Matthew Firestone

Gaze at Volcan Arenal as it spews fiery lava into the twilight sky Savor a cup o' joe straight from the source among the vast coffee fields of the Valle de Orosi Stretch out in a beachside open-air yoga studio in Montezuma Roll up your sleeves and help the sea turtles of Parismina

Nobody knows Costa Rica like Lonely Planet, and our 9th edition helps you build the perfect itinerary. Whether that’s whitewater rafting down the Río Reventazón, sunbathing in laid-back Montezuma, quetzal-spotting in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, or swaying to reggaetón at an open-air bar in Cahuita - you decide. Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.