, which is becoming a distant dialect from the latter. So if you want to learn Portuguese, avoid this book, but if you want to learn Brazilian, that is your choice. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The best guide book for Guatemala
I recently spent six weeks in Guatemala, and I was able to visit most sections of the country. Although the Rough Guide book was the only guidebook that I brought with me, I have looked through the lonely planet book quite a bit and also the guidebooks from the other travel publishers. I believe that the Rough Guide version is the best guidebook for Guatemala, hands down. I have read the book literally from cover to cover. I especially liked the commentary and general descriptions located throughout the book as well as all of the historical data in the back (which is actually a significant section of the book). Even when I was taking a chicken bus through a random section of the country I could find information any any given area or town along the way--housing, food, and cultural commentary. I've been told by others that the Lonely Planet edits out some places to see (such as Fuentes Georginas near Quetzaltenango). Rough Guide will just give you everything, even if the location is way off the beaten track.
The only complaint I would have is that the author tends to be very socio-politically biased. For example, he dismisses the Eastern Highlands as a stronghold of right-wing politics...the ladinos acting like cowboys..."violent demonstrations of macho pride are common." I suppose this is why "your best bet is to travel directly to San Salvador by pullman" (rather than visit this aweful place of conservatism). I actually liked the Eastern Highlands.

Dissapointing
While reading it at home it looked pretty complete and with good information. Once we were in Guatemala, I found that most of the places recommended were like the writer had not checked them himself or just written from what he had heard. I followed the writer's hints and checked it myself, like in some hotels I stayed. In some other cases, I found places that there were not included in the book and which should had been...
Certainly the guide is not updated at all.
Great dissapointment for such a highly rated book.

A recommended purchase for your trip to Guatemala
My wife and I went to Guatemala in May of 2002. This is the only guide book we used and we were quite happy with it. In addition to information about various things to do (content was good and accurate) this book contains a lot of great extra information in the back such as chronology of the Maya, recent political history, explanations of indigenous culture, and recommended reading lists. Wow! The listing of hotels and places to eat was on target. The book has a pretty good section on Tikal too.

The best guidebook I've used to date
I just returned yesterday from 10 days in Guatemala and Belize and found the Rough Guide invaluable. I went with 7 friends and between us we had Lonely Planet's "Central America", Lonely Planet's "Guatemala" and Fodor's "Guatemala and Belize". The 2 of us carrying Rough Guide were in the most demand and we relied on it for all our housing and most of our eating recommendations. In addition, the book begins with 33 things you must see/do in Guatemala and we hit most of them.

Housing: Finding a place to stay was not difficult, but in Guatemala the comfort can vary a lot even in the budget range. We were able to find clean, comfortable and affordable accomodations at all of our stops. I highly recommend the Hotel Santa Clara in Antigua which has a lovely courtyard and older colonial rooms (ours had a cute, decorative fireplace). All the pricings for accomodations were on target throughout our trip (with the Santa Clara coming in at about 17$ per person based on double occupancy). Depending on how much you want to "rough" it - a $5 difference can be a big one in Guatemala and we often reserved rooms at 2 places in each of our locations. If you are traveling in a smaller group or by yourself you probably don't even need to call ahead.

Food: We used this book for many of our eating recommendations and it never failed to give us an idea of the type of food and quality to expect.

History and Culture: The book was enjoyable to read and provided some good information on preparation, recent happenings as well as history. A little more info on Tikal would have been great - perhaps a walking tour guide - but there are other books available for that and the site is huge.

Overall: I plan to use Rough Guide again in the future. After my less than desirable experience in Peru with Lonely Planet, as their descriptions are often flat and pricing out of date depite the "new" edition.

it's okay but....
it would be nice to have more detailed information, such as prices for things and such. seems to be accurate so far, but isn't very detailed. i think i prefer lonely planet's guidebooks. ... Read more

Book Description

The purpose of this guidebook is to assist those wishing to drive through Mexico and into Central America. The United States was a sleeping giant in the 19th century. The railroads that were built across the country were instrumental in its development. Mexico and Central America are being awakened from their slumber by the building of the Pan American Highway. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I Really Enjoyed This Guide
I've made the trip from the U.S. to Panama by car four times. Each trip has been different and a real adventure. Although this guide should be updated it contains some good tips and many anecdotes. One of the best parts is where others share their experiences while making the journey. I also liked all of the essential Spanish vocabulary the book contains to help non-Spanish speakers in case they get in a jam. The part about border crossings is also helpful. They can be a real drag and very frustrating. This book helps prepare people for them.
I really wish the publisher would come out with a newer edition. I'plan to contact them and see if they'll let me share my experieces in the next edition. In short, if you plan to make the trip to any Central American country this book can help you.

If you plan to take the drive~*the book is worth buying~*
my husband and i took the drive from California all the way down to Costa Rica and this book was definitely helpful, in retrospect. i agree it needs to be updated, and honestly, it is not a MAJOR source of all the info you will need, but it will help a lot~if nothing else, it provides you with an idea of what lies ahead. the best parts about this book, we felt, were the table that shows the distances and times expected between each major town, and the page of spanish words and phrases on the road. it definitely does not assist much with budget travelers~but hey, if you are a budget traveler and you plan to make it all the way down there, we did it on a shoestring budget, w/o help from the book on finding places to stay, and we were fine! we plan to take the drive again in 2002, and we will create our own updated version of what life is like and what to actually expect along the way. overall, if you have never taken this drive~i definitely recommend getting all the info you can~including this book.

The Only Book on the Subject
Since this guide is better than nothing we used it on our trip by car to Panama. My friend and I found it helpful in travelling through Central America. There are some parts which need to be updated.

not to infomative
didnt find the book usefull @ not good information on border crossings.not recomended for budget travellers.no info on dangers . see lonley planet guid. or moon travel. use all your guids you should be fine i am planning a 4 month motorcycle travel of central america with my wife and we will update a travel log/book in detail for those of us that travel on a she string.

An Abysmal Guide
The cover says New Sixth Edition. This means that every few years the edition number is revised, nothing else. The book is littered with references to Karl Malden's "Don't Leave Home Without It" American Express ads -- the book is that old. ... ... Read more

Book Description

Let Guatemala saturate the senses. Experience it all - the people, colors, food, music, landscape. Soak it up. From the Volcán Fuego to the Monagua Valley, from the vibrant city of Antigua to the hidden villages of the Maya, let this guide be your key to this fascinating country.

• information on all major Mayan sites, including Copán in Honduras - maps, too
• lodging listings for every budget
• menu translator for Guatemalan cuisine
• handy glossary of Spanish and Mayan terms
• tips on ecologically responsible travel
• more than 35 detailed maps

Reviews (7)

Very helpful guide to travel to Guatemala.
Lonely planet is very popular in this country. You'll see a lot of travelers with a copy of the book. The maps are very acurate and you'll find good recomendations. What's great about this country is that people are friendly, so you only need the basics and the book has them.

Enthusiastic but superficial
Unfortunately, this book fails to a overcome a gee-whiz attitude toward Guatemala. It seems as if the author and the destination were not a good fit, both in terms of analyzing the country and its culture, and in the quality of its writing, which is often choppy and non-sequitur--though this could also be an editing problem.
The apparent promotion--or at least tolerance--of drug consumption in Panajachel is unfortunate. Whether or not one agrees with the criminalization of marijuana or any other controlled substance, it is not a topic that should be treated so lightly in a country where the police have a reputation for corruption and the prospect of a jail term is truly frightening.

Great for a one-week trip
While the other reviewers clearly know more about Guatemala than I ever will, I found this book much more helpful than the Rough Guide. The maps were easier to read, and the hotel places had prices, which was very helpful to me...

Reviewed this one, but bought Rough Guide
I have travelled to Guatemala, Belize and Honduras several times over the last 4 years. I met Conner at a friend's office in Guatemala City while she was researching and writing this book. My husband and I had a fantastic time visiting with Conner and sharing travel stories. I see from some of the other comments that readers felt that the book was rushed and not well researched. I know for a fact that Conner had lost valuable notes on the highlands while in another part of the country and was going back thru the highlands to rebuild her notes. I'm not surprised that this section is not complete. Additionally, I met Conner the day after the WTA Riots in Seattle, Washington. That was in December 1999. Things can change quickly in some areas of Guatemala. Other others don't ever change. Depending on the government. She did tell us of her harrowing hike to El Mirador. In general, when I reviewed the book, I found information to be OK.

However, I have found over the years we've travelled that the Rough Guide is more accurate. We have also met the writer for the Rough Guide, Peter Eltringham while travelling in Belize. Peter has a wealth of information and is brutally honest about what to expect. Especially if you want bus schedules, travel times for busses, dangerous areas. The Rough Guide makes sure that travel advisories are noted. For instance, the danger around the Lake Atitlan area for tourists. I've also found that the Rough Guide is considerable more accurate with regard to price ranges for accomodations. The maps that are included are also very good.

For those of you who have never travelled to Guatemala. It is a beautiful country. The people are poor but friendly. Just like travelling anywhere -- don't leave your better judgment at home. If it looks like a rough area, it probably is. We never travel at night. We always check with out local host/hostess at whatever accomodations that we are staying at for information about the area -- crime, areas to stay away from etc.

That said -- I've camped in the jungles at Mayan ruins. I've hiked into Salpeten. I've taken a pickup truck from Copan to the border of Guatemala, then the chicken bus to Chiquimula and then a bus to Guatemla City and to Antigua in one day. I've travelled overland from Belize City to Flores more times than I can remember. I'm looking forward to spending more time at Lake Atitlan, probably in Santa Cruz or San Marcos. Also, looking forward to Rio Dulce and Coban.

If you've never travelled independently before, I'd say get both books. The Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide. Both writers are experienced travellers. If you get hooked on travelling independently (that is no formal guide service) -- you'll start to develop your own resources.

patchy - a rush job?
I used this guide for a three month trip to Guatemala June-September 2001, during which time I spent six weeks in Antigua improving my Spanish at the Sevilla school and another six weeks travelling through the Western Highlands, El Petén and a quick trip into Honduras to the island of Utila.

Generally Antigua was covered adequately, though many things are already out of date as there have been many changes. Judging by the listings this guide was researched a long time ago, as according to my Spanish teacher many of the restaurants and bars recommended had been closed for several years. Also in this section the book mistakenly labels "Volcano Agua" as "Volcano Fuego". As this peak (Agua) is directly to the south of the town, and every language student uses it as a landmark, this is a pretty fundamental error. Not the most promising start, for a budding volcano-climber like myself - I ended up taking a volcano tour (around $6) rather than risk it.

Things didn't improve much in Lago de Atitlan, where I also studied for week. There are now five Spanish schools in San Pedro, though the book only mentions one. Also the book seems to have a rather naive, hippy-dippy sensibility towards the nature of the village, talking about "being greeted by the sweet waft of marijuana" and so on. Yes, San Pedro has a dope-smoking scene, but several travellers were being busted (some set up) for a joint or two while I was there, and there was also a (un) healthy cocaine (including crack) "scene". The LP seemed be blissfully ignorant of all this, locked in some sixties nostalgia timewarp. There are also serious social problems, gangs and abject poverty in San Pedro. Travellers are being mugged on a very regular basis on the volcano. A warning wouldn't have gone amiss.

In Peten, the LP covers Flores and Tikal reasonably, with accurate maps. There's no real coverage of the more remote sites however, the author dismisses the hike to Mirador as a five day hell-hike, while Yaxhá, Piedras Negras, Cancuén and many other sites are not even mentioned or barely touched.

In the east of the country, the Jungle route to Honduras that the author describes has no longer been necessary since 1998, when a new bridge was built over the river Montagua that divides the countries (which the guidebook spells "Monagua" on its cover...).

So overall, I have to say I was pretty disappointed with the guide, which for such a recent edition should have been better researched. I did find myself casting an eye over Rough Guide and Footprint readers' guidebooks when I could. This guide needs to be sorted out.

Tom ... Read more

Book Description

Track jaguars around mysterious tabletop mountains and raft through Amazonian rain forest.Relax on a palm-fringed Caribbean beach or put on your party shoes and enjoy Caracas' infamous nightlife.Whether you want to soar over Angel Falls, dance with Corpus Christi devils or hobnob with beauty queens and baseball teams, our unbeatable guidebook gives you detailed coverage for the adventure of a lifetime.

• BE PREPARED - highlights, tailored itineraries and an all new 'getting started' section help get your trip underway
• EXPLORE - follow Bolivar's footsteps with more than 80 detailed maps
• DISCOVER - authoritative coverage of the country's wild and wonderful national parks, from the white sands of Los Roques to the snow-dusted peaks of the Andes
• LEARN THE LINGO with help from our practical Spanish-language guide
• REST EASY - frank, in-depth hotel and restaurant reviews eliminate the guesswork at any budget ... Read more

Reviews (8)

What a joke!
We normally swear by Lonely Planet guides (to southern Africa, Central America, SE Asia), but this one to Venezuela is far and away the most inadequate: Sometimes I wondered if the author had even set foot in the country, or if he just called up his buddies who in turn passed along 2nd-hand information. For starters, many of his write-ups are meant for people traveling in private cars; this is by no means a "back-packer's" guide. Sometimes, for example, we'd be interested in a particular place the author described, only to be disappointed that the place was accessible only by private vehicle or you could walk to it but had to cross 6-lane highways (quite common in Caracas). Furthermore, this guidebook provides nothing that other guidebooks on the country provide: in sum, Lonely Planet Venezuela rides on the otherwise strong LP reputation; it's of no merit and could actually be the source of a lot of headaches. I hope for the upcoming edition the author actually visits Venezuela! LP should know better...

Too snobby for the budget traveler
What ever happened to South America on a shoestring? Dydynski often sounds like he holds Venezuela in disdain as a dirty, dangerous, and messy little Third World backwater rather than someplace somebody might actually want to visit. He comes off like a gringo snob, and his personal hotel preferences obviously lean towards the five-star end of the spectrum. Missing here are all the excellent low-cost, unique, and out-of-the-way options I used to turn to Lonely Planet to find. No descriptions of night life or fun things to do, heavy on the historical landmarks. Here and there the book waxes useful when the location in question is someplace Dydynski seems to have liked, the rest of the descriptions are not helpful. Also: many of the phone numbers I have tried from the book are incorrect. I haven't compared this book to other Venezuelan guides, so can't truly make a comparison -- but I suggest you start with another guide first.

Not up to the expected standard, and out-of-date !
Venezuela is quickly changing. Prices one day may double the next day. Politics and society are in fervid change. All in all, Lonely Planet has not managed to produce a guide up to the standard of other Lonely Planet guides. Having said that, I do not know of any better guides on Venezuela, and this is still a book worth taking with you. Though you will have to take all its advice and contents with some care, not for granted.

Traveler's bible to Venezuela
If you are traveling to Venezuela, this is the book that I recommend you buy. Unfortunately, I did not buy this book before I moved down there. I went down with two other travel guides and threw both of them out. I met some ex-pats down there and borrowed their copies until I could get my own copy down there.

It is true that the prices have risen. The tourist industry, also, charges more for foreigners. Once people starting recognizing my speech as a Venezuelan, I got much cheaper deals on trips. It is a good idea to talk to locals, too. They can tell you of great places to stay and give you invaluable information, plus they are really friendly.

Some of the information will be outdated, especially since the mudslides in December. I recommend visiting Venezuela to anyone who is considering it. The country is beautiful and full of wonderful people.

Invaluable for the maps, but little else!
This guide has superb maps that are invaluable in a country that does not believe in signs. Unfortunately, that is about all the positive press I can give it. First, it is out of date and many of the hotels and resturants it recommends no longer exists. Second, the index is horrifically inadequate. Third, many of the descriptions are down right wrong. The Hotel Colonial in Ciudad Bolivar, for example, was called "Old World" and the "the best in town". Hardly, the places is overpriced and poorly decorated. The "Gran Hotel Amazonas", however, in Puerto Ayacucho, which is most likely the most beautiful hotel in Venezuela and only 20 per night for a double, is hardly credited a mention.

The coverage of the Amazon and the Gran Sabana is much better in the Bradt guide, especially if you are taking a car.

In the abscence of a solid Venezuela guide, we recommend a combination of Lonely Planet and either the Bradt or another guide.

One last note, this book, like all Lonely Planets is quite well made and can be trusted not to fall apart, not something that can be said of most budget travel guides. ... Read more

Book Description

Costa Rica’s friendly three million people, or Ticos as they affectionately call themselves, invite you to come and experience their tranquil country, with its long and beautiful coastlines, alluring waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific, pristine beaches and some of the most picturesque surroundings you have ever laid your eyes on. Many visitors say Costa Rica is even more beautiful than Hawaii, and best of all, still unspoiled. In Fact, Costa Rica took over Hawaii’s place as best adventure destination last year, as revealed by the publication Pacific Business News, of Honolulu. Costa Rica has Hawaii’s weather, spectacular green mountains, and beaches without the high prices. The country offers more beauty and adventure per acre than any other place in the world. In the heart of the Central Valley, surrounded by beautiful rolling mountains and volcanoes, sits San Jos, today’s capital and largest city in the country. Viewed from above, this area looks like some parts of Switzerland.Downtown San Jos is always bustling with activity. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

All the Right Answers in Just One Book
With an eye to retirement in a tropical country, we begged, borrowed and bought a half-dozen books about relocating to the country that appeared to be the perfect choice for Americans -- Costa Rica.

Christopher Howard's "The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica" was one of the batch, and it proved to be head and shoulders above any other reference. Indeed, we were so taken with his thorough, straightforward account, we signed on for one of his tours to the Central Pacific and San Jose/Central Highlands areas.

Chris is gifted in being able to quickly cover a lot of ground with precision, not only in his no-nonsense book but in person, showing off the very best opportunities in his beautiful country to wannabe expats. His expertise in all Tico topics comes from long residence in the heart of Costa Rica, wide acquaintance with both natives and newcomers throughout the region, fluency in the charming local Spanish idiom and genuine love for this small paradise.

Thinking of moving to this delightful country? The trip starts with Christopher Howard's book. And taking one of his fantastic tours assures you'll make the right move in the right way.

Don't leave for Costa Rica without it!
This is the best book that I have read regarding retirement and living in this beautiful country named Costa Rica.The fact that it is updated yearly, by someone who lives in Costa Rica full time, keeps me up to date and helps me avoid potential costly mistakes.It's almost like having Christopher Howard, who wrote this fantastic guide, as a personal friend and advisor.

Don't Leave Home Without it!

"Never before have I been so thoroughly prepared for moving to a new location as I was after reading "The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living In Costa Rica". In fact, after arriving here, I was utterly and continuously amazed at how much valuable knowledge I had previously obtained through reading this book. Furthermore, I find it indispensable as a constant reference source for day-to-day operations. Subsequently I had purchased two similar, popular guide books and after several attempts at trying to read them, I find that they are incapable of holding my attention."

Another Masterpiece by Howard
I have read the last five editions and everyone of them has been worth its weight in gold to me here in Costa Rica. However, this edition is the best ever. I recommend it to anyone who is going to make the move or invest here. Words can't say enough about this time proven product.

I've also been on two of Mr. Howard's retirement tours and found them to be very helpful. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Author needs a good editor, otherwise . . .
the book is useful if one is seriously thinking of actually buying real estate in Nica. If you want just a good book on the country with an eye towards traveling there, get the Moon Publications book. It's by far the best of the lot.
While this is not the most professionally written or edited publication, it does have the crucial information you need to know about before buying in Nica. Essentially, there are three types of documents you need to get a hold of and to verify before purchasing a property. A good, clean title is essential, especially since some of the lands were expropriated from large landowners during the Sandinista years and given to local groups. Some of the groups are now selling parts of their ranches and these lands may have clouded titles. Get a local lawyer not associated with the real estate agent would be my recommendation. Overall, good book, but don't expect a great read or an in-depth review of the country itself.

Unsettling undercurrent
Folks,

Book is very good in providing you with a roadmap towards acquiring realty estate in Nicaragua. However, it fails to address what I perceived, in my 14-days stay(2002), to be an 'uneasiness' about its economical/political climate.

I visited Nicaragua to research the investment climate and found it to be very attractive due to the low prices and 'potential' growth. I placed _potential_ in quotation marks to convey what relatives and friends kept telling me about the economical and political climate in the country. Yes, it's cheap to live in Nicaragua--my uncle felt that $1500/month provides someone with a very high standard of living(by Nicaraguan standards!)

In the end, I decided against investing on a single factor: STABILITY. How stable is the country's economical climate? What about its political climate? The later is stable enough but the former is not. I can summarize my decision like this: Would I buy a house (land) in this neighborhood (country)? I would have to say "NO" until the neighborhood is more stable.

A Huge Help with My Investment Goals
About six months ago I visited Nicaragua with the idea of purchasing some land as an investment. I travelled all over the country and looked at property at the beach and inland. The practical advise in this guide helped me find the piece of property I wanted. It was extremely useful in dealing with the legal problems one faces when buying land here. All of the suggestions in this guide made my work easier. I even found an honest and reliable real estate agent through this book. Without this guide I could have never bought my property. I recommend it to anyone who wants to live or invest in Nicaragua. It is a MUST read.

Delusion is a Valid False Belief.
After spending three weeks in Nicaragua I heard much hype (mainly from those selling real estate there) about the "coming boom". It was when the saleman was telling me to "get in now, or regret it" I recalled the words in the Bhagavadgita, "Delusion is the child of ignorance."

This book can help, BUT, most of the time, it reads more like a Nicaraguan chamber of commerce advertisement; using lines like: "land of opportunity", "ripe for investment", etc.

Reality check: Nicaragua is not a San Miguel del Allende (Rated by "Money Magazine" as one of the top ten retirement locations) nor will it be the next Costa Rica. I don't want to bash the country, but those considering Nicaragua need to know that it has very poor superstructure, and it is one of the poorest nations in Latin America, and this year it was eliminated from receiving US aid because of massive corruption. Finally, if that isn't enough, Nicaragua is constantly ravaged by earthquakes and hurricanes.

Yes, Nicaragua is a cheap destination. And yes, there are opportunities to be found. But, before you pack your bags, take time to investigate and do your homework.

Christopher Howard does not seriously address the downside of this country and he also uses statements, from unknown sources, failing to qualify their competence as authorities. Thus, comments from sources which state: "Nicaragua has a thriving economy" are not only ludicrous, but this type of statements compromises the integrity of the author.

Howard makes statements like "The country is ripe for foreign investments because it is so underdeveloped." Wow, Howard! What a great reason for investing in Nicaragua. It, and 60% of the world, are "ripe for foreign investments", eh?.

Finally, in the book you will find pages of advertisements for real estate companies, relocation consultants, and even a plug for tours that are lead by??? you guessed it, the author himself.

On the upside, there is a section called "minor obstacles to doing business". Actually, these obstacles can be major. This section is informative and needs to be heeded. Also, Howard's "Red Tape" section is a must read for those who have made up their mind to come, live and invest in Nicaragua. And, his 'Health Care' Section, his 'Cost of Living' Section, and his 'Hired Help' Sections are all provide you with valuable, useful information.

His most informative, and provocative section is titled "Love and Permanent Companionship". This is a must read for all American men that think that they will find a sweet, young Nica. Howard points out that "young, attractive, unscrupulous Nicas target Americans/Canadians". Howard states candidly, "marriage means you support her and her whole family" and that "quality Latin women are difficult to meet." Howard's realistic picture here is applaudable.

Is the book self-serving and lacking the critical comparision to other Central America countries? YES. Can this book help you if you are thinking of living in Nicaragua? YES. Overall, there is useful information packed in these 200 pages that warrants a purchase. Recommended.

The Right Book for the Move
I just retired as a school teacher. My wife is Nicaraguan and we plan to live at least six months a year in her country. I have visited Nicaragua many times to visit my wife's relatives. Aside from the help her family there has given us this book has been really helpful in planning every step of the move. Thank god someone finally wrote something on this subject. I've read four guidebooks about living in Costa Rica and often wondered when someone would do one for Nicaragua. We'll I no longer have to wait. ... Read more

Book Description

At once wild and sophisticated, Panama lures intrepid travelers with teeming rain forests, hundreds of jewel-like islands and the ultra-hip nightspots of its salsa-infused capital.Find your own sun-drenched beach, mingle with the Kuna Indians or dance until dawn at a frenzied fiesta - Panama offers adventure at every turn.Grab your hat and let our bestselling guide show you all the facets of Central America's undiscovered gem.

• GET OUT - our outdoor activities chapter gives you the scoop on surfing, snorkeling, hiking, birding and more

• GET BELOW THE SURFACE - informed and insightful features on history, culture and contemporary life

• EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY - frank, in-depth dining and entertainment reviews, from ceviche to merengue

• FIND YOUR WAY - 73 easy-to-use maps, more than any other guidebook to Panama

• LEARN THE LINGO - earn smiles from the locals with our handy Spanish language section ... Read more