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History When construction began in the late 19th century, the President of Costa Rica was determined to create a lavish and impressive building that was worthy of the moniker 'National Theater'. However, the population of Costa Rica was quite low — San Jose alone had only around 20, residents — and cost was a major consideration. The construction was fraught with problems until an Italian engineer was brought in to oversee the entire project and guide it to success.

It seems clear that the painter never witnessed a banana harvest because of the way the man in the center is awkwardly grasping a bunch actual banana workers hoist the stems onto their shoulders.

The main season runs from March to November, but there are performances throughout the year. The hourly tours here are fantastic — guests are regaled with stories of the art, architecture and people behind Costa Rica's crown jewel of the performing arts. The best part is a peek into otherwise off-limits areas, such as the Smoking Room, which features famous paintings, lavish antique furnishings and ornate gold trim.

Tours are offered every hour on the hour in Spanish and English, to a maximum of 30 people. Children under 12 are free.

Alma de Cafe One of the most beautiful cafes in the city, this spot evokes early 20th-century Vienna. It's a perfect place to sip a cappuccino, enjoy a crepe or quiche and take in the lovely ceiling frescoes and rotating art exhibitions.

The coffee concoctions — such as the chocolate alma de cafe, spiked with cinnamon and clove — are an excellent midday indulgence. Once you're finished soaking up all the culture within the theater, you can easily join one of the city walking tours that start from the cafe. Set aside at least two hours to experience the gardens, but you could easily spend an entire day exploring the natural wonders on offer. Guided tours are available to book and there are several bars and restaurants available on site for when you've grown tired of feeding the birds and want to indulge yourself.

What can you see there? Guests walk 2 miles 3. Tour a serpentarium and ranarium frog garden , witness wild cats eating meals, and explore the lush rainforest populated by monkeys and sloths.

Can you stay at the gardens? Feel like you've stepped into a fairy tale at this over-the-top lodge, with its exquisite villas boasting majestic valley views, fireplaces, private decks with Jacuzzis, and huge bathrooms with waterfall showers.

Guests get free access to the gardens. This highly imaginative setting, with its multiple pools and interactive animal experiences toucan and hummingbird feeding , will have kids over the moon; it's an ideal spot for families. Transport La Paz Waterfall Gardens is 45 minutes from San Jose airport and is perfectly located for a day trip from San Jose if you're basing yourself there. As you wander its lovely trails, you'll catch a glimpse of dangling sloths, squawking toucans and playful monkeys, and stumble on breathtaking views of the sea and nearby islands.

To beat the crowds and maximize wildlife sightings, arrive early and make the most of the beach in the afternoon. The beaches and trails inside the park close at 4pm but you can still access the public beach outside the park after this time if you haven't had enough fun in the sun.

How much does it cost? You can only purchase your tickets online, so get them the afternoon before and walk straight in the following day. The park is open every day except Tuesday. Guided tours are also available to book online. Dos and don'ts Non-alcoholic drinks are permitted but single-use plastics are not this applies to bags too. Taking any kind of food into Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is forbidden.

There is a small kiosk within the park if you fancy a snack but that's all. Sign up for one using your mobile number. The library card you previously added can't be used to complete this action. Please add your card again, or add a different card. If you receive an error message, please contact your library for help. Error loading page. Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.

Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help. Los Angeles Public Library. Search Search Search Browse menu. Sign in. Costa Rica. Description Details Nobody knows Costa Rica like Lonely Planet, and our 9th edition helps you build the perfect itinerary.

The museum cafe, Grano Verde, serves sandwiches, salads and smoothies. Playa Cocles has waves for surfers who aren't keen to break skin and bones at nearby Salsa Brava Costa Rica's biggest break. Instead, it has steep lefts and rights, which break and often dump on the steep sandy beach. During the right tide and swell, the best wave breaks are near the island offshore, producing a mellow left-hand longboarder's ride over a deep reef.

Conditions best from December to March, and early in the day before winds pick up. As you wander its lovely trails, you'll catch a glimpse of dangling sloths, squawking toucans and playful monkeys, and stumble on breathtaking views of the sea and nearby islands. To beat the crowds and maximize wildlife sightings, arrive early or, better still, buy your tickets the afternoon before and walk straight in the following day.

This fantastic locally owned surf school prides itself on a two-to-one student-teacher ratio, with teachers who have CPR and water-safety training and years of experience. The amiable owner, Cesar Valverde, runs a friendly, warm-hearted program including surf lessons and accommodation. Single lessons and board rental is also available, and boards are great quality. When the swells are big, this place also has a good beach break for beginners.

This site, 4km 2. In their original setting, one can really appreciate their size and perfect sphericity. This m-high ft waterfall is claimed to be the highest in the country. The falls are most dramatic during the rainy season, though the serene rainforest setting is beautiful any time of year. A 5km 3. The world-class Wilson Botanical Garden is internationally known for its collection of more than native Costa Rican species.

Species threatened with extinction are preserved here for possible reforestation in the future. A trail map is available for self-guided walks amid exotic species such as orchids, bromeliads and medicinal plants. Guided walks are at am and pm. The botanical garden is a choice spot for birders, as it draws hundreds of Costa Rican and migrating species, as well numerous butterfly species.

If you want to stay overnight at the botanical garden, make reservations well in advance: facilities often fill with researchers. The rooms are simple, but they each have a balcony with an amazing view. Consisting of pristine beaches, riverbanks, mangrove estuaries, wetlands, primary and secondary forests, tree plantations and pastures, this hectare acre nature reserve forms a key link in a major biological corridor called the Path of the Tapir.

Explore the reserve by hiking five trails making 8km 5 miles of marked and well-kept self-guided pathways. Monkeys, sloths and toucans are commonly spotted here.