Costa Rica

[kjay]

I went to Costa Rica several years ago but not for the bicycling, although I'm happy to hear that bicycling is picking up. I just want to tell you to be sure to visit the Sloth Sanctuary a few miles south of Limon. You'll be so glad that you did. Here's the link. http://www.slothrescue.org/

My apologies for not directly answering your questions, but I just had to tell you about this place. :-)

[alimey]

I went mountain biking in Costa Rica a few years ago. I was really impressed - the place was beautiful & the people v welcoming. Virtually all villages had tap water we could drink. It was so fertile that the fence posts sprouted & grew!!

Mountain biking was great - loads of trails & people not precious about trespass.

[itself]

How safe it it there? Its funny, we have been to many of the Caribbean islands and bomb around in our car (we don't go to islands where you are forced to stay on the resort like Dominican).

It seems like there are places where it is quite dangerous in CR, and they warn not to go out at night. I realize this is a "state" of sorts, not an island.

Panama is another area that we are considering as the infrastructure is much stronger.

[Cataboo]

Um. I saw people riding their bikes (kids, whatever ) and walking at all hours of the night. I didn't notice anywhere that I would have considered unsafe.

I didn't spend much time in San Juan, but I went walking that evening without being worried.

The only thing we were repeatedly warned about was not to leave anything visible in the rental car because it would probably get stolen. There were times when we had no choice but to leave all our stuff (luggage) in the rental car - and we didn't have anything stolen.

[itself]

We are looking at staying in Manuel Antonio. I also have a friend that is moving there who lives centrally in Bejuco.

Where did you take those pictures? And thanks for the info all of you!

[itself]

Well, my friends moved there and have been in CR for four months now. There is definitely a problem with thievery, they have had to make sure that there is a good wall around their house. Also, green mold all over their furniture. They have figured out a system to attack it, but they need humidifiers in every room. They love the fact that they are eating all unprocessed foods. They both have lost weight.

All the locals go nuts over their mountain bikes. I've suggested that they chain them in their garage so they won't get stolen.

Funny, they have gone to vacation in CR for 7 years. Now having moved their, there is a lot of "discovery" as far as how life really is. I think I'll stay stateside.

[RubyTuesday]

I went to Guanacaste area in Costa Rica last year. The main roads were not bad, but the smaller roads were not for road bikes. I did see a few bike riders, but most were on mountain bikes or just bits and pieces bikes. During the rainy season, forget riding the roads are flooded and the off roads are running mud and puddles.