We are traveling for the very first time and have decided ti will be to Costa Rica for 8 days and 7 nights. Any Help will be MUCH APPRECIATED!!!! We would like to do the zipline, shop, spend alot of time at the beach and would love to visit a waterfall and see monkeys (not in a zoo). THANK YOU!

A combo of Arenal and Manuel Antonio will give you everything you're looking for. It's the most popular itinerary for first timers. Arenal has ziplines and a nice waterfall hike where you can swim at the base, and MA has a beautiful beach inside the park and lots of fairly tame monkeys. Check out Tulemar Bungalows or Si Como No.

Not much worthwhile shopping in Costa Rica.

Manuel Antonio and Arenal would also be my recommendation.

We saw a lot of monkeys at Manuel Antonio.....be sure to guard your lunch~they're thieves!! Several of the kids in our group got their lunches snatched.

Yes, they are kleptos!

No, Costa Rica is not the shopping mecca when compared with Mexico or Guatemala, but if you have any time in San Jose, the Mercado Central had some neat artisan wares even as well as some little shops (not junky stuff) in the vicinity of it. Also, if you're driving yourselves, have access to a vehicle, the town of Sarchi is the home of ox-carts and has some quality souvenir style ones.

Another vote for MA and Arenal.

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BOLD little kleptos, I might add! But very entertaining...

ten, we saw a monkey steal the glasses right off a kid's face at the animal sanctuary; he swooped in on some kind of vine, grabbed the glasses, and ran! Luckily they got them back, but it was funny!

We have gotten some neat things shopping over the years - wooden bowls and carvings, and some cool rocking chairs.

Our guide did tell us to beware the thieving monkeys; he said they have found nests containing all sorts of pilfered goods including cameras, glasses, wallets, keys......I think most people are distracted by their cuteness!