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READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

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Books for

Enrich your travels with reading! Here's a hand-picked list prepared for your journey in conjunction with the book experts at Longitude.

Essential Reading

Item EXCRC48. Buy these 5 items as a set for $96 including shipping, 15% off the retail price.
With free shipping on anything else you order.

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The New Key to Costa Rica

The New Key to Costa Rica

by Beatrice Blake

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 560 PAGES

The original guide to Costa Rica, featuring up-to-date suggestions of hotels and lodges, outdoor adventures and excursions -- and with a serious focus on sustainable travel. (CAM36, $19.95)

Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics

Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics

by Steven Palmer | Ivan Molina

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 392 PAGES

A lively, literate sourcebook on the politics, economy and society of Costa Rica (CRC40, $26.95)

Tropical Nature

Tropical Nature

by Adrian Forsyth | Ken Miyata

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1984
  • PAPER
  • 248 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

A lucid portrait of the tropics as seen by two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists. Its 17 marvelous essays introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforest. (GPS13, $16.00)

Costa Rica, Travellers' Wildlife Guides

Costa Rica, Travellers' Wildlife Guides

by Les Beletsky

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 448 PAGES

This handy field guide features 350 color illustrations of commonly encountered birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. With chapters on habitats, parks and conservation. (CRC11, $29.99)

Costa Rica Adventure Map

Costa Rica Adventure Map

by National Geographic

  • 2008
  • MAP

A double-sided map at a scale of 1:500,000. (CAM22, $11.95)

 
Costa Rica in Focus

Costa Rica in Focus


by Tjabel Daling

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 82 PAGES

A concise guide to the people, politics, economy and culture of Costa Rica. The author explores the history of democracy since the abolition of the army in 1948; the economic doldrums of the 1980s; and the impact of tourism. (CRC28, $12.95)

Costa Rica's National Parks and Reserves

Costa Rica's National Parks and Reserves


by Joseph Franke

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 272 PAGES

With trails, maps and travel details for 46 parks and reserves from Guanacaste to Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero and La Amistad. (CAM04, $21.95)

Costa Rican Spanish

Costa Rican Spanish


by Lonely Planet

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos. (CRC25, $8.99)

Inside Costa Rica

Inside Costa Rica


by Tom Barry

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 176 PAGES

A wonderful introduction to the history, culture and economics of Costa Rica. (CAM11, $11.95)

Insight Guide Costa Rica

Insight Guide Costa Rica


by Paul Murphy

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 308 PAGES

Thoroughly illustrated, this sturdy and informative guide features short essays on the natural history, culture and attractions of Costa Rica, hundreds of photographs and excellent local maps. (CRC08, $22.99)

A Brief History of Central America

A Brief History of Central America


by Hector Perez-Brignoll

  • HISTORY
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 223 PAGES

A good overview of the region's economic, political and social history through the 1980s by a professor at the University of Costa Rica. Well-written, informative and concise. (CAM49, $25.95)

Central America, A Natural and Cultural History


by Anthony G. Coates

  • HISTORY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 296 PAGES

A concise overview of the region with contributions by diverse authors on the geology, natural history and culture of the Central American isthmus. (CAM69, $22.50)

Peasants Against Globalization


by Marc Edelman

  • HISTORY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 308 PAGES

A trenchant examination of the social movements staged by Costa Rican farmers. (CRC41, $28.95)

The Ticos

The Ticos


by Richard Biesanz

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 307 PAGES
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

This insightful, fact-filled portrait of the Costa Rican people explores their culture, history and society. (CRC32, $22.95)

Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion

Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion


by Barbara Ras

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 238 PAGES

26 well-chosen stories by Costa Rican writers introduce the people, culture and land. (CRC03, $14.95)

A Naturalist in Costa Rica

A Naturalist in Costa Rica


by Alexander Skutch

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 382 PAGES

A warm account of living and studying ornithology in the Pacific hills of Costa Rica over the last 35 years at what is now Los Cusingos Neotropical Bird Sanctuary. Skutch died on his ranch in 2004 just short of his 100th birthday. (CAM09, $24.95)

A Neotropical Companion

A Neotropical Companion


by John Kricher | Mark Plotkin

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 536 PAGES

From plants and animals to birds and bugs, it's all here in this wonderfully written overview of the ecology, habitats, plants and animals of Central and South America. (GPS11, $35.00)

Costa Rican Natural History

Costa Rican Natural History


by Daniel Janzen

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1983
  • PAPER
  • 832 PAGES

A prize-winning reader on all aspects of the natural history of Costa Rica, this hefty and thorough illustrated book is remarkably well written and rewarding for the serious general reader. (CAM05, $57.50)

Volcanoes, Fire From the Earth

Volcanoes, Fire From the Earth


by Maurice Krafft

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 175 PAGES
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

By the great French volcanologist (who died on the job on Mount Unzen in Japan in 1992), this pocket guide features hundreds of full-color paintings, traces the study of volcanoes from early myth and legend to modern science. (GEO06, $15.95)

A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico

A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico


by Fiona Reid

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES

This second edition of Fiona Reid's wonderfully detailed and comprehensive field guide to the mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico features 59 vivid full-color illustrations. Reid painted most of the creatures in the field, a formidable challenge and -- given the quality of the results -- well worth her while. With parks, and protected areas, habitats, range maps, tracks and natural history. (CAM60, $59.95)

A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica

A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica


by F. Gary Stiles | Alexander Skutch | Dana Gardner

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 511 PAGES

A masterfully researched and comprehensive field guide to the birds of Costa Rica, including an overview of geography, habitats and avifauna. Covers 800 species and features 52 color plates. (CRC05, $39.95)

Costa Rican Wildlife

Costa Rican Wildlife


by Pocket Naturalist

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2000
  • PLASTIC CARD

Put it in your pocket! This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles. We also carry plastic cards for Costa Rica Birds (Item CRC56) and Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths (Item CRC57), $5.95 each. (CRC24, $5.95)

Costa Rican Wildlife

Costa Rican Wildlife


by Pocket Naturalist

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2000
  • PLASTIC CARD

Put it in your pocket! This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles. We also carry plastic cards for Costa Rica Birds (Item CRC56) and Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths (Item CRC57), $5.95 each. (CRC24, $5.95)

Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica

Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica


by Carrol Henderson | Alexander Skutch

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 560 PAGES

A comprehensive photographic guide to 300 commonly encountered and unusual species of birds, mammals and other wildlife, with a good overview of the geographic setting and natural history of the region. (CRC27, $39.95)

Mammals of Costa Rica

Mammals of Costa Rica


by Fiona Reid

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 28 PAGES

A palm-sized guide to 65 native mammals, with handsome full-color illustrations and helpful descriptions. Includes a map, viewing tips and a checklist. (CRC37, $7.00)

Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide

Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide


by L.H. Emmons

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 298 PAGES

Compact enough to slip into your daypack, this field guide to the mammals of the New World tropics features 29 color plates of more than 200 species. (GPS12, $42.50)

The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica, A Herpetofauna Between Two Continents, Between Two Seas


by Jay M. Savage | Michael Fogden | Patricia Fogden

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 934 PAGES

A massive, comprehensive handbook to 396 species of reptiles and amphibians in Costa Rica. (CRC39, $55.00)

More Recommendations

Here are some other groups of books that might be of interest

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.