Rincon de la Vieja National Park waterfalls show off in Costa Rica green season

Green season in Guanacaste, Costa Rica is when the waterfalls at Rincon de la Vieja Volcano really show off.

Near Rincon de la Vieja hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, four waterfalls flow, and all of them have pools where you can swim. Getting to the waterfalls is an adventure on its own – either by hiking or horseback riding. The Hacienda Guachipelin Adventure Center organizes waterfall tours, which last usually two to three hours and are available between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Victoria Waterfall

The 115-foot (35-meter) Victoria Waterfall on the Rio Negro (Black River) is where the river tubing trips start their adventure downriver. The surrounding canyon has unique vegetation and topography, and you can swim in the pool at the waterfall’s base.

How to get there: A 45-minute each-way horseback ride on a scenic trail, and a short, steep descent to the waterfall; or a one hour each-way scenic hike on the same trail.

Chorreras Waterfall

Two waterfalls cascade into a beautiful sky blue mineral water pool in this amphitheater canyon at Chorreras Waterfall – the closest to Hacienda Guachipelin. It is an excellent place for a cooling swim, or just to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

How to get there: A 25-minute each-way horseback ride on a scenic trail, and short walk to the waterfall; or a 45-minute each-way scenic hike on the same trail.

Oropéndola Waterfall

Located near the Las Pailas entrance to the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, the Oropéndola Waterfall plunges an impressive 82 feet (25 meters) in a beautiful canyon of the Rio Blanco (White River). The sparkling turquoise pool below makes for a refreshing swim.

How to get there: A 45-minute each-way horseback ride on a scenic trail, and short walk to the waterfall; or a 1.5 hour each-way scenic hike; or a 15-minute drive and short walk.

Cangreja (Crab) Waterfall

The Cangreja Waterfall is located inside the Rincon de la Vieja National Park forest. Spilling 130 feet (40 meters) in a white ribbon of water out of the green forest, the waterfall forms a celestial blue pool at its base; its color comes from dissolved copper minerals from the volcano. The only way to get to this waterfall is by hiking 3 miles (5 km) into the national park.

How to get there: 15-minute drive to the national park entrance and then hiking.

Rincon de la Vieja Hotels

Green season is the best time to visit Rincon de la Vieja (May to November), when the volcano’s fumaroles and boiling mud pots are most active. In green season, you can enjoy great Costa Rica travel deals at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014 winner. Hacienda Guachipelin has the best Guanacaste Costa Rica adventure tours, and afterward, you can enjoy a warm volcanic mud bath and soak in the hotel’s natural hot springs.

Article by Shannon Farley

Have fun fishing in Quepos Costa Rica

 

Calm seas and abundant marine life in the spectacular Pacific Ocean at Quepos and Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica create an ideal environment for fun activities.

For instance, now through the end of December is humpback whale-watching season in Costa Rica; and you can nearly always see large pods of dolphins while out sailing, boating or kayaking.

Quepos also is a top place for world-class sportfishing in Costa Rica. The World Offshore Fishing Championship 2014 in April brought in hundreds of international sportfishing fans to Quepos to compete.

The water temperature here provides the perfect environment for fish species like Pacific sailfish and swordfish, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Yellowfin Tuna, giant Snook, Wahoo, Amberjack, Mackerel, Snapper, Roosterfish, and blue, black and striped Marlin. Fishing enthusiasts have luck just about any month of the year to fish both “catch-and-release” and fish for dinner.

Sport Fishing in Quepos Costa Rica:

Dorado – Late May through October, but they are caught often throughout the year. Marlin – Best from September through November. Sailfish – November to April they are most abundant, although the rest of the year is still very good. Yellowfin Tuna – Available during Marlin and Sailfish season. Small tuna is found year-round. Snook – Fishing is good from March through May and September through November. Wahoo – Available year-round. Snapper – Available year-round. Roosterfish – Excellent availability year-round.

All fishing tours in Quepos operate out of the new Pez Vela Marina, which offers fishing enthusiasts and visitors top-of-the-line facilities, waterfront restaurants, shops and galleries.

Benefits of going out on a half-day or full day fishing tour are that you can enjoy the fresh sea air, and will more than likely see sea birds, dolphins, and even whales during migration season. If you catch a Dorado, Wahoo, Snapper, Tuna, etc., the restaurant at Shana Hotel in Manuel Antonio will even cook it for you for dinner!

Shana Hotel & Residence is a lifestyle boutique hotel located minutes from the Manuel Antonio National Park, and the town of Quepos and Pez Vela Marina. Featuring 27 fabulous rooms and suites, spa services, and an ocean-view restaurant, this new Manuel Antonio Costa Rica hotel is a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2014 Winner. A walking trail by the hotel leads you 10 minutes to the protected, white-sand Biesanz Beach. One of Shana Hotel’s best features is the sunset views. Best sunset spots: the large swimming pool, hot tub and lounge deck, the ocean-view restaurant, and your ocean-view room balcony.

Article by Shannon Farley

Rafting in the Costa Rica rainforest at Arenal Volcano

 

When the Costa Rica green season rain gets going, river rafting trips in the top adventure travel destination get really exciting. As the rivers swell with rainwater, it’s your cue to go for a fun, wild ride down a beautiful rainforest river.

Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica is a top travel destination not only for its great rivers, but also its lush rainforest, deep canyons, and largest fresh water lake in the country – Lake Arenal.

“There are more paddling options in the Arenal area than anywhere else in Central America,” declares Desafio Adventure Company, which operates whitewater rafting trips in Arenal.

Desafio operates river rafting trips in Arenal on the Balsa River (class 2-3), a Safari Float on the Penas Blancas River (class 1), combo rafting tours with rappelling or canopy zip-lining, and private tours.

If you want fun and excitement without being too crazy, the Balsa River is a perfect Arenal Costa Rica whitewater rafting adventure.

The half-day tour down class 2 and 3 rapids is right for persons with little to no rafting experience and also for families. The river flows down a long, rainforest canyon, 30 minutes outside of the town of La Fortuna by the Arenal Volcano. You will paddle down 10 kilometers of rolling rapids like “Morning Coffee” and “Rock around the Croc”, with tranquil pools along the way to catch your breath and see the scenery and wildlife.

The tour includes: Rafting equipment, snacks, drinks, lunch, towel, bilingual certified guides, private river entrance and exit with changing rooms and bathroom, and transportation to/from your Arenal area hotel in a Wi-Fi equipped van.

What to Bring: quick-dry clothes, swimsuit, sunscreen, strap-on sandals or athletic shoes, and a change of clothes.

Desafio Adventure Company is a family business run by adventure enthusiasts Suresh and Christine Krishnan. Suresh founded the company in 1992. Desafio provides outstanding Costa Rica adventure tours in whitewater rafting, canyoneering, kayaking, mountain biking, hikes to waterfalls and active volcanoes, and activities in other popular Costa Rica destinations.

Article by Shannon Farley

Organic cuisine scene in Santa Teresa Costa Rica

In Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, organic healthy living is alive and well – especially at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat.

Budda Eyes Restaurant at the beachfront Santa Teresa Costa Rica hotel is dedicated to serving healthy, nourishing and innovative cuisine.

“At Pranamar we try to satisfy not only your stomach, but also your soul with cuisine that is varied, distinctive, delicious and healthy,” explains Pranamar Villas Head Chef Rodrigo Soriano of Argentina.

Overlooking the lagoon-style pool at the Costa Rica beach resort, the open-air restaurant features organic fruits and vegetables, creative vegetarian cooking, local farm-fresh meats, and fresh just-out-of-the-ocean fish and shellfish. The Nicoya Peninsula hotel even grows some of its own fruit and vegetables.

“We buy our fish fresh each day from local fishermen in Santa Teresa and Malpais. It can’t get fresher than what we have!” commented Soriano, who has been working with Pranamar Villas for nine years, and leads the restaurant team with chefs Claudio “Cicco” Mazzone from Italy and Jesus Zabala from Venezuela.

Organic farm Hacienda Okhra

Pranamar Villas buys much of its produce from local organic farm Hacienda Okhra. The 43-acre Hacienda Okhra is a sustainable community of luxury homes, preserved tropical forest green spaces and the organic farm, located above the town of Malpais on the southern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. Located between the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve and Santa Teresa, Hacienda Okhra is the visionary concept of owner Georges Lefebvre from France. It is named after the Okra plant that produces edible green seed pods famous in Southern USA cooking, and which grows on the farm.

All of the farm’s fruits and vegetables are grown using hydroponics and chemical-free organic practices, according to Hacienda Okhra information. The farmers utilize indoor vertical growing systems, outdoor raised beds, and also plant directly in the ground. Soil is enriched naturally with coconut fibers, natural compost from the farm, dirt from the ground, and garden compost and vermiposting (think: worms).

Water for the farm is all gravity fed once it gets pumped up to a water tower that draws directly from a well on the property. The system is designed as a natural reclamation system where the run-off flows directly into the outdoor gardens with any leftover ending up in the pond that feeds the well.

Buddha Eyes Restaurant at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat

The Buddha Eyes Restaurant is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Pranamar Villas Costa Rica specializes in yoga and yoga retreats, and Costa Rica surf holidays on the spectacular Santa Teresa Beach. Pranamar holds daily yoga classes open to hotel guests and the public.

Article by Shannon Farley

Nicoya Peninsula Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve protects forest, wildlife

It is amazing how many national parks, conservation areas, wildlife refuges and private reserves there are in the tiny country of Costa Rica. In the mountains of the Pacific Nicoya Peninsula, one little-known private reserve is the Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve.

A wildlife refuge and reforestation project, the Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve serves as an important biological corridor between the Cabo Blanco Reserve and Barra Honda National Park on the Costa Rica Nicoya Peninsula. The reserve is named after Danish environmentalist, Karen Mogensen, who with her Swedish husband, Olaf Nicolas Wessberg, founded Costa Rica's first national park, Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve, at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.

The Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve protects 2,250 acres of primary and secondary forest with giant trees, lushly adorned with mosses, vines and orchids. Native habitat regeneration and environmental education are some of the principal goals of the non-profit Ecological Association of Paquera, Lepanto, Cóbano (ASEPALECO) that founded the reserve in 1996. In less than 20 years, the land has transformed from open farmland to thriving jungle with the help of local farmers planting trees and removing property fences.

You can hike trails through the preserve to Bridal Veil Waterfall, a stunning 60-foot cascade that empties into a pristine swimming hole; the hike takes approximately 40 minutes one way. You can also hike one hour up a small mountain to the rustic Cerro Escondido Lodge, featuring an orchid garden and a restaurant that serves vegetarian and traditional Costa Rican meals. You need to make arrangements in advance with park officials for lunch.

Wildlife watching is excellent in the reserve: howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, otters, deer, pumas, ocelots, countless butterflies, and at least 240 bird species, including three-wattled bellbirds, motmots, spectacled owls, and long-tailed manikins.

Stay in the area at L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa at Playa Guiones in Nosara, Costa Rica. Nosara is recommended as one of the best places to go in 2014 by CNN and National Geographic, and also is renowned for some of the best surfing in Costa Rica. L'acqua Viva Resort can arrange tours to the Karen Mogensen Reserve, and also the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, famous for the multitudes of Olive Ridley sea turtles that come to lay their eggs from July to December.

 The Costa Rica luxury hotel is offering special low season rates from Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, 2014.

Article by Shannon Farley

Girls Rule: Women-only surf retreats in Santa Teresa Costa Rica

There are women-only professional clubs, women-only gyms, women’s athletic events, and girls also rule at Pura Vida Adventures surf retreats in Costa Rica.

Founded 10 years ago by surfer Tierza Eichner, Pura Vida Adventures brings women from the U.S. and other countries to the pristine beaches and rocking waves of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica for surfing and yoga vacations.

Santa Teresa Beach on the southern Nicoya Peninsula is a hot destination for surf and yoga retreats in Costa Rica. Santa Teresa is frequently named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world for its warm Pacific Ocean, great waves, sparkling white sand beach, tropical palm trees and balmy weather.

The Costa Rica surf camps are based at Hotel Tropico Latino in Santa Teresa. Women of all ages and walks of life – corporate executives, retirees, students, professional athletes – come to learn and improve the art of wave riding, be revitalized in yoga classes and relax under the tropical sun. The Santa Teresa beachfront hotel holds the very popular retreats all year long with Pura Vida Adventures.

Week-long surf retreats (7 days and 6 nights) are taught by professional, highly-trained surf instructors. Yoga adds the important elements of stretching and relaxation. Costa Rica surf and yoga retreats are available at Hotel Tropico Latino in November and December 2014, and January to May 2015. There are both co-ed and women-only retreats offered.

Big news is that Carve Design, makers of apparel for water girls, has teamed up with Pura Vida Adventures to make sure you look your best with your new Costa Rica beach tan. Sign up for a 2014 Pura Vida Adventures surf camp in Costa Rica, and you’ll get 20% off all Carve Designs products, designed for women by women to fit womanly curves.

Hotel Tropico Latino

At beautiful Playa Carmen in Santa Teresa, Hotel Tropico Latino is a relaxed and charming 4-star resort fronting the beach on four acres of lush, tropical gardens. Accommodations are comfortable and luxurious. Hotel facilities include a full-service beachfront spa and an award-winning restaurant. Sunsets are breathtaking.

Article by Shannon Farley

Don’t miss the Whale & Dolphin Festival 2014 in Costa Rica!

The Festival of Whales & Dolphins is once again making a splash at Uvita Beach in Southern Costa Rica at the beginning of September.

You definitely don’t want to miss the 6^th annual festival marking the peak of the annual migration of Pacific Humpback Whales to the Ballena National Marine Park in Costa Rica. This year’s 2014 Festival of Whales & Dolphins will be held over the two weekends of Sept. 5-7 and Sept. 12-14.

Festival activities will include whale-watching tours, a beach run, mountain biking race, sand-sculpture contests, photography exhibits, concerts, environmental workshops, crafts and food sales. A 6k and 10k beach run will be held in the national park on Sept. 6, and the mountain biking race takes place on Sept. 7.

The Ballena (“whale”) National Marine Park covers 110 hectares of land and 5,375 marine hectares, and was created in 1989 as the first marine park in Latin America. It is an important sanctuary for migrating humpback whales, pilot whales and false orca whales; resident Pacific Spotted, Common and Bottlenose dolphins; along with stingrays, hammerhead sharks, and several kinds of sea turtles. The whale refuge is famous for its sandbar isthmus formed perfectly into the shape of a large whale’s tail.

Whale watching in Costa Rica lasts from August to October for southern Pacific Humpback Whales from Antartica (the largest population), and from December to April for northern humpbacks from Alaska. The endangered whales swim thousands of miles to the shallow, warm coastal waters of the Ballena National Marine Park to reproduce and give birth.

Biologists consider the protected area a perfect setting between the northern and southern hemispheres for the birth of new marine life. 

The park is located in what is known as the Costa Rica Thermal Convection Dome, a large “bubble” of shallow, oxygen-rich warm water layered over the top of colder water with less oxygen. The conditions create an ideal habitat for marine life.

The Costa Rica sustainable community of Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living, in the coastal mountains between Manuel Antonio National Park and Dominical, is offering a special promotion in their vacation bungalows during whale-watching season. Stay two nights, with full breakfast included, and receive a whale-watching tour for two persons.

Portasol offers Costa Rica property for sale and tourism hospitality with unique vacation rentals. Stay in one of Portasol’s vacation bungalows or Costa Rica homes for rent while you explore the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica.

Article by Shannon Farley

Where to go during the secret Costa Rica Caribbean summer

 

Can you keep a secret? While the rest of Costa Rica will soon be covered under a gray umbrella of rain, the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast is about to shine under a beaming Caribbean summer sun.

Curiously, the Caribbean Coast does not follow the standard weather patterns of Costa Rica. Savvy travelers know that Caribbean Summer is in October, which is when the regional capital of Limon holds its annual carnival celebration, and is a perfect time to visit the beautiful beaches of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo.

Very different from the rest of the country, the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast’s Jamaican-African roots are accented by local reggae music, Creole patois spoken alongside Spanish, a laid-back attitude, and local cuisine like Jamaican spice cake, rice-and-beans, coconut shrimp, and papaya juice.

The Cahuita National Park is a top Caribbean attraction to visit during this time. Located on the coast south of the town of Cahuita, about 43 kilometers south of Limón and north of Puerto Viejo, Cahuita National Park is one of the most scenic and beautiful regions in Costa Rica. The park was founded in 1982.

The Caribbean Sea here is crystal-clear and filled with multitudes of vividly colored tropical fish. Cahuita National Park has one of the largest mature coral reefs on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. Snorkeling in the area is fantastic; you can swim right out from shore or go further out by boat. The magnificent underwater coral garden has 35 species of coral, including enormous Elkhorn Coral, Brain Coral and graceful Venus Sea Fans, and an abundance of marine life.

Coral reefs are home to more than 25 percent of all known marine species and are living creatures. When diving or snorkeling near coral reefs, be sure not to touch, stand or walk on the reef, or collect coral.

The white sand beaches of the Cahuita National Park are also great for beach walks and sunbathing. There are trails you can hike, where you might see white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, howler monkeys, raccoons, coatis, iguanas, land and water crabs, and birds like the green ibis, yellow-crowned night heron, boat-billed heron and kingfishers.

Where to stay on the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast

The fabulous upscale Le Caméléon Hotel on the gorgeous beach of Playa Cocles by Puerto Viejo Costa Rica is the place to stay on the Southern Caribbean Coast. The Costa Rica boutique hotel is currently offering special offers: Caribbean Summer special deal and Web Last Minute Offers.

An Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica, Le Caméléon offers private yoga classes, spa services, and the La Sula Sea Lounge fronting Cocles Beach. Their in-house concierge can organize snorkeling and hiking tours in Cahuita National Park, along with other tours and transportation.

Article by Shannon Farley

What to do to bring your dog or cat to live in Costa Rica

You have bought your dream house in Costa Rica; or, you’ve secured the ideal rental while you check out the country as a place to live. You are checking your packing list for the big move to Costa Rica – what about Fido or Fluffy?

A lot of people who move to Costa Rica bring their pets. While it is not as easy as simply putting your dog or cat on an airline, it is straightforward to bring your pet to Costa Rica when you move.

Guidelines given here are for bringing dogs and cats from the United States to Costa Rica. Check this link for other animals from the USA, and with your embassy or governing organization for animals for other countries. Many people choose to use a pet moving service, which handles the work for you.

What to do in the USA to bring your pet to Costa Rica

Timing is crucial. Your pet’s health certificate is only valid for 10 days before departure, and many airlines only let you make reservations 13 days or less for your pet to fly. You should have two or three extra copies of all documents. The governing authority for animals leaving, or entering, the USA is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

• Your dog or cat must have up-to-date vaccinations against rabies and leptospirosis to enter Costa Rica. You must have certificates of the vaccinations from the veterinarian.
• Your dog or cat must be examined by a USDA accredited veterinarian, who must fill out Federal APHIS Form 7001 declaring that your pet is healthy. The health certificate is only valid for 10 days. In many cases, the health certificate must be endorsed by the local USDA Veterinary Services office (check with the USDA for the office nearest to your home). Fees to the USDA for endorsement range from $38 to $121 per animal.
• If your pet is being transported as cargo, and not on the same flight as you, an import permit also is required.

Flying with your dog or cat

• U.S. airlines that transport pets to Costa Rica include Delta, United and American Airlines. Each airline has very specific requirements for transporting pets both inside the airline cabin, and as “checked baggage” or “cargo”; check with the airline for their regulations and fees.
• Animals may not be tranquilized or drugged, or muzzled, for their safety while flying.

Costa Rica requirements for importing pets

• In Costa Rica, if your pet travels as “checked baggage” or “cargo,” you must use an import company to clear customs.
• To make the customs process as easy as possible, the import company needs this information before you fly: copy of the passport (or legal ID) of the person sending the animal, copy of the passport (or legal ID) of the person receiving the animal in Costa Rica along with their contact phone numbers and address in Costa Rica, copy of the animal’s valid health certificate and vaccinations, copy of the animal’s flight reservation.
• Keep in mind that the airport customs office in Costa Rica only works Monday to Friday during normal business hours. If your pet arrives in Costa Rica on a Saturday or Sunday, you’ll be waiting until Monday to pick him up; or if your flight arrives late at night, you will have to wait until the next day. The process to clear customs takes several hours, so plan accordingly.

Move to Costa Rica

Looking to buy real estate in Costa Rica? The small coffee town of Atenas has been named a top place to retire by International Living, HelpAge International and AARP in part for its reputation for “The Best Climate in the World.” Reliable realtors Dennis Easters and Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras of Pure Life Development of Atenas offer the best Atenas homes for sale and Atenas real estate.

Article by Shannon Farley

Best rainy season day trip in northern Costa Rica: Caño Negro

 

Rainy season in Costa Rica is the best time to visit the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Known as the “everglades of Costa Rica”, its 25,100 acres have been designated a “world protected area” by conservation groups like the Ramsar Convention, for being home to some of the world’s rarest plant, animal and bird species.

Located near Costa Rica’s northern border with Nicaragua, by the small town of Los Chiles, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places for bird-watching in Costa Rica. The best time to visit Caño Negro is now in rainy season, when the calm Rio Frio (Cold River) spills out over the grassy marshland creating a massive lake and intricate network of waterways.

The only way to explore these fascinating wetlands is by boat. You can go wildlife and bird-watching, or fishing, on guided tours in motorized covered boats. Early mornings or late afternoons are the best times for viewing wildlife.

More than 350 species of birds live in the Caño Negro tropical everglade, and record numbers of migratory waterfowl visit during migration season. You can see beautiful and interesting birds such as anhingas, roseate spoonbills, Jabiru storks, ducks, kingfishers, herons, egrets, Northern Jacanas, ibises and cormorants. The Frio River is full of fish like snook, silver-gold tarpon, the rare garfish, and also caimans. Along the shoreline and in the trees you may see other animals like emerald basilisks, White-faced Capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, two and three toed sloths, iguanas, river turtles, anteaters and bats.

When visiting the Arenal Volcano and Northern Plains of Costa Rica, unique Caño Negro is one of the most amazing and worthwhile Costa Rica day trips. It is a good day trip also to do from Maquenque Eco-Lodge – or on your way from Arenal to Maquenque.

Top Costa Rica bird-watching hotel, Maquenque Eco-Lodge, records more than 410 bird species in its area by the San Carlos River and Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge. The Costa Rica eco-lodge offers guided bird-watching tours, and river canoeing, rafting and boating trips.

Article by Shannon Farley

Fall in Love with Your City in San José Costa Rica

The very popular “Fall in Love with Your City!” program (“Enamorate de tu cuidad!”) of the Costa Rica Ministry of Culture and Youth will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend on Saturday, Aug. 16, with yoga, music and dance.

Spend Saturday morning in the fresh air relaxing in a yoga class (for ages 16 and up) from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Spain Park (Parque España), in the center of San Jose near the Aurola Holiday Inn Hotel. The afternoon gets swinging with an open-air dance concert by the Orchestra Lubín Barahona and his Gentlemen and Ladies of Rhythm, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Morazán Park (Parque Morazán) in front of the Aurola Holida Inn in downtown San Jose.

“Fall in Love with Your City!” program, now running three years, was started by the Costa Rica Ministry of Culture and Youth to give people fun cultural activities to do in San Jose while enjoying the downtown parks. Activities are open to everyone and are held every Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. all year long. Programs are held in the downtown San Jose parks of Spain Park (Parque España), Garden of Peace Park (Parque Jardín de Paz), Morazán Park (Parque Morazán), and Curridabat Park (Parque de Curridabat).

San José was just named “Mexico & Central America’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination,” at the 2014 World Travel Awards held in Quito, Ecuador, on Aug. 9 and 10.

Article by Shannon Farley

Monkeying around on the Osa Peninsula Costa Rica

 

I never get tired of watching the monkeys in Costa Rica. It is so much fun to watch the cute, miniature-sized Squirrel Monkeys jump and play, and marvel at the ingenuity of clever White-faced Capuchin Monkeys. Spider Monkeys are wonderful to see swinging gracefully through the trees with their long arms, legs and tails. And the haunting call of Howler Monkeys at dawn, dusk, or before the rain, gives you that spine-tingling “I’m in the jungle” feeling.

There are only a few places in Costa Rica where you can see all four native species of monkeys – Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge on Golfo Dulce, the Piedras Blancas National Park, Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park.

Out of 250 species of primates in the world, 68 are in the Americas. Native to the forests of Costa Rica are the threatened Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii), the White-faced Capuchin (Cebus capucinus), the Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) and the endangered Geoffroy's Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi).

All four kinds of monkeys are active during the day and live in the treetops. You can see them using their strong limbs and prehensile tails (almost like a third hand) to swing between the trees when you walk the trails at Playa Nicuesa Lodge or on a visit to the Piedras Blancas National Park. On the kayaking tour in the Esquinas River mangrove estuary, you can frequently see White-faced Capuchin Monkeys and also Squirrel Monkeys.

Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is located in the pristine rainforest on a remote beach of the Golfo Dulce. A TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner, the rainforest lodge in Costa Rica has its own 165-acre private preserve bordering the Piedras Blancas National Park.

August and September bring whale-watching season to Golfo Dulce, where you can see migrating Pacific Humpback Whales that come to Costa Rica’s warm waters to breed and give birth.

Article by Shannon Farley