The best ways to get to Santa Teresa Costa Rica

You want to visit Santa Teresa, Costa Rica – named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with some of the best surfing in Costa Rica. But where is it and how do you get there?

Santa Teresa Beach is located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. There are three ways to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica: driving, domestic flight or boat taxi.

Hotel Tropico Latino is a Santa Teresa beachfront hotel at beautiful Playa Carmen. Hotel Tropico Latino specializes in Costa Rica surf holidays and yoga retreats in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. They feature a charming property of four acres of lush gardens right on the sand, comfortable and luxurious accommodations, a beachfront spa, yoga classes and an award-winning restaurant.

How to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica by car or bus

To drive to the beach towns of the southern Nicoya Peninsula – Santa Teresa, Mal Pais, Montezuma and Tambor – you take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera. Be sure not to take the ferry to Playa Naranjo. The ferry takes about 75 minutes to cross the Nicoya Gulf. Arrive to the ferry terminal at least one hour early if it is high tourist season or a holiday.

In Paquera, follow the signs for Cobano and Mal Pais. In Cobano, drive straight through town and turn left after 1 kilometer, toward Mal Pais. The road turns into dirt. After 8 km, you will arrive at the Mal Pais crossroads; turn right to Hotel Tropico Latino and Santa Teresa. Drive time from Paquera is about 90 minutes.

Ferry schedules can be found here. Maps can be found here.

Buses: There are public buses daily from San Jose to Santa Teresa / Mal Pais.

How to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica by plane

There are many daily flights from San Jose to Tambor on Sansa Airlines and Nature Air; flights are a quick 35 minutes. From Tambor, Hotel Tropico Latino can arrange taxi transport for you or you can rent a car; drive time is about 40 minutes.

How to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica by boat taxi

Zuma Tours operates daily boat taxis from Herradura Beach near Jacó to Montezuma. This is a good transportation option in summer season. Boats travel in the morning, when the weather is usually nicer. Travel time is one hour. Boats range in size between 26 and 30 feet long and carry 12 to 30 passengers with luggage. From Montezuma, Hotel Tropico Latino can arrange a taxi to Santa Teresa.

Article by Shannon Farley

Costa Rica South Caribbean travel now easy with new flight to Limon

Now getting to the South Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica will be easier than ever with a new 30-minute flight between San Jose and Limon on Nature Air .

Starting Dec. 1, travelers to Costa Rica can fly from San Jose and the Central Valley to the Caribbean port city of Limon on daily flights with the Costa Rican airline Nature Air. Flights depart from the Juan Santamaria International Airport by San Jose at 5:50 a.m., and arrive to the Limon airport at 6:20 a.m. Return flights depart Limon daily at 6:30 a.m. and arrive to San Jose at 7:25 a.m., with a quick stop at Tortuguero in the northern Caribbean on the way.

Up until now, travelers have only had the option to get to the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast (unless visiting Tortuguero) by driving Route 32 – a four-hour drive from San Jose that includes the often treacherous journey through the mountains of the Braulio Carrillo National Park.

In honor of the new flight to Limon, Hotel Le Caméléon by Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica is offering a new vacation package, “Le Caméléon Gives You Wings.” Valid from Dec. 1, 2014, to Mar. 27, 2015, the three-night vacation package includes round-trip flights on Nature Air between San Jose and Limon, ground transfers between the Limon airport and the hotel, three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Le Caméléon, breakfast daily, lunch on the first day, welcome cocktail, VIP access to the La Sula Sea Lounge, and a tour to the Jaguar Rescue Center.

“Now it will be so much easier for our guests to get from the Central Valley to Hotel Le Caméléon,” said Roger Sans Feliu, Reservations Manager at Hotel Le Caméléon by Puerto Viejo. “It is only a 30-minute flight and another 30 minutes to drive from Limon to the hotel. It is now easier and more comfortable to get to Puerto Viejo, and the views are really great on the flight from San Jose to Limon!”

Hip, modern and upscale, the Costa Rica boutique hotel faces one of the area’s most beautiful beaches, Playa Cocles. Le Caméléon features ultra-chic rooms, beautiful tropical architecture, and lush jungle gardens. The elegant Le Numu Restaurant & Bar is one of the area’s top restaurants; and the La Sula Sea Lounge beach club is the place to hang out by the shore and meet friends for a cool drink or a light meal.

Article by Shannon Farley

Waterfall jumping is next extreme adventure tour in Arenal Costa Rica

So, you’ve done a guided rappel down a 150-foot gushing waterfall. Ho-hum.

Now you’re ready for the next extreme adventure adrenaline fix. How about waterfall jumping?

Waterfall jumping is Costa Rica’s version of cliff diving, but next to a waterfall. Also called “tombstoning” in Europe, waterfall jumping is the newest most extreme adventure tour in Arenal, Costa Rica. The new Gravity Falls Jumping Canyon Rainforest Adventure Course by Desafio Adventure Company is an intense canyoning tour that involves waterfall jumps, waterfall rappels and river canyon swims.

“People have been rappelling down waterfalls and going river rafting, and they’re looking for the next adventure,” said Desafio Adventure Company owner, Christine Krishnan.

Canyoning – also called canyoneering – is the popular adventure sport of rappelling down waterfalls and traversing a river canyon. Called “Costa Rica’s most extreme tour”, the Gravity Falls canyoning adventure by Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica, is for extreme adventure enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. You have to like the tour name’s play on words too.

“We found the most amazing canyon near La Fortuna, 25 minutes toward the Balsa River in the town of Valencia,” Christine Krishnan noted. “Jump off high canyon walls into deep, crystalline pools of water, and rappel down rushing waterfalls!” reads the tour information.

The Gravity Falls Costa Rica canyoning adventure involves an 80-foot rappel down a rushing waterfall into a deep pool, five cliff diving waterfall jumps ranging from five feet to 25 feet, a canyoning swim through a narrow passage, and other climbing adventures. It takes place in an isolated rainforest canyon by the Children’s Eternal Rainforest near the private entrance that Desafio Adventure Company uses for its Balsa River Rafting trips.

“It has a very cool expedition feel to it,” said Desafio Adventure co-owner, Suresh Krishnan. “It is different from everything else and is the newest most extreme tour in the Arenal area. It’s an extra high adventure; the more extreme stuff for adventure lovers!”

So, how is the four-hour Gravity Falls tour different from the Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoning tour, one of Desafio’s most popular adventure tours? Said Suresh Krishnan: “Do you want to get wet and wild? You should go to the Lost Canyon. If you want to go on an expedition of an exclusive extreme waterfall tour, then you should go to Gravity Falls.”

Article by Shannon Farley

Manuel Antonio Costa Rica Stand-Up Paddle Games 2014

Like stand-up paddle boarding?

Come to Manuel Antonio and Quepos, Costa Rica, this December for the exciting Manuel Antonio Stand-Up Paddle Games 2014.

At the Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica on Dec. 13 and 14, 2014, athletes will compete in four events in the popular sport of stand-up paddle boarding. There will be a 300-meter time-trial race, a 300-meter competitive race, an obstacle course, and distance racing in three events: 1.5, 4.5 or 9 kilometers. The competition is open to three categories: adults, teens and children.

First place in each event will win prize money and medals will be given. All participants will be gifted event T-shirts. Both spectators and participants can enter a raffle for a new paddle board from Riviera Paddle Boards.

To participate in the Manuel Antonio Stand-Up Paddle Games 2014, fill out the registration form here.

Quepos and Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica are known for being a water sports paradise. The Pacific Ocean here on the Central Pacific Coast is spectacular. Now through the end of December is humpback whale-watching season in Costa Rica and you can almost always see dolphins.

Stay minutes from the Manuel Antonio National Park, the town of Quepos and Pez Vela Marina, at Shana Hotel & Residence. The Manuel Antonio Costa Rica hotel features first-class rooms and suites with ocean and rainforest views, an ocean-view restaurant, spa services, and exceptional hotel amenities.

Manuel Antonio is a top vacation destination in Costa Rica, and was named one of the Top 25 Beaches in the World for 2014. Manuel Antonio is 20 minutes by domestic flight from the capital city of San Jose, or a couple of hours by car.

Article by Shannon Farley

Tour Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Kayaking (or boating) through the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is an exciting experience. You never know what animal or bird you’ll suddenly come upon next. Maybe a snowy white egret. Maybe a giant, toothy American Crocodile. Maybe a curious howler monkey lazily lounging in a tree.

The refuge spans 953 acres and is located between the Guanacaste surf town of Tamarindo and Playa Grande, which is part of the Las Baulas National Marine Park, one of the largest Leatherback turtle nesting sites in the world.

The Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge protects the saltwater mangrove forest of the Tamarindo Estuary and the mouth of the Matapalo River, and is an important gateway to these sea turtle nesting beaches. Every year, between October and March, hundreds of Leatherback, Pacific Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

The Tamarindo Estuary’s winding canals are filled with birds like ospreys, herons, white ibis, kingfishers and egrets, along with American Crocodiles, basilisk lizards, howler monkeys, white-faced Capuchin monkeys, and coatis. There are five species of mangrove trees creating this unique habitat.

The remarkable Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge is an easy 90-minute drive up the coast from L’acqua Viva Resort & Spa at Playa Guiones by Nosara. Hotel reception staff can help you with directions, transportation and tours of the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge, along with adventure and nature tours in Nosara. The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge is another top place to visit, famous for the masses of Olive Ridley sea turtles that come here to lay their eggs from July to December.

Playa Guiones at Nosara is renowned for some of the best surfing in Costa Rica and was recommended as a best place to go in 2014. Playa Guiones is also home to the famous Nosara Yoga Institute.

One of the finest luxury hotels in Costa Rica, L’acqua Viva is offering special low season rates from Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, 2014.

Article by Shannon Farley

Five dream Costa Rica adventure travel vacations

Why visit Costa Rica? People ask me that all of the time. Everywhere I go, from Europe to the United States to other parts of Latin America, it seems nearly everyone has heard of Costa Rica and is intrigued about the little Central American country.

Besides being a peace-loving nation full of friendly people, Costa Rica fills its small territory with tremendous diversity. There is an incredibly large country-wide system of national parks, private reserves and wildlife refuges protecting exotic, unique nature. People come for the rainforest and nature, the beaches and volcanoes, and the widely varied tropical climate.

On top of all of that, adventure lovers find Costa Rica adventure travel unsurpassed. Whitewater rafting on gorgeous tropical rivers, hiking by active volcanoes, rappelling down waterfalls, scuba diving bountiful waters, surfing perfect waves, zip-lining and trekking through rainforest – these adventures will get you excited about life.

Horizontes has five suggestions for Costa Rica adventure tours in Costa Rica vacation packages from six days to nine days. Or design your own Costa Rica holiday.

Horizontes is a pioneer in tourism in Costa Rica, celebrating 30 years of dependable and expert travel services. Their extensive local knowledge and networks provide a strong competitive advantage.

• 9-day Water Sports Adventure that includes scuba diving, a visit to the Corcovado National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park, with transportation by domestic flights.

• 8-day Surfing Adventure to the best surf spots on Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean Coasts.

• 8-day Costa Rica Multisport Adventure to the exciting active volcanoes of Rincon de la Vieja in Guanacaste and Arenal Volcano on the Northern Plains, that includes hiking, horseback riding, volcanic hot springs, kayaking and mountain biking.

• 6-day adventure to Arenal Volcano that includes kayaking on Lake Arenal, rappelling down waterfalls in a rainforest canyon, and mountain biking by the active volcano.

• 6-day tour whitewater rafting on the world-famous Pacuare River in the heart of the Costa Rica rainforest, and an exciting visit by catamaran to the gorgeous tropical paradise of Tortuga Island in the Nicoya Gulf.

Article by Shannon Farley

Wonderful Pupusas of El Salvador!

Going through my mind as I took my first bite of steaming, fresh pupusa – after, “oh my god, this is good!” – was, “why don’t I eat pupusas more often?”

There is a pupusa restaurant in my little country town of Atenas, Costa Rica. I’ve eaten there a few times, but now plan to be a regular.

Pupusas are the main national dish in El Salvador, the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. You can find pupusas anywhere in the world where there is a Salvadoran community, and there are many due to the mass exodus during their 12-year civil war from 1980 to 1992.

Every second Sunday of November – this year, Nov. 9 – El Salvador and all international Salvadoran communities celebrate the National Day of Pupusas. 

Made of a thick handmade corn tortilla that is filled with a variety of ingredients – soft cheese, refried beans, pork, vegetables, etc. – pupusas are eaten typically with a slightly fermented cabbage and carrot salad marinated in vinegar, called a curtido.

At the very popular La Fiesta de las Pupusas Restaurant in my town of Atenas, Costa Rica, founded 32 years ago by Salvadoran immigrant Julia Flamenco, pupusas are made with 100% homemade cornmeal dough called masa. Expert pupusa cooks work a large griddle in the kitchen. 

They first take a ball of masa, flattening it slightly with their hands, then adding little piles of filling ingredients on top – soft salty white cheese, refried beans, ground-up chicharrones (fried pork), stewed pumpkin and carrots, or cooked white flower buds from the Loroco vine (Fernaldia pandurata), which taste similar to asparagus. They close the dough ball around the ingredients and pinch off any excess cornmeal; then pat it back and forth rapidly between their hands to flatten it into a thick pancake –filling still in the middle – and put it on the hot griddle to cook with no oil. The result is delicious!

Travel to El Salvador, Costa Rica and Central America with Central America Experience, a Costa Rica-based travel agency specializing in family trips, honeymoons, luxury vacations, and adventure travel in Central America.

Central America Experience offers seven-night and four-night adventure packages to El Salvador; four-night and eight-night cultural and historical trips; and a nine-night cultural trip to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Article by Shannon Farley

Top tips for easing travel stress with yoga

Travel can be stressful, there’s no doubt about it. Standing in line, airport security, incessant waiting, lugging bags and suitcases, crowds … and the sitting! Sitting on a plane, or in a car or taxi, or on a bus, or on a train – it plays havoc with your back, butt, hips, legs, and well, pretty much everything.

After a long airplane flight, I always feel about two inches shorter from my back and muscles being scrunched from so much sitting. Know the feeling?

 Ever want to be pulled apart from head to toe to free your spine?

The good news is that simple yoga postures while traveling, and after you get to your destination, can help ease travel stress, soothe your body’s cramped muscles, and relax your mind. Plus, if you already regularly do yoga, here are ideas to keep your yoga practice going while on a trip.

You can do yoga anywhere

On a beach, at a park, in a hotel room, and even on public transportation, yoga can be done just about anytime, anywhere. You can improvise for mats and straps, etc.

Include yoga poses on your travel days

While standing around waiting in an airport, etc., do these yoga moves:

• Mountain pose
• Forward bend
• Standing half-forward bend
• Tree pose
• High lunge

When you’re sitting on a plane, train or bus, do these yoga moves:

• Deep breathing
• Simple seated twists
• Shoulder rolls
• Neck rolls
• Hip opening stretches like Thread the Needle and Butterfly Pose

When you’re tired try Yin Yoga

At your hotel room, try a few yin yoga poses at the end of the day to help release tension and relax you for a good night’s sleep.

Keep it easy with a basic routine

Stay simple with basic yoga postures you know well. These are the ones that your body probably needs anyway to loosen up after long travel.

A little yoga is better than none

You may not be able to do an hour of yoga a day, or several classes a week, like at home, but a little yoga is better than none. Set aside 15-20 minutes every day in the morning for your yoga stretches and breathing exercises. You’ll begin each day with a clear mind.

Find a yoga class where you travel

Yoga classes can be found just about anywhere you go these days. Drop in at a local yoga class for a good guided session. Best practice, of course, is to go on a yoga retreat for your vacation!

Enjoy the best Costa Rica yoga retreats and yoga vacations at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas in Santa Teresa Costa Rica. The beachfront Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, hotel specializes in yoga retreats, daily yoga classes and Costa Rica surf holidays.

Article by Shannon Farley

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Festival celebrates Costa Rica sea turtles

Celebrate the sea turtles of Costa Rica this weekend at the Matapalo Sea Turtle Festival.

The annual sea turtle festival on Nov. 15 and 16 at Matapalo Costa Rica, halfway between Manuel Antonio National Park and Dominical on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, celebrates the Matapalo Sea Turtle Conservation Project and hatching of baby sea turtles. This year’s festival celebrates the project’s 25^th anniversary.

Matapalo Beach is a main nesting area for three species of sea turtles in Costa Rica. Every year, from July to December, hundreds of female Pacific Black sea turtles (Chelonia mydas agassizi), Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), and Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) arrive along the pristine Matapalo coast to lay their eggs.

To celebrate the turtle project and baby hatching, the Turtle Festival will feature music, food, dancing, turtle tours and a small fair. There will be varied sports competitions, a hermit crab race, sand sculpture contest, theatrical and cultural presentations, and release of baby sea turtles as they hatch to go back to the sea.

The Matapalo Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Project is operated by the non-governmental, not-for-profit Association of Volunteers for Service in Protected Areas in Costa Rica (ASVO).

Volunteers with the project protect the endangered sea turtles from poachers and predators. They carefully collect the turtle eggs, and bring them to a protected turtle hatchery. 

There, the eggs incubate from 45 to 60 days until hatching. About 80 to 100 baby turtles hatch from an average nest; however, studies show that only one in 1,000 sea turtles survive to adulthood.

Stay at Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living sustainable community

Less than 10 minutes away from Matapalo Beach, the Costa Rica sustainable community of Portasol has vacation rentals available in rainforest bungalows and Costa Rica luxury vacation homes.

Portasol offers Costa Rica property for sale and homes for rent. Its 1,300 acres of rainforest feature private trails in the jungle, rivers, waterfalls with natural pools, and an area for yoga retreats and events.

Article by Shannon Farley

Sustainable travel in Costa Rica leads world in green economic performance.

Right behind Sweden and Norway as the top Green Countries in the World, is the little Central American nation of Costa Rica.

According to the recently released 2014 Global Green Economy Index™ (GGEI), Costa Rica is the third best Green Country in the World.

The Global Green Economy Index™ (GGEI) measures the green economic performance of 60 countries and 70 cities in the world. The GGEI also assesses the public’s perception of a nation’s green performance. The fourth edition of the GGEI, published by private U.S.-based consultancy Dual Citizen LLC was released at the end of October 2014.

For Green Performance, the top 10 countries are: Sweden, Norway, Costa Rica, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Iceland and Spain. For Perception, Germany leads, followed by Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, United States, Japan, UK, Finland and Switzerland; Costa Rica comes in at 14^th place in this ranking. The Perception index is interesting given that Costa Rica ranks third in performance but 14^th in perception; while China ranks 13^th in perception and 55^th in performance.

This is the first time that Costa Rica has been included in the GGEI.

“Covered for the first time, Costa Rica records an impressive result, ranking third behind Sweden and Norway on performance and in the top 15 for perceptions overall, a notable accomplishment for such a small country,” states the GGEI. “Costa Rica’s overall top result on the performance measure is driven by impressive results on both the Efficiency Sectors and Environment and Natural Capital dimensions, making it one of only a few countries to achieve such strong results in both areas.”

Costa Rica is the top ranked country in green tourism in terms of performance in the five areas assessed by the GGEI, the report notes.

Ecotourism or green tourism, also called sustainable travel, is extremely important in Costa Rica. Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is a leading hotel in sustainable travel in Costa Rica. The Costa Rica rainforest lodge by the Osa Peninsula is one of only three dozen hotels in Costa Rica that have received the highest rating in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program (CST).

Located on a 165-acre private preserve in southern Costa Rica, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is bordered by the Piedras Blancas National Park and the pristine Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) across from the Osa Peninsula. The region is a critical habitat for migrating Pacific Humpback Whales, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, Scarlet Macaws and jaguars.

The lodge is offering Green season specials through Dec. 15, 2014.

Article by Shannon Farley

Manuel Antonio National Park residents help save Costa Rica squirrel monkeys

Cute, clever, playful and tiny, the Grey Crowned Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus) known as the Mono Titi in Spanish, is the smallest primate in Costa Rica. Measuring only 9.8 to 14 inches in height and weighing 1.7 to 2.4 pounds, these little monkeys are sadly threatened with extinction due to loss of habitat from human development.

There are five squirrel monkey species in Central and South America. In Costa Rica, the Grey Crowned Central American Squirrel Monkey can be found only in small pockets along the Central and Southern Pacific Coast. Once listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, this species of squirrel monkey “improved” its status to Endangered in 2008, due in part to efforts by the Titi Conservation Alliance in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Concerned residents and tourism business owners in the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area of the Central Pacific formed the Titi Conservation Alliance in 2001 to protect the endangered squirrel monkeys and restore their dwindling habitat. They decided to take a stand when they saw how the intensely rapid development around the Manuel Antonio National Park was adversely affecting the monkeys.

Squirrel monkeys spend 99% of their lives in trees, living in large groups called “troops”. When they are unable to roam freely and intermingle among other troops, they are forced to breed within their own small group which results in genetic disabilities and the monkeys’ demise. Titi Conservation Alliance has involved local schools and businesses to work with property-owners along the Naranjo River basin to create a biological corridor into the Manuel Antonio National Park to connect populations of monkeys. They so far have planted more than 35,000 indigenous trees that the omnivorous monkeys use for food, and plan to add another 10,000 trees to expand the corridor.

“We restore the biological corridors and we work a lot with the schools to educate the primary schoolchildren and high school students in Quepos and Manuel Antonio about the importance of conservation, wildlife and water,” commented Guillermo Piedra Gonzalez, board member for the Titi Conservation Alliance.

Piedra is CEO of the local sustainable residential community Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living, in the coastal mountains between Manuel Antonio National Park and Dominical, which protects 1,300 acres of rainforest that connect into area biological corridors.

Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living is very active in its Central Pacific Coast community in conservation, community education and projects, including the Titi Conservation Alliance. The Costa Rica sustainable community has Costa Rica property for sale and offers tourism hospitality with unique Costa Rica vacation rentals.

Article by Shannon Farley

Rincon de la Vieja Challenge becomes first international ultra endurance race

Called by pro mountain bikers the “most extreme 100-miler in the world,” the Rincon de la Vieja Challenge 100-mile mountain bike race at Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica recently upped its status to become the first international chapter of the National Ultra Endurance Series (NUE).

The NUE is a series of twelve 100-mile mountain bike races across the United States. Winner of the 2014 NUE series, Brenda Simril of Tennessee, also took first place in the Open Category for Women in the Rincon de la Vieja Challenge 2014.

“I'm really excited about making the Rincon de la Vieja Challenge part of the NUE series,” commented JuanCarlos Villa, founder and organizer of the Rincon de la Vieja Challenge. “There are no 100-mile races south of the United States. We are the first 100-mile race in Latin America.”

The Rincon de la Vieja Challenge started in 2013 with 140 racers, and nearly doubled to 270 in 2014. Most were Costa Rican competitors. Villa says they are projecting up to 400 or 500 participants for 2015, with many more international racers.

“We’re a tough race and we’re really well organized,” said Villa. “Costa Rica ranks high for mountain biking in Latin America because of the well-developed tourism infrastructure, good security and excellent topography.”

The race circumnavigates the massive active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, taking riders through five microclimates from the dry plains of Guanacaste up over the Continental Divide to lush cloud forests and back again. Racers are pushed to the limits physically and mentally climbing 12,000 feet over the 100-miles on rugged and difficult terrain.

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin will again be the headquarters for the thrilling Rincon de la Vieja Challenge 2015 on Aug. 22. The adventure and ecotourism lodge hosted the Costa Rica adventure race for the past two years. Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin also staged the international North Face Endurance Challenge in 2013 and 2014.

To stay at Rincon de la Vieja hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, you can make reservations online. The Guanacaste hotel is located 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Guanacaste’s principal city of Liberia.

Article by Shannon Farley

Quick fall break for romance & adventure in Costa Rica

Looking to get away for a quick fall break or Thanksgiving vacation? Maybe a romantic adventure holiday? If you are into nature and wildlife, Costa Rica is the place to go.

A good Costa Rica vacation deal for the fall is the Romance and Natural Adventure Costa Rica Vacation Package at Maquenque Eco-Lodge in the Northern Plains of Costa Rica.

Valid through Dec. 19, 2014, the package includes two nights’ accommodation in a private bungalow with a balcony overlooking a beautiful lagoon and rainforest. You will receive a welcome drink upon arrival, breakfast both mornings, a romantic dinner with a bottle of wine on your first night, lunch and dinner on the second day, a rainforest walk, and canoeing on the lagoon. You also have the option to plant a tree in Maquenque’s reserve as part of their sustainable tourism and reforestation program. The whole package costs less than $200 per person with taxes included.

This time of year, Maquenque Eco-lodge is the place to be for bird-watching in Costa Rica. It is bird migration season from North America to tropical countries like Costa Rica. It is also the time when endangered Great Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus) return to Maquenque from Nicaragua’s Indio Maiz Biological Reserve to the north.

The Costa Rica eco-lodge is located on the San Carlos River by the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge, 15 kilometers from the Nicaraguan border. Activities at Maquenque Eco-lodge include canoeing on the lagoon, hiking in the rainforest, horseback riding, float river rafting and boating. Eight kilometers of trails wind through the lodge’s 68-acre property, through the forest past ponds and streams.

Article by Shannon Farley

Put Tortuguero on your Costa Rica bucket list

The incredibly biodiverse area of Tortuguero should definitely be on your “bucket list” of places to see in Costa Rica.

Called the “Little Amazon” of Costa Rica, Tortuguero on the northern Caribbean Coast is an untamed stretch of wild jungle and desolate beaches. You have swamp, lagoons, canals, marshy islands, dense rainforest, black sand beaches, and an amazing abundance of animal and plant life. This is the Western Hemisphere’s most important nesting site for the endangered Green sea turtle, along with critically endangered Hawksbill and Leatherback sea turtles.

If you love nature, Tortuguero, Costa Rica, is your perfect place. In this steamy labyrinth, you can find monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, caimans, and multitudes of birds, snakes and insects. There are also rare animals threatened with extinction: jaguars, tapirs, Great Green Macaws and West Indian Manatees.

It is hot and wet, and the rainstorms are awe-inspiring. Nearly 20 feet (6,000 mm) of rain falls annually. The wettest months are December, June and July, and the driest are February, March and September, but you can get rain there anytime. The Green Sea Turtles come to nest from July to October.

Lirio Lodge serves as a gateway to the marvels of Tortuguero. The environmentally-friendly Costa Rica eco-lodge offers one-day tours in Tortuguero, and a two-day-one-night package with boat and hiking tours, lodging, all meals and transport from San Jose roundtrip. Lirio Lodge specializes in educational travel for all ages, and student travel programs.

The Costa Rica jungle lodge is located on a large lagoon by the Pacuare Biological Reserve, where the Pacuare River delta joins the Caribbean Sea. You are completely off the grid here: no internet, no phone, no TV, and no air-conditioning. All energy is produced by solar panels. Accommodation is in comfortable private wooden bungalows or the cozy Tent Enclosure Camp.

Article by Shannon Farley