One of over 400 titles in the Insight series, Insight Guide Costa Rica. This 298-page book includes a section detailing Costa Rica's history, 8 features covering the country's life and culture, ranging from the spectacular plant life to the best coffee in the worldallegedly, a region by region visitor's guide to the sights, and a comprehensive Travel Tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus 283 impressive photographs and 7 maps, including a National Parks and Reserves map.
I really enjoyed the detailed historical and cultural information. Probably it not enough detail for the tourist on what to do, though - one would need to supplement with a second guidebook or internet research.
This guide was not the greatest, lots of nice pictures but to use for trip planning it had very few maps and information that would be relevant to trip planning, prices hours of operation etc. Not a whole lot of sites detailed outside the major ones.
To Many Pictures and not enough practical content. Interesting background and historical info, but of minimal value once you are there. Also due to the chrome coated paper the pretty photos (and all the text!) is printed on, it is VERY weighty. This is a picture book rather than a guide book.