Recommended Costa Rica Travel Guide book, nature sounds CD's, video and map
All tested and approved by monteverdeinfo.com, right here in Costa Rica. These links go to Amazon.com so you can get more info & reviews about them. Shipping delays can be long but you can use the ISBN numbers to get them in any good book store near your home.
Costa Rica Guide Books
Lonely Planet Costa Rica 2005
We use this Costa Rica travel guide book everyday (almost): Many
guides provide hotel, restaurant, and arrival information, but
Lonely Planet's stands out. Written by Rob Rachowiecki,
Carolina Miranda and Paige Penlandan, it delves into Costa Rica's
flora, fauna, and nature reserves like no other. They recommend
us but that's not why we recommend them!
New Key to Costa Rica.
Another excellent travel guide book, author Beatrice
Blake lived 14 years in Costa Rica and she knows her stuff. They
recommend us but that's not why we recommend them!
Footprint Costa Rica 2005
Written by seasoned traveler Peter Hutchison, definitely one of the top guide books about Costa Rica. They recommend us but that's not why we recommend them!
Central America Guide Books
A bible if visiting nearby countries. Lonely Planet Central America 2005 They recommend us but that's not why we recommend them!
Another
bible, one of the best if you plan on visiting other Central
American countries. Footprint
Central America 2005 They recommend us but that's not
why we recommend them!
Spanish Phrase Books
Come on, don't be lazy! Learn some basic Spanish before visiting us. You will find that Costa Ricans are patient with bad speaking travelers. You'll get extra help and smiles if you try! These are small pocket books, regrouped by themes: hotels, directions, doctor, etc. Pronunciation is translated in English: "bwaynas!"
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Costa Rica Wildlife and Bird Guide Books
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A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica Great pictures! |
Great for kids: The Forest in the Clouds |
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 Waterproof Costa Rica Map The best Costa Rica map by far, we use it almost everyday (even the smallest roads around Monteverde are there). Because it's waterproofed with a plastic film you can write notes on it or draw your itinerary with an erasable white board maker). Also quite good is the National Geographic Costa Rica map National Geographic Adventure Magazinerecommend us but that's not why we recommend them! |
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 A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica Probably the best bird book out there. |
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 Trogons And Quetzals Of The World In case you get lucky and see a Quetzal in Monteverde! |
 The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica |
 Cloud forest trees of Monteverde, technical, great illustrations, the authors are living in Monteverde, one of them is among our favorites naturalist guides: Eric Bello. An Introduction to Cloud Forest Trees |
 Monteverde: ecology, and conservation of a tropical cloud forest: compilation of research, text and books about Monteverde. Monteverde : Ecology and Conservation of... |
 Monteverde : Science and Scientists in a... |
  Natural Sounds of Costa Rica Like being here! |
 Costa Rica Soundscapes |
Check these excellent Costa Rican musicians. You can listen to several soundtracks, follow the links:
Recorded in the Monteverde Forest, piano by Manuel Obregon, it's magic: Simbiosis |
 Canon PowerShot S410 We used this small pocket size digital camera to take most of the photos you can see on our website ($250, big like a pack of 20 cigarettes, 4 megapixels, makes 3 minutes movies too with sound, steel body: we knocked & dropped it several times & still works fine). Great for travel and to send email photos of your trip. Make sure to get an extra memory card (256 MB or 512 MB is even better for only $45) as internet cafe maybe no readily available everywhere in Costa Rica although you can find half a dozen places in Monteverde (like our office in front of the church) & Arenal and at internet cafe's in the most popular beaches, to burn CD's. Get some Ziplocks to protect your camera on the beach and in the cloud forest (good for passport & traveler's check too). An extra rechargeable battery & a small pocket tripod ($10) is a good idea also if you want to take some night shots of the Arenal Volcano or in low light conditions.
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BinocularsFine Monteverde Hotels: El Sapo Dorado Trapp Family Lodge Hotel De Montana Hotel Finca Valverde Mirador Lodge Hotel El Establo Trapp Family Lodge Hotel Villa Verde