Eliot Greenspan is a poet, journalist, musician, and travel writer who took his backpack and typewriter the length of Mesoamerica before settling in Costa Rica in 1992. Since then, he has worked steadily as a travel writer, food critic, freelance journalist, and translator, and continued his travels in the region. He is the author of Frommer's Belize, Frommer's Costa Rica, Frommer's Ecuador, Frommer's Guatemala, Costa Rica for Dummies, and The Tico Times Restaurant Guide to Costa Rica, as well as the chapter on Venezuela in Frommer's South America.

Chapter 1: The Best of Costa Rica. My Favorite Costa Rica Moments. The Best of Natural Costa Rica. My Favorite Hikes. The Best Beaches. The Best Bird-Watching. Spotlight: The Resplendent Quetzal. The Best Adventures in & on the Water The Best Adventures on Land. The Best Views. The Best Luxury Hotels & Resorts. My Favorite Boutique Hotels & Small Inns. The Best Ecolodges. Chapter 2: Strategies for Seeing Costa Rica. Chapter 3: The Best Costa Rica Itineraries. Costa Rica Highlights. The Best of Costa Rica in 2 Weeks. Undiscovered Costa Rica. The Best Costa Rica Adventures. Costa Rica with Kids. Chapter 4: San Jose & the Central Valley. My Favorite San Jose Moments. The Best of San Jose in 1 Day San Jose & the Central Valley in 3 Days. Spotlight: Black Gold. San Jose with Kids. Irazu Volcano, Cartago & the Orosi Valley San Jose's Best Adventures. San Jose Shopping A to Z. San Jose Restaurant Best Bets. San Jose Restaurants A to Z. San Jose Hotel Best Bets. San Jose Hotels A to Z. San Jose Nightlife & Entertainment A to Z. San Jose Fast Facts. Chapter 5: Guanacaste. My Favorite Guanacaste Moments. Best of Guanacaste in 3 Days Best of Guanacaste in 1 Week. Spotlight: Hot Spot. Guanacaste with Kids. Guanacaste's History & Culture. Palo Verde National Park. Guanacaste Adventures in & on the Water. Guanacaste Beaches A to Z. Guanacaste Adventures on Land Guanacaste's Best Golf Courses. Tamarindo Playa del Coco & Playa Ocotal. Playa Hermosa & the Papagayo Peninsula Playas Flamingo & Conchal & Nearby Beaches Liberia Guanacaste Fast Facts Chapter 6: The Nicoya Peninsula. My Favorite Nicoya Peninsula Moments. The Best of the Nicoya Peninsula in 3 Days. The Best of the Nicoya Peninsula in 1 Week. Spotlight: The Spectacular Sea Turtle. The Nicoya Peninsula with Kids. Nicoya Peninsula Adventures in & on the Water. Nicoya Peninsula Beaches A to Z. Nicoya Peninsula Adventures on Land. Montezuma. Malpais & Santa Teresa. Playa Samara. Nosara. Nicoya Peninsula Fast Facts. Chapter 7: The Northern Zone. My Favorite Northern Zone Moments. The Best of the Northern Zone in 3 Days. Spotlight: Anatomy of a Cloud Forest. The Best of the Northern Zone in 1 Week. The Northern Zone with Kids. Northern Zone Adventures in & on the Water. Northern Zone Adventures on Land. The Northern Zone's Best Hikes. The Northern Zone's Best Bird-Watching. Monteverde. La Fortuna. Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Northern Zone Fast Facts. Chapter 8: The Central Pacific Coast. My Favorite Central Pacifi c Coast Moments. The Best of the Central Pacifi c Coast in 3 Days. The Best of the Central Pacifi c Coast in 1 Week. The Central Pacifi c Coast with Kids. Manuel Antonio National Park. Chirripo National Park. Central Pacific Coast Adventures in & on the Water Spotlight: Surfi ng Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Central Pacifi c Coast Beaches A to Z. Central Pacifi c Coast Adventures on Land. Best Bird-Watching on the Central Pacific Coast. Jaco & Playa Herradura. Manuel Antonio. Dominical & the Coastline Southward. Central Pacifi c Coast Fast Facts. Chapter 9: The Southern Zone. My Favorite Southern Zone Moments. The Best of the Southern Zone in 1 Week. The Southern Zone with Kids. Corcovado National Park. Spotlight: Meet the Monkeys! Southern Zone Adventures in & on the Water. The Southern Zone's Best Bird-Watching. Drake Bay. Puerto Jimenez & the Southern Osa Peninsula. Golfi to & the Golfo Dulce. Playa Zancudo & Pavones. Southern Zone Fast Facts. Chapter 10: The Caribbean Coast. My Favorite Caribbean Coast Moments. The Best of the Caribbean Coast in 3 Days. The Best of the Caribbean Coast in 1 Week. Spotlight: Reggae & Dreadlocks. The Caribbean Coast with Kids. Caribbean Coast Adventures in & on the Water. Caribbean Coast Beaches A to Z. Caribbean Coast Adventures on Land. Puerto Viejo & Southward. Cahuita. Tortuguero. Limon Caribbean Coast Fast Facts. Chapter 11: Costa Rican History & Culture. The History of Costa Rica. A Timeline of Costa Rican History. Spotlight: A Glittering Past. The Lay of the Land. Costa Rica in High & Popular Culture. Eating & Drinking in Costa Rica. Chapter 12: The Best Special Interest Trips. Organized Adventure Tours. Outdoor Activities A to Z. Learning Trips & Language Classes. Volunteer & Educational Trips. Chapter 13: Guide to Costa Rica's Flora & Fauna. Mammals. Birds. Amphibians. Reptiles. Sea Life. Invertebrates. Trees. Flowers & Other Plants. Chapter 14: The Savvy Traveler. Before You Go. Getting There. Getting Around. Tips on Accomodations. Fast Facts. Useful Phrases & Menu Terms. Index.