What do you know about Costa Rica?

[koolhandk]

Originally Posted by chinomalo

Yes.. If you don't know how.. Try it, you'll like it..

Oh man since moving up here I miss it soooo much!

[Research-Colin-cl]

Originally Posted by koolhandk

If you are anywhere near a coast you must surf!

If I surf, I'll come to teh DC herf covered in Squid and in casts, with burns on my face. You'll ask why... and I'll tell you how well cigars and surfing go together. :arghhhh:

But seriously, I'll check into it.

[Research-Colin-cl]

Originally Posted by earnold25

i was only downtown for 2 days, so I can't tell you too much, but here's what I can recommend.

There's a bar / night life / restaurant / shop area near the Zoo. I forget what its called, but its very popular and any cabby should know what you mean. They have some nice restaurants there.

As far as food, i really liked the typical dishes. rice, beans, fried plantains and grilled chicken. the fish was also very good and fresh from just about anywhere. i'd stay away from the beef personally. didn't taste normal to me, i think its different type of cattle. maybe even a yak or something.

I didn't find any cigar shops there. A LCDH was said to be there, but when I called the number given, it didn't work.

As far as cigar farms, factories. I visited one, and there was another that sold cigars everywhere, although I didn't like them as much as the one I visited.

Vegas de Santiago (i visited this one. owners were very nice and its located about 30 minutes outside of san jose. they went so far as to pick me up at my hotel and take me out there. the bus also runs very close to the factory from san jose)

Tabacos de la Cordillera - claiming to have ancestral cuban seeds. you see lots of their brands being sold at random stores. I tried a few of them, some were good, some were just ok. They have a bigger factory and farm I was told.

And of course you were all talking about Don Benigno.

Thanks for the advice. I'll check this out. Are you going to the DC area herf? You should if you are close.

[earnold25-cl]

Originally Posted by Research-Colin

Thanks for the advice. I'll check this out. Are you going to the DC area herf? You should if you are close.

i'm definitely looking into it. you gonna be there?

[Research-Colin-cl]

Originally Posted by earnold25

i'm definitely looking into it. you gonna be there?

Yep, my girlfriend and I are planning to be there. I hope you can make it.

[koolhandk]

Originally Posted by Research-Colin

If I surf, I'll come to teh DC herf covered in Squid and in casts, with burns on my face. You'll ask why... and I'll tell you how well cigars and surfing go together. :arghhhh:

But seriously, I'll check into it.

Hahaha now that's funny!

[mark in kc]

Smoked my first real 'premium' cigar in the touristy capital square in San Jose. I was 17 and bought what I thought was the best cigar in the world: A Fauxhiba. I am just assuming it was fake b/c so many are counterfeit. This was ten years ago so I don't have the band or anything left of it but a great experience. I bought a fiver there and that is how I got into cigars. If you like coffee you can do a plantation tour at Cafe Britt. I don't know about the cigar trade there. The Volcan Arenal is worthwhile, rainforest is beautiful, beaches etc. The people there are awesome. Just do as much as you can and sleep on the way home. You won't regret it. Enjoy!

[Research-Colin-cl]

Originally Posted by mark in kc

Smoked my first real 'premium' cigar in the touristy capital square in San Jose. I was 17 and bought what I thought was the best cigar in the world: A Fauxhiba. I am just assuming it was fake b/c so many are counterfeit. This was ten years ago so I don't have the band or anything left of it but a great experience. I bought a fiver there and that is how I got into cigars. If you like coffee you can do a plantation tour at Cafe Britt. I don't know about the cigar trade there. The Volcan Arenal is worthwhile, rainforest is beautiful, beaches etc. The people there are awesome. Just do as much as you can and sleep on the way home. You won't regret it. Enjoy!

Good story. I'll try not to sleep. That's usually how I attack my trips. I'll sleep the day I get back to DC until the herf on Sat.

[DBCcigar]

Don't forget about the Horse Shoe casino. I had some damn good luck at black jack and craps - Damn good!

[ghe-cl]

Colin - I would stronly second giving Vegas de Santiago a try. Their web site is https://www.vegassantiago.com/ and you can see a review of one of their sticks at http://www.stogieguys.com/index.php?s=vegas+santiago