| Like all thriving tourist economies, Costa Rica's | | | | service extremely easy to find in Costa Rica, and |
| tourism industry has its share of shady operators. | | | | it will remove any chance of your winding up with |
| While they are far outnumbered by the honest | | | | your rental car stuck in a muddy ditch on some |
| and friendly tour operators and Ticos, you don't | | | | one-lane mountain road with the nearest help |
| want an encounter with one of them to spoil | | | | hours way. Simply include carfare in you're your |
| what could otherwise be the best vacation of | | | | travel budget, and keep some extra cash hidden |
| your life. We've collected just a few tips to help | | | | in your sock or other safe place for a cab should |
| you negotiate your way around some of Costa | | | | an emergency arise. |
| Rica's more notorious tourist traps: | | | | If you're tempted to spend money on the |
| Having a travel agent book your trip to Costa | | | | Canopy or Sky Bridge Tours of the Monteverde |
| Rica may not be necessary and could end up | | | | Cloud Forest, stop and think. It's called a cloud |
| costing you more than you need to pay, because | | | | forest for a reason, and if the clouds are present |
| some travel agents tack on as much as $50 per | | | | during your visit, the chances are that you won't |
| night to the cost of you hotel in Costa Rica. | | | | see much in the way of forest wildlife. Even if |
| Spending a few hours to confirm your hotel | | | | you arrive at the Cloud Forest on a clear day, |
| reservations online could pay off with enough | | | | you shouldn't attempt the tours unless you have |
| savings to let you extend your stay. | | | | a streak of daredevil. |
| While you're making your hotel arrangements, be | | | | The Sky Bridge will have you walking on a bridge |
| sure to check on the distance from each hotel to | | | | high enough to clear the forest canopy, and the |
| the major tourist attractions. The closer they are, | | | | Canopy Tours will have you riding a ski-lift type of |
| the less you'll have to spend in cab or bus fare. | | | | car attached to the forest trees. While both may |
| If you've decided to rent a car and drive yourself | | | | provide tremendous views on the wildlife, neither |
| to the sights of Costa Rica, be aware that the | | | | is meant for people who suffer from vertigo. |
| metropolitan police have a habit of appearing out | | | | One rather disturbing facet of traveling to the |
| of nowhere to nail drivers on traffic violations. | | | | remote areas of Costa Rica is that the public |
| What most tourists don't know is that if they are | | | | restrooms lack not only toilet paper, but toilet |
| tickets, they can pay the tickets at any Bank of | | | | seats! If you know you have an adventure in the |
| Costa Rica and should never hand money over to | | | | Cost Rican wilds scheduled, make use of the |
| a policeman who says that for a fee he will take | | | | restroom at your hotel or restaurant before you |
| care of the ticket himself. | | | | start, and bring along your own toilet paper to be |
| But why risk any encounter with the local law | | | | on the safe side. |
| enforcement if you don't need to? Taxi and bus | | | | |