The one negative thing I'll say about Costa Rica, as compared to the rest of Central America, is that it is much more 'touristy'. It's gorgeous, extremely safe, stunningly cheap, and the beaches and forests are out-of-this-world, but there's no culture to the place. I had an interesting conversation with some Isralies who ran a falafel shop/internet cafe/laundromat in Mal Pais (extremely awesome surf spot on the south-west coast of the Nicoya peninsula) about the lack of Costa Rican identity or culture.
If you want a relaxing tropical vacation, you can't do better in the Americas than Costa Rica. If you actually want to see something go to Guatemala.
Oh, and don't bother with the malaria pills, just drink about eight gin and tonics a day.
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