jueves, 29 de mayo de 2014

Go Stand-Up Paddling in Santa Teresa Costa Rica


SUP (Stand-up paddling) is a great all-body workout, is relatively easy to learn, and is lots of fun. Surfers started using Hawaiian-style stand-up paddle boarding as a way to keep fit when there aren’t any waves, and also as a way to power into waves that are hard to catch.

To Stand-up Paddle, you stand on a wide, long, modified surfboard while using a long paddle (like a one blade kayak paddle) to maneuver in the water. Your weight balance and the strength of your core body is how you stay up and move.

When you stay at Hotel Tropico Latino, on the beach at Playa Carmen in Santa Teresa, the Reception staff can arrange Stand-up Paddling tours for you.

SUP Santa Teresa Costa RicaThe tour goes from the nearby beach of Mal Pais paddling down the coast toward the famous Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Tours usually last between 60 to 90 minutes on the water, and are better suited for the smooth water of early morning or calm afternoons around sunset.

Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica is known for its spectacular sunsets, gold and light sand, warm and clear aquamarine water, and great surf.

Beach House at Hotel Tropico LatinoOne of the best beachfront hotels in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is Hotel Tropico Latino. The relaxed and charming oasis on four acres of lush gardens features tropical bungalows and suites, a beachfront spa, yoga classes and retreats, and surf instruction and surf camps.

Article by Shannon Farley

Keeping water clean in Santa Teresa Costa Rica

“Without water, there can be no life. Without clean water, there can be no healthy life.”

WaterKeeper AllianceThis is the driving force behind the worldwide environmental organization Waterkeeper Alliance. Based in the United States, the Waterkeeper Alliance aspires to protect every major watershed around the world, to advocate for every person’s right to clean water and the equitable use of water resources globally.

Water is at the center of the world’s most pressing issues today: security, scarcity, energy, climate change, and infectious diseases. Fresh water resources are declining in virtually every part of the world in quality and quantity. It is reported that more than 1 billion people on the planet live without access to safe drinking water.

More than 200 Waterkeeper grassroots organizations on six continents strive to defend clean water in their communities. In Central America, Costa Rica is the only nation with a Waterkeeper organization.

WaterKeeper Nicoya PeninsulaThe environmentally-friendly town of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, is the lucky home of Costa Rica’s Waterkeeper Alliance. Founded in October 2012, the Nicoya Peninsula Waterkeeper group is focused on improving the quality of water in the Santa Teresa area, and helping the community properly deal with its waste waters.
“One of our primary priorities is the lack of water and quality of water in Santa Teresa,” said Carolina Chavarria, in charge of the Nicoya Peninsula Waterkeeper group. “Another priority is how residual waters are treated in Santa Teresa – from private residences to hotels and restaurants.”

Costa Rica - Santa TeresaLike many coastal communities in Costa Rica, especially ones that have developed rapidly from tourism, Santa Teresa faces water shortages during the Costa Rican “summer” months of January to May. Residents and businesses in the area are forced to buy tanker-trucks of water almost weekly to meet their needs until the rains begin again.

Waterkeeper is part of the local community’s Committee for Water and Health of Santa Teresa that is working with the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) to solve the area’s water issues.

The Santa Teresa Waterkeeper group is targeting two community campaigns: “One River at a Time” to clean each of the area’s 18 rivers, and helping people properly treat their waste waters with practical and affordable solutions such as bio-gardens. Waste water is treated to be used safely in landscape irrigation. “Besides being pretty, they are really practical and useful,” Chavarria said.

Pranamar biogardenOn Santa Teresa Beach, Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat is creating a bio-garden for their restaurant kitchen’s gray water. “All of the water from the kitchen is going to be treated to get rid of the grease to be able to use for irrigation,” said Pranamar hotel manager, Mario Matarrita.

Pranamar Oceanfront VillasThe Costa Rica beach resort already uses a completely independent septic system that recycles treated water to irrigate the hotel’s gardens. “We save water all year long this way,” noted Matarrita.

The Balinese-style oceanfront villas closely follow sustainable tourism practices. Two fresh water wells on the property reinforce the boutique hotel’s water supply. Water is filtered and purified in the restaurant and made available for guests. “The idea is for our guests to not buy so many plastic bottles of water, but rather to re-fill their bottles in our restaurant with our purified water,” Matarrita explained.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas and Yoga Retreat is a top beachfront hotel in Santa Teresa Costa Rica. The holistic resort specializes in yoga and surfing holidays, daily yoga classes, and yoga retreats.

Article by Shannon Farley

miércoles, 28 de mayo de 2014

New Costa Rica Jade Museum shows off indigenous art and culture

Jade bird pendant from Guanacaste Costa RicaIn Central America, Costa Rica is one of two regions where jade was extensively carved by indigenous peoples in Pre-Columbian times. The earliest evidence for carved jade dates to 500 B.C., and is a bird pendant excavated from a burial tomb on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Jade pendants and other ornaments made in Costa Rica are among the country’s most unique historic art forms. Fashioning items out of Jadeite, which was most prevalent in Costa Rica, remained in favor for hundreds of years until approximately 700 A.D., when its popularity appears to have been replaced by gold ornaments. Costa Rican jade comes in many green tonalities, from pale blue-green to intense, almost black greens.

Jade Museum Costa RicaYou can now see Costa Rica’s entire collection of nearly 7,000 pieces of indigenous jade, ceramics and stone artifacts, purportedly the largest collection of Pre-Columbian jade in the world, at the new national Museum of Jade and Pre-Columbian Art in San Jose Costa Rica.

Open to the public as of May 26, 2014, the new Jade Museum is located in the Plaza de la Democracia (Democracy Plaza) opposite the Costa Rica National Museum. Since 1977, Costa Rica’s impressive collection of ancient jade had been housed in a small wing of the National Insurance Institute (INS) building, which prevented the museum from displaying its full collection.

Jade collection Costa RicaThe new Jade Museum spans 75,000 square feet over five floors. The building itself is exceptionally modern and eye-catching. The architect designed the commanding edifice to capture the shape and texture of a piece of jade. Conveniently located in the center of downtown San Jose’s cultural attractions, the Jade Museum is just a few blocks from the National Theatre, one of the capital city’s most popular tourist attractions.

See the best of San Jose with Costa Rica Special Deals, a professional online travel service. Costa Rica Special Deals offers you San Jose hotel reservations, Costa Rica travel deals, and Costa Rica vacation packages.

Article by Shannon Farley

martes, 27 de mayo de 2014

Car rentals and transportation in Costa Rica

Transportation in Costa RicaWhether you are visiting Costa Rica for your honeymoon, a family vacation, adventure tourism or eco-tourism, you will need a way to get around the country.

Renting a car in Costa Rica gives you the most freedom to explore the country as you like.

2Costa Rica Travel can help you with rental cars in San José, Tamarindo, Liberia, Jacó and Manuel Antonio

In many cases, you can arrange for a vehicle to be delivered directly to your hotel, or meet you at the airport (international or local). You also can arrange to pick up a vehicle at one location, and then drop it off at another agency location.

Car rental Costa Rica2Costa Rica Travel has access to an up-to-date fleet of sedans and 4x4s. On Costa Rica’s roads, it is generally recommended to have a 4WD vehicle, especially in rainy season. In Costa Rica, most cars have manual transmissions; however with car rentals, both automatic and manual transmissions are available, depending on availability and the car model type. 2Costa Rica Travel includes the cost of mandatory car insurance and unlimited mileage in its pricing.

The Costa Rica travel agency has a list of mileage distances and approximate driving times between major Costa Rica towns and cities on their website.

Get tips on what to pack and other important Costa Rica travel information, along with hotel and tour reservations, and Costa Rica vacation packages from 2Costa Rica Travel.

Article by Shannon Farley

Surfing the southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica

Surfing Costa Rica Caribbean, image by Costa Rica EscapadesLess crowded than the beaches of Southern California, Hawaii and Australia, the warm water waves of Costa Rica are a favorite destination for world surfers. And lesser known than the very-developed Pacific Coast, the laid-back southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is a hot spot for Costa Rica surfing with lots of great waves.

The popular Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, is an ideal location for laid-back surfers and travelers looking for a more relaxed Costa Rica travel experience over the highly commercialized Pacific Coast. Playa Cocles and Puerto Viejo hosted the 2014 Olympus National Surfing Circuit competition, the Lime Coral Caribbean Classic II, in January of this year.

Surfing Salsa Brava wave in Puerto ViejoPuerto Viejo also is home to the most powerful wave in the countrySalsa Brava, a thick Hawaiian-style barrel wave that builds in deep water and pours over a shallow coral reef lining the coast. It is called the “heaviest wave” in the country, and is for expert surfers only.

The beaches of Playa Cocles, Playa Negra, Cahuita and Manzanillo offer waves for all levels. Beginner and intermediate surfers will enjoy the sandy-bottom beaches of both Playa Cocles and Playa Negra.

Surfing Playa Cocles Costa RicaA lifeguard watches Playa Cocles and right in front is where most surfers gather. “This beach break offers a more consistent break, with lefts and rights breaking close to the beach. This wave tends to jack up with a big swell due to the steep beach entry … beware of currents. 

Best conditions in the early morning before the winds blow it out. However, you can surf here all day as the wind often improves the lack of form,” according to Surf Costa Rica.

Playa Negra in Cahuita is also good for surfing, and is lesser known and not crowded. Playa Negra “offers a great beach break with waves year-round. Best conditions in the early morning with swell from the south or east at almost any tide,” according to Surf Costa Rica.
Playa Grande, between Punta Uva and Manzanillo, is frequented by local surfers, as is Manzanillo Beach.

Le Cameleon Hotel, South Caribbean, Costa RicaWhen visiting, be sure not to go surfing alone, and always check with local surfers about riptides, strong currents and reefs.

Costa Rica boutique hotel Le Caméléon, at Playa Cocles, can arrange surfing classes and board rentals for you. Their in-house concierge organizes all of the top tours in the southern Caribbean region

The upscale Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica is chicly designed in exuberant tropical gardens. Their La Sula Sea Lounge and beach club is the best place to be on Playa Cocles. You will be minutes from all of the surfing action.

Article by Shannon Farley

lunes, 26 de mayo de 2014

Costa Rica low season special deals for Rincon de la Vieja

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin roomsMay and June – the beginning of Costa Rica’s low season – are one of the best times for travel deals. The crowds have gone home. Refreshing afternoon rains (though not every day) have transformed the landscape into a vivid tapestry of green and brightly-colored tropical flowers. And many hotels and tours are offering great Costa Rica travel deals.

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, at the base of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is no exception. Winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014 award, the Costa Rica eco-hotel is currently offering three excellent low season specials for 2014.

Low season special 2014Low Season Special #1: Reserve 3 nights and only pay for 2!
Low Season Special #2: For reservations of one night only, get a 20% discount.
Low Season Special #3: Sundays are special – receive a 50% discount for hotel accommodations and adventure tours on Sundays (available for Costa Rica residents only).
Offers are valid for the months of May, June, September and October, 2014.
Low Season 2014 discounts at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin include:
    Hot springs Hacienda Guachipelin
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Buffet breakfast
  • Unlimited admission to the Río Negro Hot Springs and waterfalls
  • Free shuttle to the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park and Hot Springs
  • Special rates in transportation
Additionally, you can receive special discounts at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin when you pay with American Express or a BAC Credomatic network credit card.
Hacienda Guachipelin offers the best things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with their unique Costa Rica adventure tours.

Article by Shannon Farley

jueves, 22 de mayo de 2014

Bird-watching in Costa Rica’s Northern Plains

Scarlet Macaw in Costa RicaIf you think bird-watching is, well, “for the birds”, then you haven’t traveled to Costa Rica. The first time you see a brilliant flash of scarlet, yellow and blue fly past – a Scarlet Macaw, or the bright yellow and black with the multicolored beak of a toucan, or the iridescent flitting jewel of a hummingbird, you’ll be hooked.

Soon, you’ll be asking, “Hey, what kind of bird is that?” You’ll remember names and start noticing movement in trees and bushes. You’ll find yourself taking photos of vividly colored birds throughout your trip. And when you recount the wildlife you’ve seen in Costa Rica, birds will be in the list.

Costa Rica has long been a famous destination for serious bird watchers. With approximately 870 species of birds registered in Costa Rica – more than the total in all of North America, packed into an area about the size of West Virginia or Switzerland – it’s easy to get enthused about the eye-catching feathered creatures you see while on a Costa Rica vacation.

Sunbittern at Maquenque LodgeCosta Rica enjoys extraordinary bird life due to its geographic position as a land bridge between North and South America, and the country's many habitats: rainforests, cloud forest, mangrove swamps, beaches, rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc.

The lowland tropical rainforest and wetlands of the Northern Plains of Costa Rica are one of the more prolific sites for bird-watching in the country. Last year’s annual Christmas Bird Count in Costa Rica finished in the region at Maquenque Eco-lodge.

Jabiru at Maquenque LodgeMaquenque is one of the top bird-watching hotels in Costa Rica. The Costa Rica eco-lodge is located in Boca Tapada on the San Carlos River by the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge. Lodge information cites more than 410 identified species of birds in the area, including endangered Great Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus) and Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao). Other species that can be found in the rainforest and wetlands by Maquenque are: toucans, Oropendolas, Honeycreepers, Tanagers, Chestnut-bellied Herons, Muscovy Ducks, Great Curassows, Jabirus, Roseate Spoonbills, Green Ibis, and Sunbitterns.

Birders from North America who visit Costa Rica during the northern winter months usually recognize familiar faces in the forest, since many species migrate to Costa Rica every winter.

Maquenque Eco-Lodge Costa RicaMaquenque Eco-Lodge offers fun and informative guided bird-watching tours with their naturalist guide. Accommodations at the eco-lodge are simple and comfortable in 14 bungalows, each having private bathrooms with hot water, and balconies overlooking a beautiful lagoon. Eight kilometers of trails wind through the Costa Rica rainforest lodge’s 68-acre property.

Travel Tip: Download the Costa Rica Birds Field Guide on iTunes.

Article by Shannon Farley

miércoles, 21 de mayo de 2014

New development in Atenas, Costa Rica meets high real estate demand

Las Brisas views to San JoseTo the west of the hustle and bustle of the capital city of San Jose, lies the small town of Atenas, Costa Rica. The rural town of farms and coffee plantations sits on the far edge of the country’s Central Valley, where the steep mountains spill down to the Central Pacific Coast.

Atenas is known for having one of the best climates in the world – more sunny days than rainy and moderate temperatures. The reputation has made Atenas a major international retirement destination. AARP, the largest association of retired people in the world, calls Atenas a top 10 place to retire abroad, putting Atenas Costa Rica real estate in high demand.

If you are looking for real estate in Costa Rica, a new option is the residential development of Las Brisas del Valle (Breezes of the Valley), under construction in the Atenas neighborhood of Estanquillos. Located 20 minutes from the town center of Atenas, Las Brisas del Valle is surrounded by beautiful coffee plantations at an elevation of 1,200 meters (3,900 feet). Days are warm and nights are fresh and cool.

Las Brisas Master plan, Atenas Costa RicaLas Brisas del Valle is being developed by Pure Life Development of Atenas in two phases. Phase l features four homesites with panoramic views of San José and the Central Valley. Phase ll consists of four more homesites, with picturesque mountain vistas, naturally divided from Phase l by a beautiful, tree-lined creek that runs year-round and provides a natural wildlife corridor.

Las Brisas home plan in AtenasCustom-built homes at Las Brisas del Valle are designed in a “contemporary tropical” style with a Balinese flair. Each home has been painstakingly crafted to take advantage of the natural topography of the land, the stunning views, natural surroundings and tropical climate. The community rests on eight acres of land, with homes ranging in size from just under 3,000 square feet to nearly 4,000 square feet on lots of 0.5 acres to 1.25 acres.

Pure Life Development of Atenas specializes in real estate for sale and home rentals in Atenas, Costa Rica. Your Costa Rica real estate experts are Dennis J. Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras, both certified with the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate and successfully helping customers find new homes in Atenas, Costa Rica for 10 years.

Article by Shannon Farley

martes, 20 de mayo de 2014

Five favorite eco hotels in Costa Rica

The lush rainforest, beautiful unspoiled beaches, and towering volcanoes of Costa Rica are some of the biggest draws for visitors to this Central American eco-paradise. But while being eco-friendly, travelers who visit Costa Rica don’t have to sacrifice comfort to enjoy nature and Costa Rica adventure tours.

Here are five favorite eco-hotels that have teamed up being eco-friendly with five-star comfort and service and unique charm. Get a full list of the best eco-hotels in Costa Rica and top Costa Rica tours, along with Costa Rica vacation packages, at 2Costa Rica Travel agency.

Gaia Hotel Manuel Antonio Costa RicaHotel Gaia, Manuel Antonio Beach

Gaia Luxury Boutique Hotel and Reserve is set on 14 acres of rainforest overlooking the gorgeous beach, offshore islands and stunning coastline of Manuel Antonio, on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast. The renowned Manuel Antonio National Park is minutes away from the chic, five-star eco-friendly adult and teen only resort.

El Establo Hotel Monteverde Costa RicaHotel El Establo, Monteverde
Eco-friendly Hotel El Establo offers you luxury in the Monteverde cloud forest with dramatic views of the Nicoya Gulf and sensational sunsets. The half Costa Rican – half Quaker family-owned hotel is set on a private 150-acre farm that is 50% protected primary forest, and located adjacent to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Hotel Punta Islita ocean-view suite, Costa RicaHotel Punta Islita, Nicoya Peninsula
Overlooking a white sand beach and blue Pacific Ocean on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, Hotel Punta Islita is an extraordinary, sophisticated eco-hotel. Holding the maximum level in the Costa Rican Tourism Board’s (ICT) Certificate for Sustainable Tourism, the five-star eco-hotel features luxury rooms, suites and private villas.



Villa Blanca Cloud Forest HotelVilla Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel & Spa, San Ramon
Just over an hour’s drive from the San Jose International Airport, eco-minded travelers enjoy the pure beauty and excellent service of Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel. Located on 75 acres in the Los Angeles Private Biological Nature Reserve by the town of San Ramon, the hotel is ideally situated to get to the Arenal Volcano.

Xandari Plantation Resort Costa RicaXandari Plantation Resort & Spa, Alajuela
Xandari Resort & Spa is luxury eco-hotel only 20 minutes from the San Jose International Airport, on a 40-acre plantation overlooking the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Bold art, vanguard architecture, magnificent vistas and pastoral landscapes create an enchanting setting for 24 private villas.

Article by Shannon Farley

lunes, 19 de mayo de 2014

Whitewater excitement at the Teva Rafting Cup 2014 in Costa Rica

Copa Teva Rafting 2014 Costa RicaWhitewater rafting teams from all over Costa Rica will compete for the prestigious Teva Rafting Cup 2014 the last weekend of May at the Naranjo River near the Manuel Antonio National Park.
Known as the “Copa Teva” in Spanish, the exciting rafting competition is organized by the Quepos Whitewater and Adventure Association.

Starting on Friday, May 30, teams will compete in Sprint and Head-to-Head competitions downriver starting from Finca Naranjo to the London Bridge. On Saturday, May 31, there will be a Downriver Race from Finca Naranjo to the Llamarón Bridge. Finishing up on Sunday, June 1, teams will face the challenging Slalom competition in the river section from Finca Naranjo to the London Bridge.

Copa Teva Rafting 2014The last registration deadline is May 20. Registration fee per team is from $100 to $150, which includes rafts, transport and three nights of camping. Teams must come to Finca Naranjo on May 29 for a team captains’ meeting at 6:00 p.m.
In February, Teva sponsored an Extreme Race for kayaking on the Chorro section of the Naranjo River.

A favorite for whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, the Naranjo River flows from the Talamanca Mountains above Quepos and Manuel Antonio, passing through several narrow gorges on its way to the Pacific Ocean. The exciting and challenging class III and IV rapids make for a fun day of rafting. A little further to the east, the Savegre River is another popular whitewater rafting destination, offering easier rafting and fun river tubing trips in class II and III rapids.

Portasol Toucan House in the tropicsRight nearby, the Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living sustainable community is one of the best places to stay to attend the Copa Teva rafting competition. The residential and vacation lodging community has comfortable and luxurious vacation rentals, and is a short drive from the popular beaches of Manuel Antonio and Dominical. You can go on a commercial rafting trip easily from Portasol on either the Naranjo or Savegre rivers.

Portasol offers a unique place to experience Costa Rica’s amazing beauty. The Costa Rica sustainable community has Costa Rica property for sale for future homeowners. Homesites fill only 17% of land in the eco-community; the rest is protected rainforest with rivers and waterfalls, and community areas.

Article by Shannon Farley

viernes, 16 de mayo de 2014

Jaguars and monkeys and whales on Osa Peninsula Costa Rica! Oh my!

Piedras Blancas National ParkDown in the very south of Costa Rica there is a rainforest you dream to see. Thankfully off the tourism “superhighway” and explored only by adventurous intrepid travelers, it is a place of rugged mountains, plunging waterfalls, free-flowing rivers, striking beaches and magnificent towering trees in dense rainforest.

Jaguars roam freely, scarlet macaws soar overhead, and humpback whales and dolphins splash in the calm blue waters of the Golfo Dulce in this wilder side of Costa Rica. There aren’t many roads, and there are far more trees than people.

Piedras Blancas National Park treesIn the southwestern corner of this peaceful Central American nation, renowned for eco-tourism, the Piedras Blancas National Park is much less visited than its famous neighbor, the Corcovado National Park. One third smaller, the Piedras Blancas National Park spans 34,642 acres that tie into the more than 366,000 acres of land and sea protected in national parks, wildlife refuges and private reserves on the Osa Peninsula Costa Rica.

Sandwiched between the Golfito National Wildlife Refuge to the east and the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve to the west, Piedras Blancas was heavily logged and hunted until land was donated or slowly bought by charitable groups and turned over for public use. The national park was created in 1993.

Jaguar on the Osa PeninsulaToday, the park protects the remaining lowland tropical rainforest near the Golfo Dulce, and provides a habitat for all five species of Costa Rica wild cats – jaguars, ocelots, margays, jaguarundis and pumas – and all four kinds of monkeys – spider, howler, white-faced capuchin and endangered squirrel monkeys. The park is considered to be one of the top bird-watching locations in Costa Rica, with more than 330 species recorded.

Playa Nicuesa treehouse main lodgeThe best way to visit Piedras Blancas National Park is to stay in the area. Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is the top Costa Rica eco-lodge on the Golfo Dulce. Its 165-acre private preserve backs into the Piedras Blancas National Park. While visiting, you can explore thriving rainforests and immaculate beaches, powerful waterfalls and the fascinating Esquinas River and mangrove estuary. Just off the coast are many intact coral reefs, providing excellent places to snorkel and swim.

Article by Shannon Farley


jueves, 15 de mayo de 2014

Costa Rica open water swim race at Samara Beach on May 17

Open water Samara 2014There are many activities and adventures you can do on vacation in Costa Rica, but more and more visitors are traveling to the renowned Central American country for international sports competitions like running, swimming, cycling, mountain biking and triathlons.

Open water swimming in Costa Rica is popular, with frequent swimming competitions held in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and even some lakes.

Coming up on Saturday, May 17, 2014, there will be a 1k and 2.5k open water swimming competition at Samara Beach on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific Coast. Sponsored by the Costa Rica Run & Ride Association and the Samara Chamber of Tourism, the race headquarters will be at Hotel Villas Playa Samara.

Located roughly 50 minutes south of the famed surfing beaches of Playa Guiones and Nosara, Playa Samara is a popular beach destination for its tranquil ambiance, calm water and beautiful beach.

Starting at 12:00 p.m., the 1k swim will go from small coastal Chora Island to the beach; participants will be taken to Chora Island by boat to start. The open water 2.5k swim begins at 12:30 p.m. in front of Hotel Villas Playa Samara.

Open water 1k SamaraOpen Water 2.5k Samara

L'acqua Viva Resort and Spa, Nosara, Costa RicaThe short swim is open to men and women of all ages. The long swim has six categories from age 12 up to the Masters C level for ages 50 and up. Registration for swimmers is from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. on event day at Hotel Villas Playa Samara, or you may also register online on the Open Water Costa Rica website.

Future 2014 Costa Rica open water swimming competitions include Aug. 30 at Punta Leona (Playa Mantas) on the Central Pacific Coast, Sept. 13 at Playa Manzanillo on the Caribbean Coast, Oct. 18 at Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean Coast, and Nov. 29 at Los Juncos Lake by the Arenal Volcano.


The place to stay at Playa Guiones by Nosara is L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa. The 4-star luxury hotel in Costa Rica is tucked between the coastal foothills and the beach, named one of the best places to go worldwide in 2014 by CNN and National Geographic.

Article by Shannon Farley