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Las Cataratas de Los Chorros
About 7km southeast of Grecia, toward Flores and Tacares, are two gorgeous waterfalls and a swimming hole surrounded by picnic tables. It’s a popular spot for weekending couples. Get detailed directions before setting out.
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Parque Marino del Pacífico
This marine park has an aquarium that showcases manta rays and other creatures from the Pacific. The park sits on the site of the old train station and has a tiny splash pool, snack bar, gift shop and information center.
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Cathedral
Sorry, we currently have no review for this sight.
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Bat Jungle
Learn about echolocation, bat-wing aerodynamics and other amazing flying-mammal facts. The so-called Bat Jungle is small but informative, with good bilingual educational displays and a free-flying bat habitat housing almost 100 bats.
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El Fortín
This tower, constructed in 1876 by order of Heredias provincial governor, is the official symbol of Heredia. It was declared a national historic monument in 1974, but because of its fragile state, it remains closed to the public.
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Playa Espadilla
There’s a good beach, Playa Espadilla, near the entrance to the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, though you need to be wary of rip currents. There are some lifeguards working at this beach, though not at the other beaches in the area.
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Playa el Carmen
Playa El Carmen, down hill from the main intersection, is a good beach break that can also be surfed anytime. The beach is wide and sandy and curls into successive coves, so it makes good beach combing and swimming terrain too.
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Snake Garden
This wildlife center is an entertaining rainy-day outing. Get face to face with 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, including poison-dart frogs, rattlesnakes, crocs and turtles. The star attraction is a gigantic 80kg Burmese python.
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Playa Platanares
About 5km east of town, the secluded – and often deserted – Playa Platanares is excellent for swimming, sunning and recovering from too much adventure. The nearby mangroves of Río Platanares are a paradise for kayaking and bird-watching.
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Museo de Arte Costarricense
At the eastern entrance to the Parque La Sabana is the Museo de Arte Costarricense, in a Spanish-style structure that served as San José’s main airport terminal until 1955. The newly remodeled museum features regional art and other exhibits.
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Mercado Central Annex
The Mercado Central Annex is less touristy than Mercado Central, and is crowded with butchers, fishmongers and informal counters dishing out typical Costa Rican casados (a set meal of rice, beans and cabbage slaw served with chicken, fish or meat).
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Edificio Metálico
One of downtown San Josés most striking buildings, this century-old, two-story metal edifice on Parque Españas western edge was prefabricated in Belgium, then shipped piece by piece to San José. Today it functions as a school and local landmark.
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Museo Comunitario Indígena de Boruca
Marked by an enormous stone sphere out front, this tiny museum has interpretive exhibits explaining Boruca legends and displays tools and materials used in making traditional handicrafts. Attached is a shop selling handicrafts made by local artisans.
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Parque Juan Santamaría
Two blocks south of Parque Central, this plaza features a statue of the hero in action, flanked by cannons. Across the way, the Parque de los Niños has a more parklike scene going, complete with playground equipment, chattering toddlers and canoodling teenagers.
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Mercado Central
Though josefinos mainly do their shopping at chain supermarkets, San José’s crowded indoor markets retain an old-world feel. This is the main market, lined with vendors hawking everything from spices and coffee beans to pura vida souvenir T-shirts.
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Iglesia Inmaculada Concepción de María
If this iglesia (church) doesnt cut it for religious splendor, walk six blocks northeast of the park along Avenida Central where youll find the oldest church in town, popularly called La Agonía (though maps show it as La Iglesia de la Ermita de la Resurección).
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Africa Mía
About 10km south of Liberia is a private wildlife reserve with free-roaming elephants, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and other animals. Splurge for the deluxe African Safari Wildlife Tour in an open-top Hummer, which allows you to get up close and personal with the giraffes.
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Parque Central
The somewhat shady but not particularly picturesque Parque Central frames Iglesia Inmaculada Concepción de María. The park is also the seasonal hangout of the Nicaraguan grackle, a tone-deaf bird that enjoys eating parrot eggs and annoying passers-by with its grating calls.
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Arenal Natura
Located 6km west of La Fortuna, this is a well-manicured nature experience that includes frogs, turtles, snakes and crocs, all in their appointed places. The bird life is also prodigious here. Excellent naturalist guides ensure that you dont miss anything hiding in the trees.
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Museo de Guanacaste
Its not much of a museum, but Liberias old city jail is definitely interesting. Depressing dorms and cells surround a barren concrete courtyard, and it has occasional student concerts and exhibits. The place lacks resources, but there are plans to stage an actual museum here…at som
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