Costa Rica Info Please

[Dirty E]

Iam planning a honeymoon to Costa Rica or Zijua, and was looking for anyone with experience with the costa rica side of things, recommendations on locations, fishing, and maybe a few do's and donts, my soon to be bride would like to fish a couple of days but she is also curious what other activities people have tried, so if some of ya'll fine ifishers could hook me up, that would be just grand, also we are looking at sept. - oct. sometime, good time? Also she was curious about spending a few days on the pacific side and then a few days on the carrib. sides is transportion available and reliable to do that, thanks Dirty.

[ 12-11-2003, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Dirty E ]

[MikeT]

I worked in Costa Rica near San Jose for eight months a few years back. Lovely place and very tourist-friendly.


Sept/Oct. should be fine. I think that's near the end of the rainy season in San Jose, which means you'll have warm weather and daily rain showers (not continuous, though).

The Pacific and Atlantic coasts are quite different. Different fishing, different cultures.
Pacific side is best if you're looking for billfish, tuna, dorado, roosterfish, etc. Nice beaches and plenty of tourist activities.
Atlantic side is far less populated and developed. More of a Carribean culture, and fishing is focused more on other species (e.g., tarpon).

I fished out of Quepos on the Pacific side and found it enjoyable. Tons of sailfish. Prices for charters, even small boats, are steep, though.

There are tons of things to see and do. Jungle trekking, whitewater rafting, volcanoes, wildlife viewing, etc. San Jose itself is not particularly interesting for tourists. Food is mediocre, cultural attractions are scarce.
On the other hand, the people are great; figure out "Puda Vida" and you're halfway there to understanding the locals. Generally security is better than in most places. Petty thieves are about the worst of it. The police are generally honest and helpful. The government is a popularly elected democracy.

The road system is ok at best. BE CAREFUL DRIVING. The rules of the road are different. For example, people, even bus and truck drivers, will stop in the road and chat if they spot someone they know. People dart across the street and expect drivers to watch out for them. If you rent a car get a RAD4 or 4Runner; they'll survive the rough roads a lot better than a little sedan.

Go to a bookstore and check out the travel section. There are lots of books and maps available. The Lonely Planet books are consistently good. Also, start reading the Tico Times, the weekly English language newspaper. It has a fishing column each week. http://www.ticotimes.net/index.htm

Use Google to search the web. You'll find just about anything you need to know.

One thing you should know is that Costa Rica doesn't have the native culture attractions you'll find in places like Guatamala. Most of the people are descended from immigrants (e.g., Germans, Russians, Spanish, Carribean islands). That's not a bad thing, but it's the reason I found it relatively boring, and went other places when I wanted an interesting vacation experience. My boss thought I was nuts to fly to Guatamala for vacation when she thought there was so much to see in Costa Rica.

have fun....Mike

[Dirty E]

Thanks that a good start, I wrote another topic cause I couldn't find this one after I asked jennie to move it so, I may get alot of replies now, well I will head to the book store and maybe try making a few phone calls to get the skinny. Thanks Dirty

[speyfly]

Hi Dirty E, I spent a month In Costa Rica chasing billfish with a fly rod and it was a trip of a lifetime. The area I chose was the Golfito area. I am sure that the entire Pacific side of CR has great fishing; the Golfito area is one of the best in the world. Record breaking Billfish, Dorado, Roosters, Tuna, you name it you can target them there.

The waters off of Cabo Matopalo (southern tip of the Osa Peninsula) are some of the most fertile in the world with many line class records coming from that area. The Golfo Dulce has some of the best inshore fishing in the world with roosters (over 60 pounds), 100 pound plus snapper, and may surf species including giant snook. It was not uncommon to have a 10-15 sailfish day (only angler on the boat) and in between the billfish, giant dorado, yellow fin tuna and my guide was fantastic… John Olson from Texas has lived in CR since he was 21and now at a ripe old age of 37 (I think); he is married to a nice Tico gal and has 2 children the last I have heard. He fishes out of a very sea worthy 26’ supper panga with a nice 200 HP Evenrude Saltwater (new when I last fished with him). The blue water fishing grounds are about 30 minutes from Playa Zancudo (beautiful white sand beaches) and there are many inshore opportunities too. The blue water is very flat in that region and on a ruff day offshore the chop was around 2 feet and swell were nothing at all. One several days out it was like a lake.

CR is cheap to live there if you stay away from the big resort. My wife and I paid $35 per night in a palm leaf roof cabina right on the beach. The wife and I hiked in the jungle mountains many times (if you do this take a compass), watched Scarlet McCaws feeding in the almond trees and viewed many other birds too numerous to mention. The wife and I much prefer to have an unknown and exciting expedition rather than a canned trip. For us it was all about self discovery rather than tour groups and the like. Wonderful country and the people were fantastic. Anyway, let me know if you need info regarding the Golfito area and I will help. BTW when are you going to be there???

[Dirty E]

Hey spey, Thats just the kind of experience were looking for, we spent a week in cabo last year loved the people and the fishing but it felt way to touristy, so we are looking for something more that we can create but still have oppurtunities to be a tourist if we wish. I like the sounds of your guide I much preferred the pangas in cabo over the cruisers, but a gringo guide would be nice, someone who understands english is a luxury at times. We are looking sometime between Aug-Oct.trying to find the right fishing and weather in the time frame, your cabana sounds just what we would be interested in, name, Location? Thanks for the info anymore info or details would be sweeeeet. THanks again, and happy holidays. DIrty P.S. Give me a call if you wish (360)430-9857

[speyfly]

Hey Dirty, if you compare the guide rates between the big lodges in that area they will range from $600-$800 per day for the boat. John on the other hand charged $450 per day (for the boat) the last time was there, which included lunch and beverage, fishing permit and gear but I chose to bring my own fly gear and use his as a back up just in case. When you go please don't use live bait cause it kills way too many fish (John is not into fishing live bait). Live bait can be used to bring the fish to you. The big rock (Matapolo) will hold big roosters and bontia, jacks, sierra mackerel ladyfish and many more can be caught along the shoreline in that area. You will be there at the end of the Green Season (their winter/spring) so prepare for rain. Quick drying tropical clothing is a must. If you get cotton clothing wet, it will never dry out without a trip to the launder mat.

I would stay in the Playa Zancudo area. The beaches are fantastic for those romantic walks, several small lodges and restaurants too. Directly across the Golfo Dulce is the town of Puerto Jimenez and that is where we found the Mc Caws in the almond trees (very close viewing) and just outside of town is a small jungle walk (over by the air port and worth going). PJ is a quaint town with many eateries, shops and stuff to do. From PJ west along the Osa ‘s southern shore is probably the best inshore fishing in the area and is best fished from a boat. When you book your accommodations make sure that there is a small boat (16’ or better with good engine) and boat operator to take you around to the different areas. The Rio Coto Colorado (Zancudo area) where you can take a boat and view the saltwater crocodiles (some very large), and see some really cool stuff. The Osa Peninsula is a sanctuary (last of the virgin rain forests in all of the Central America’s) and there are several tours that can be booked out of PJ . If you choose to say there, John will come and pick you up for fishing. He can also set up all of your accommodations if you want to stay in Playa Zancudo. You can rent a 4WD and drive to some of the areas but many of the roads are mess during the Green Season.

Spend the money and pick up some good books and maps about Costa Rica. One of the better ones is Costa Rica Handbook by Baker (lost of do it yourself information) and Traveler’s Companion Costa Rica is good with beautiful photos.

This is almost as fun as going myself. I will e-mail you a bunch of links for information regarding lodging, food, tourist stuff and fishing.

Cheers,
Dennis

[Dirty E]

thanks again spey, I will get to powells and due some surfing, your guide he does other than fly or not, I'm not a fly guy, well atleast I've never tried it. gotta go on a run I will write you later.

[speyfly]

John does more gear than fly but I do recomend that you tell him that you would like to try out the fly thing and he'll bring the fly gear. If you do want to try it I would recomend that you take a fly casting class to get the basics and give it a try.

One thing that is really easy (even though I don't like to do it) is trolling flies. Yellowfin, bonita and just about everything else likes trolled flies.

Costa Rica is a big place with fishing opportunities from the north to the south so I am sure that you will have a great time.