Hi Folks - just returned from Costa Rica - WOW
I only scratched the surface. I arrived at Liberia airport (Guanacaste Province) which was far easier than arriving in San Jose and driving the four plus hours to get to the West Pacific Coast. I stayed at El Ocotal Resort in Playa Ocotal for my first and 8th nights and stayed at Villas Playa Samara for 6 nights in between. It was fabulous.
Friends of mine met up with me in Samara driving a 4 wd from San Jose. You definitely need that 4wd if you are going to venture out to say some of the remote beaches like Nosara, Garza, etc.
Laurie is right - the Lonely Planet Guide was right on. It was our Bible throughout the whole trip.
John, thanks for your web links - they were most helpful.
Knowing a bit of spanish definitely helps. My last night in Liberia, noone spoke English at all.
The highlights of my trip - the $3-$5 Casado con ... (rice, beans, salad, fried plantains and your choice of meat, the troup of 12 Howler Monkeys that visited the Guava Trees above my pool in Samara every afternoon at around 2:30pm, the beach at Samara that felt like velvet under your feet, and the sunsets over Ocotal Beach. The only thing that was missing was the connection with the people like I felt in Belize - put those two together and it spells heaven and my retirement home! Cheers!