Reading List & Links

The following is an abbreviated list of books, articles and websites we recommend. A visit to our country is more rewarding if you arm yourself with a little knowledge first.

If you’d like to go beyond this list, we highly recommend a trip to the periodicals section of your local library. Check the subject catalogue under Costa Rica, Central America, Rainforest, Tropical Nature, etc.

Travel Guides

Baker, Christopher P., Costa Rica Handbook, Moon Publicatons, 1999

Blake, Beatrice et al., The New Key to Costa Rica, 14th ed. Costa Rica, 1998. Excellent information. Constantly updated

Frommer, Arthur and Eliot Greenspan, Frommer's Costa Rica 2000, Eliot, IDG Books Worldwide, 1999.

Field Guides

Beletsky, L. Costa Rica: The Ecotraveler’s Wildlife Guide, Natural World Academic Press, 1998

Identification, distribution and conservation information on Costa Rica’s frequently spotted animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Also includes information on habitats and parks.

DeVries, P. The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History. Princeton University Press, 1997

An introduction to the biology of butterflies and their habitat in Costa Rica. Excellent illustrations. Not all families are treated.

Emmons, L.H. and F. Feer, Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide, University of Chicago Press, 1990

This excellent little book covers all of the mammals that occur in Costa Rica.

Natural History and Conservation in the Tropics

Carr, Archie. The Windward Road, University Presses of Florida, 1979 (first published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1955)

One man’s adventures in search of sea turtle nesting grounds throughout the Caribbean basin, Mr. Carr’s account focuses mainly on Costa Rica Carr, Archie. The Windward Road, University Presses of Florida, 1979.

Janzen, D.H. Ed., Costa Rican Natural History. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1983

A valuable sourcebook on all aspects of natural history in Costa Rica. Detailed species accounts of many of the more commonly observed plants and animals. Slightly technical but definitely worth it.

Kircher, J.C., and Plotkin, Mark, A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics, 2nd Rev. Edition, Princeton University Press, 1997

Another excellent book which takes the ‘systems’ approach to neotropical ecology and which results in a clearer understanding on the part of the reader.

Perry, D., Life Above the Jungle Floor, New York, Simon & Shuster, 1987

A close-up look at life in the rainforest canopy, a biological frontier.

Skutch, Alexander F., A Birdwatcher’s Adventures in Tropical America, University of Texas Press, 1977

A highly readable account of Dr. Skutch’s early days in Central America, highlighting Costa Rica. Excellent overview of basic tropical ecology.

Wallace, David Rains, The Quetzal and the Macaw: The Story of Costa Rica’s National Parks. Sierra Club, 1991

Excellent account of the struggle to establish the National Park System of Costa Rica, with incisive reporting on the politics of conservation and accurate, often humorous, characterizations of the principle players in this great achievement.

Other Titles of Interest

Schafer, Kevin, Costa Rica: The Forests of Eden, Rizzoli International Publications, New York, NY, 1996

An outstanding pictorial essay of Costa Rica’s natural treasures complemented by the photographer's/author’s sensitive writing. Introduction by Alvaro Ugalde.

Ras, Barbara, Ed. Costa Rica: A Traveler’s Literary Companion, Introduction by Oscar Arias, Whereabouts Press, San Francisco, CA, 1994.

An excellent collection of Costa Rican short stories, sensitively translated into English. A window into the soul of Costa Rican culture.

Websites

www.ticotimes.net Costa Rica's English Language newspaper.

www.tourism-costarica.com is the Costa Rican Tourism Board's site.

www.costarica.tourism.co.cr describes the services of the Costa Rican Tourism Chamber.

www.iexplore.com contains travel information for Costa Rica and other destinations.

www.superpaginas.co.cr is the Costa Rican Yellow Pages online.

www.costarricense.com contains information about Costa Rica in English and Spanish. Recipes for Costa Rican food.

www.rree.go.cr is the External Relations Ministry's site containing information about visas, embassies, etc.

www.exofficio.com is on-line travel clothing store ExOfficio.

www.yellowweb.co.cr has bus schedules.

www.ecotourism.co.cr specializes in the Southern Zone.

www.fores.com Spanish language courses in Costa Rica.

Jose Saenz Nature Photography has wildlife and landscape photos of Costa Rica.