Best beach to camp on or near?
Aug 31st, 2001, 03:58 PM
#1
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Best beach to camp on or near?
Planning a trip in about a month.Really just want to walk along a semi-desserted beach,camping along the way.Bus in to town walk for say5-20 miles and bus out of next town.Any ideas?West coast or carribean? <BR> Thanx,David
Sep 1st, 2001, 03:26 PM
#4
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Just as a general rule, I would not recommend camping on the beach anywhere in Central America, including Costa Rica. You are not in Kansas anymore. The exception would be a campground or at a hotel or private home where you have permission. <BR> <BR>--Lan Sluder
Sep 2nd, 2001, 10:00 AM
#5
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David: <BR> I have seen places to camp near all of the major beach destinations in CR, specfically Jaco and Tamarindo. These certainly don't qualify as "deserted" but they are reletively safe, secure, and nearby everything you could need. Buy a guide book (Lonely Planet is good) and check for other spots; they are out there. As has been pointed out, the big question is security. Good luck and have fun, CR is pretty safe as things go. <BR>
Sep 4th, 2001, 05:31 AM
#6
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Hi David, <BR> <BR>Saw your similiar posting on Lonely Planet. I recomended Mataplao, however, there are variosu similiar places that would be fine...In Manuel Antonio there is a campground next to the national park, not as private as you are probably looking for but the beach is awfully nice. ALso, Esterillos or Playa Hermosa, between Jaco and Quepos probably have someone who would let you camp there for a few dollars. <BR>If you speak SPanish it will be easy, otherwise use babelfish to look up the dialogue you will need to ask someone if you can camp on their property. I know esterillos has a cute little campground on the beach that is at the FIRST entrance to Esterillos, there are several entrances. Bear in mind that in Esterillos, unlike the other places I mentioned, the number of people who speak English where you are most likely to find what you want, are quite limited! <BR>Do enjoy and have fun! <BR>Robbie <BR>
Sep 5th, 2001, 12:33 PM
#7
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No sh*t,I'm not in Kansas anymore,but I will be in C.R. soon.I've been living in the woods camping and enjoying life for alot of years.Travel light and respect the locals,don't leave garbage and everything always works out for me. <BR>I'd like to thank everyone for all the helpful info. <BR> David
Sep 5th, 2001, 01:32 PM
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I'm sorry if you took offense at my remark about not being in Kansas, but I've been going to Costa Rica since 1982 and I publish a magazine on another part of Central America. What I've seen over and over is that some people believe, wrongly, that they can come to Costa Rica, or Belize, or wherever, and just camp out on the beach or hang their hammock on a palm tree. It sounds great. <BR> <BR>It often doesn't work out that way. <BR> <BR>First of all there's the safety factor. Ticos are great, but there are bad apples everyone. There is crime in Costa Rica just as in the U.S., and those who are in an unfamiliar situation and who may not speak the language fluently are among the first to be victims. Even in relatively prosperous Costa Rica, any visitor likely is wealthy by Tico standards, and therefore a magnet for thieves. There have been a number of instances of tourists robbed, raped or even murdered on the beaches of Costa Rica. <BR> <BR>Then there is the reality that a lot of what may look like a great place to camp is often private property. <BR> <BR>Plus, the governments of Costa Rica and Belize, to name two, don't encourage and in fact really don't want backpackers on the beach. They, quite naturally, want more affluent tourists who bring and spend more money. <BR> <BR>You CAN camp in Costa Rica, and it can be a good experience, but in most cases the safe, no-hassle way to do it is at a campground, or near a hotel or on private land where you have express permission (and you will probably pay a fee.) You might also find that in some areas there are budget hotels that offer more security and fewer sandflies and other bugs than camping, at not much more cost. <BR> <BR>--Lan Sluder
