At 09:54 PM 9/15/97 -0700, you wrote:
> Tweeters,
> regions, hotels, parks, and beaches that were particularly enjoyable.
> We would like to avoid big resorty-type things whenever possible.
> Other sources of puzzlement:
> ---renting a car and driving in Costa Rica--deadly?
> ---the Carribean Coast?
> ---the Osa penninsula?
> ---ID book?
> Please feel free to e-mail me directly.
>Zach Thompson
>Seattle, WA
>zath at u.washington.edu
>

Hi,

In 1989 we rented a car and drove around Costa Rica--the only problem we
had was lack of road signs. You come into a town on a highway, and good
luck finding where it goes out again. This may have been corrected by now,
but I'd suggest not trying to drive at night, when it's practically
impossible--otherwise, no real problem. Oh yes, do get a "real" road map.
The xeroxed one we got from Budget was useless.

The coast at or near Manuel Antonio NP is beautiful. There was a small
hotel there, at which we ate a very satisfactory meal. Also saw a very
satisfactory number of birds both on the way, and after arrival. Our time
was limited, but it's on my list of "return some day".

My field guide is an old one: L. Irby Davis, Birds of Mexico and Central
America.

Good luck and good birding,

Mickey Gibson
Sequim, WA
gibson at olympus.net