Costa Rica is a vibrant and growing tourist destination, and changes are nearly constant. Here are some of the highlights of the new air routes, hotels, restaurants, and attractions you'll find in our upcoming edition for 2006.
Delta (tel. 800/241-4141; www.delta.com) has added a second daily flight to San José from its Atlanta hub, and U.S. Airways (tel. 800/622-1015; www.usairways.com) has begun direct flights from Charlotte.
The newest national park in Costa Rica is Carara National Park, which saw its status lifted from that of Biological Reserve.
San Jose
There's a new Global Exchange currency-exchange booth inside the airport terminal just outside the Customs and Immigration area. There is also a new booth for the airport taxi service located here, allowing you to prepurchase a taxi ride to the hotel or destination of your choice.
The downtown Amón Park Plaza hotel has had yet another management change and slight name alteration. It's currently the Clarion Amón Plaza (tel. 800/575-1253 in the U.S. or 257-0191 in Costa Rica; fax 257-0284; www.hotelamonplaza.com).
The long-standing Café Parisienne at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica has also had a name change and is now the Cafeteria 1830 (tel. 221-4011; www.granhotelcr.com). Aside from the name, not much else has changed here.
The rapidly expanding Peace Lodge (tel. 482-2720 or 225-0643; www.waterfallgardens.com) at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens currently has 25 rooms and should have a total of 40 rooms by the time this book hits the stands.
Over in Los Yoses, near San Pedro, the new Donde Carlos (tel. 225-0819) is making a run for the title of best Argentine-style steakhouse in the country. Over on the west side of town, in Santa Ana, the new Bacchus (tel. 282-5441) has already received my vote as best Italian restaurant in the metropolitan area.
Night owls will want to check out the wonderfully remodeled Bar Morazán (tel. 221-9527) and the massive new El Observatorio (tel. 223-0725). Both are in downtown San José.
Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula
U.S. Airways (tel. 800/622-1015; www.usairways.com) has initiated one weekly direct flight between Charlotte and Liberia. United (tel. 800/538-2929; www.united.com) has added biweekly direct flights from Chicago O'Hare to Liberia.
The Four Seasons Resort (tel. 800/819-5053 or 212/688-2440 in the U.S., or 696-0098; fax 696-0010; www.fourseasons.com/costarica) has inaugurated its Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, and it is easily the most impressive course in Costa Rica.
In Playa Hermosa the new tapas bar Ginger (tel. 672-0041) has quickly become one of the top drinking and dining spots in the area.
The El Ocotal Beach Resort (tel. 670-0321; www.ocotalresort.com) has new owners and management, and early indications are that the changes are all for the better.
Hotel Sugar Beach (tel. 654-4242; www.sugar-beach.com) has received a lot of attention, including a major restoration of some existing rooms and the construction of several new units.
The long-standing and very popular Cantina Las Olas in Tamarindo has closed. However, there are several new restaurants to choose from. One of the newest is also one of the best, La Laguna del Cocodrilo (tel. 653-0255), serving up creative (and expensive) fusion fare in a beautiful outdoor setting.
In Montezuma the popular and multifaceted El Sano Banano (tel. 642-0638; www.elbanano.com) is making a move to separate its in-town restaurant and bed-and-breakfast from its beach property. Towards that end, they've opened up a full-service restaurant called Ylang-Ylang at the beach site and are in the transition stages of renaming that entire site the Ylang-Ylang Beach Resort.
Point Break Hotel (tel./fax 640-0190; www.surfing-malpais.com) is a new budget option geared toward surfers, with its excellent location in front of one of Malpaís and Santa Teresa's best breaks.
The Northern Zone
Located just off the dam over Lake Arenal, the new Lost Iguana Resort (tel. 461-0122; www.lostiguanaresort.com) offers up large, comfortable rooms with excellent views of the volcano.
Desafío Expeditions (tel. 479-9464; www.desafiocostarica.com) has begun running trips down the Arenal River in inflatable one- and two-person kayaks, or "duckies."
Villablanca Hotel (tel. 461-0300; www.villablanca-costarica.com) has been taken over by the folks who run Sí Como No in Manuel Antonio. The mountain lodge was almost totally remodeled and greatly upgraded.
In Monteverde the new Sophia (tel. 645-7017) restaurant is winning fans with its creative Costa Rican/fusion cuisine.
Central Pacific Coast
Hotel Finca Que Ama (tel. 419-0110; www.costaricafinca.com) is a beautiful new boutique hotel located on the road between Puriscal and Orotina.
The folks at Café Milagro are expanding their mini-empire with El Patio Bistro Latino (tel. 777-4982), an excellent and creative little restaurant in downtown Quepos serving its take on New Latin Fusion cuisine.
Parque Reptilandia (tel. 787-8007) is a new snake, reptile, and amphibian exhibit, located just outside of Dominical on the road to San Isidro.
On the road south of Dominical, La Cusinga Lodge (tel./fax 770-2549; www.lacusingalodge.com) is a simple yet elegant nature lodge located on a gentle hillside with a commanding view of the ocean.
Further on down this same road, Restaurant Citrús (tel. 304-1717; www.manglarsur.com) is a unique new restaurant housed on a working riverboat.
The Southern Zone
In downtown Puerto Jiménez, La Choza del Manglar (tel./fax 735-5002; www.manglares.com) might as well be considered a new hotel, since the remodeling and upgrading of the previous property were so extensive. This is now a comfortable midrange option.
On the Golfo Dulce, the beautiful new Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge (tel. 866/348-7610 in the U.S. or 735-5237; www.nicuesalodge.com) is easily the most luxurious jungle lodge in the area.
The former Zancudo Beach Club has been remodeled and renamed Oasis on the Beach (tel./fax 776-0087; www.oasisonthebeach.com).
The Caribbean Coast
There's now a bank and ATM in Puerto Viejo. The Banco de Costa Rica is located on your right, just as you cross the bridge at the entrance to town.
On Playa Cocles, south of Puerto Viejo, La Costa de Papito (tel./fax 750-0080; www.lacostadepapito.com) has added a couple of new cabins and a small spa.
The new rafting company Exploradores Outdoors (tel. 222-6262; www.exploradoresoutdoors.com) runs daily trips on the Pacuare, Reventazón, and Sarapiquí rivers out of Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. They also will combine your rafting trip with onward transportation to or from San José.
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