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SMITHSONIAN JOURNEYS
Costa Rica's Natural Heritage   |   READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE
Click on Essential Reading for the featured set of Costa Rica books and a map. We offer free shipping on anything else you order with the travel books package.

Essential Books These 5 items are available for $84, including
U.S. shipping, a 15% discount (Item no. EXCRC19)
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The New Key to Costa Rica  •  Beatrice Blake
GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES
A comprehensive, frequently revised guide to Costa Rica with excellent information on hotels, restaurants and excursions throughout the country. Welcome attention is paid to regard for the environment and local community. The best overall guide to Costa Rica for the nature-oriented independent traveler. Co-author Beatrice Blake also publishes keytocostarica.com. 18th Edition! (CAM36, $19.95)
  The New Key to Costa Rica
Tropical Nature  •  Adrian Forsyth  •  Ken Miyata
NATURAL HISTORY •  1984 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES • FAVORITE
A lively, 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. With a lengthy appendix of practical advice for the tropical traveler. (GPS13, $14.00)
  Tropical Nature
Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion  •  Barbara Ras
ANTHOLOGY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 238 PAGES
This well chosen anthology brings together 26 mostly modern stories by Costa Rican writers. It's a wonderful introduction to the character of the people, culture and land. (CRC03, $14.95)
  Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion
Costa Rica, Travellers' Wildlife Guides  •  Les Beletsky
FIELD GUIDE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES
This outstanding book is a field guide to the natural history of Costa Rica, featuring 350 color illustrations of commonly encountered birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Introductory chapters cover habitats, parks and conservation in Costa Rica. It's an all-around handbook, noteworthy for its color plates. (CRC11, $29.99)
  Costa Rica, Travellers' Wildlife Guides
Costa Rica Adventure Map  •   National Geographic
2008 •  MAP
A double-sided full color map of Costa Rica at a scale of 1:500,000 with good shaded relief, topographic detail, roads and waterways, basic travel information, and an inset of San Jose. Built for the road (or raft or trail), it's printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper. Two Sides. 38x25 inches. (CAM22, $11.95)
  Costa Rica Adventure Map
 

Related Categories
Costa Rica Map  •   Borch Maps    •  A laminated road map of Costa Rica at a scale of 1:650,000, featuring an inset of San Jose. (CRC21, $10.95)
 
 
Bradt Guide Costa Rica  •  Larissa Banting   • GUIDEBOOK  •  A comprehensive guide in the popular Bradt series. (CRC47, $23.95)
 
 
Costa Rica's National Parks and Reserves  •  Joseph Franke   • GUIDEBOOK  •  This third edition of Joseph Franke's practical guide features trail descriptions, sketch maps and details on 46 parks and preserved from Santa Rosa and Guanacaste to Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero and La Amistad. (CAM04, $21.95)
 
 
Costa Rica, An Ecotraveller's Guide  •  Hannah Robinson   • GUIDEBOOK  •  A full-color, illustrated guide to parks, wildlife reserves and outdoor activities in Costa Rica. (CRC46, $23.95)
 
 
Culture Smart! Costa Rica  •  Jane Koutnik   • GUIDEBOOK  •  A guide to local customs, etiquette and culture. (CRC45, $13.35)
 
 
Eyewitness Guide Costa Rica  •   Eyewitness Guides   • GUIDEBOOK  •  This superb guide, divided geographically, features color photographs, dozens of excellent maps and a strong focus on wildlife. (CRC43, $25.00)
 
 
Lonely Planet Costa Rican Spanish  •   Lonely Planet   • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS  •  A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos. (CRC25, $8.99)
 
 
A Brief History of Central America  •  Hector Perez-Brignoll   • HISTORY  •  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, $21.95)
 
 
The Ticos  •  Richard Biesanz   • CULTURAL PORTRAIT • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE  •  This insightful, fact-filled portrait of the Costa Rican people accessibly explores their culture, history and society. (CRC32, $22.95)
 
 
A Neotropical Companion  •  J.C. Kricher  •  Mark Plotkin   • NATURAL HISTORY  •  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  •  Daniel Janzen   • NATURAL HISTORY  •  A thorough, prize-winning reader on all aspects of the natural history of Costa Rica, this hefty illustrated book is remarkably well written and rewarding for the serious general reader. (CAM05, $53.00)
 
 
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond  •  Adrian Forsyth  •  E.O. Wilson  •  Michael Fogden   • NATURAL HISTORY  •  Our favorite biologist-writer returns to the Neotropics in this beautifully illustrated, oversized overview of the rain forest. With chapters on Monteverde and Guanacaste, plants, frogs and snakes, birds, monkeys and jaguars, the sloth, peculiar insects and biodioversity, the book is a marvelous, anecdotal introduction to ecology, evolution and conservation. (CRC67, $29.95)
 
 
The Monkey's Bridge, Mysteries of Evolution in Central America  •  David Rains Wallace   • NATURAL HISTORY  •  Wallace opens this absorbing account of the history and biogeography of the Central American isthmus with the tale of Columbus, weaving his own travels in the region with a crisp overview of exploration, nature and evolution. Natural history buffs and ecologically minded travelers will appreciate this valuable resource. (CAM56, $18.95)
 
 
Wild Costa Rica  •  Adrian Hepworth   • NATURAL HISTORY  •  This beautiful, informative survey of the habitats, wildlife and protected areas of Costa Rica features 200 color photographs and chapters on natural history and conservation. (CRC69, $29.95)
 
 
A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica  •  F. Gary Stiles  •  Alexander Skutch  •  Dana Gardner   • FIELD GUIDE  •  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)
 
 
A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica  •  Susan Fogdon  •  Michael Fogdon   • FIELD GUIDE  •  Arranged by family groups, this pocket field guide to 250 common birds includes color photos, identification notes and range maps. (CRC42, $15.95)
 
 
Costa Rica Birds, An Introduction to Familiar Species  •  James Kavanagh   • FIELD GUIDE  •  A handy, laminated fold-up card with full-color illustrations of birds commonly found in Costa Rica. Great for kids, too. (CRC56, $5.95)
 
 
Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths, An Introduction to Familiar Species  •  James Kavanagh   • FIELD GUIDE  •  A handy, laminated fold-up card. (CRC57, $5.95)
 
 
Costa Rica Wildlife Guide  •   Rainforest Publications   • FIELD GUIDE  •  A fold-out, 14-panel laminated plastic card featuring full-color illustrations of Costa Rica's mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, butterflies and primates. (CRC51, $7.95)
 
 
Costa Rican Wildlife  •   Pocket Naturalist   • FIELD GUIDE  •  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  •  Carrol Henderson  •  Alexander Skutch   • FIELD GUIDE  •  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  •  Fiona Reid   • FIELD GUIDE  •  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  •  L.H. Emmons   • FIELD GUIDE  •  Compact enough to slip into your daypack, this guide to the mammals of the New World tropics features 29 color plates of more than 200 species. (GPS12, $39.00)
 
 
The Birds of Costa Rica  •  Richard Garrigues  •  Robert Dean   • FIELD GUIDE  •  Built for the field, this new guide includes multiple illustrations for 820 species of birds. (CRC53, $29.95)
 
 
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide  •  Fiona Reid  •  Twan Leenders  •  Jim Zook  •  Robert Dean   • FIELD GUIDE • COMING IN MAY  •  The 450 color illustrations of all the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods that travelers is likely to see are integrated with brief descriptions for ease of use in the field. (CRC77, $29.95)
 
 
Tropical Plants of Costa Rica  •  Willow Zuchowski   • FIELD GUIDE  •  Organized by habitat, this photo guide to 400 species has chapters on popular destinations, including Monteverde and Tortuguero. (CRC55, $35.00)
 
 


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