5 Tropical beaches you want to visit in southern Costa Rica

Tucked between the Osa Peninsula and the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, the “Sweet Gulf” of Golfo Dulce is the perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure-seekers.
Circling the warm blue waters of Golfo Dulce is a tropical rainforest with secluded beaches and an amazing biodiversity. Here you can encounter all four species of monkeys – white-faced Capuchin, spider, howler and the endangered squirrel monkey, Scarlet Macaws, toucans, coatis, wild pigs, exotic snakes, ocelots and jaguars, to name a few. Golfo Dulce is a critical habitat for migrating Pacific Humpback Whales, dolphins and sea turtles.
Beaches in southern Costa Rica are pretty and pristine. Here are 5 tropical beaches – called “playas” in Costa Rica – that you don’t want to miss when visiting the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica.

Playa Nicuesa

Home of the award-winning eco-hotel Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, Playa Nicuesa recently received the Ecological Blue Flag Award for the fifth time for having one of Costa Rica’s cleanest beaches. Playa Nicuesa is located in the lower middle of Golfo Dulce on the mainland side; its 165-acre private rainforest preserve borders the Piedras Blancas National Park. Golfito is a 25-minute boat ride away, and across the Gulf, Puerto Jimenez is 30 minutes away. The Costa Rica rainforest lodge holds the highest Sustainable Tourism Program rating, and offers adventure and nature tours in the rainforest and around Golfo Dulce. The beach is mostly small pebbles with dark sand, fringed by palm and coastal almond trees -- usually full of wild Scarlet Macaws. Best features: crystal clear water that changes color from bright blue to jade green; jumping off the Nicuesa Lodge dock into cool water; and watching dolphins swim past shore.




Playa San Josecito

Just around a small rocky point from Playa Nicuesa, to the south, is Playa San Josecito – a long crescent-shaped dark sand beach that steeply drops into the water. At the west end of the beach is Casa Orquideas Botanical Garden, a beautifully landscaped private tropical garden with hundreds of species of ornamental and edible plants that have been collected and cared for by Ron and Trudy MacAllister, who have lived in this remote region since the 1970s. Best features: taking a guided tour of Casa Orquideas Botanical Garden; fishing by kayak just offshore.



Playa Cativo

This pretty little beach is within the Piedras Blancas National Park up in the inner gulf. Playa Cativo also won the Costa Rica Ecological Blue Flag Award for 2014. When the tide is low, there is dark sand beach; when the water is high, you only have the manicured green lawns of Playa Cativo Lodge. Best features: snorkeling at coral reefs nearby; spotting Humpback Whales during whale-watching season.


 
Playa Cana Blanca

Home to the Osa Wildlife Sanctuary, which rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and injured wild animals, Playa Cana Blanca is also contiguous with Piedras Blancas National Park. This is one of the few completely sandy beaches in Golfo Dulce, and it is gorgeous. Take a tour of the sanctuary and you’ll meet a wide variety of animals, from spider monkeys and white-faced monkeys to sloths, kinkajous, tayras, ocelots, anteaters and Scarlet Macaws. Best features: meeting the animals at Osa Wildlife Sanctuary and learning about their work; relaxing on the beautiful beach.



Playa Balina

This little-known dark sand beach is located in the inner Golfo Dulce, and is best known for its snorkeling.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Costa Rica’s biggest travel trade fair Expotur 2015 opens in May

For tourism companies interested in Latin America’s hottest destination, the Costa Rica travel trade-mart – Expotur 2015 – is an opportunity to build business relationships with Costa Rica’s hotels, tour companies and travel agencies.

Costa Rica’s biggest tourism fair will be held May 7 to 10, 2015 at the Wyndham Herradura Hotel in San José, the capital city of Costa Rica.

“Expotur is the main showcase of the Costa Rica tourist industry to the world,” said Daniel Chavarria, board member of Pro-Imagen and Futuropa that market Costa Rica globally. “Costa Rica is an important travel destination. For instance, more than 45% of international destination weddings coming to Central America come to Costa Rica.”

For 10 years in a row Costa Rica has been the hottest destination in Latin America, according to Travel Weekly, and the Central American country was once again named the Happiest Country in the World this year. More than 2.5 million tourists traveled to Costa Rica in 2014, as reported by the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT).
For Horizontes Nature Tours in Costa Rica, Expotur has been a tradition for more than three decades. The Costa Rica travel agency got its start the same year as Expotur – 31 years ago; and over the years, both have grown with Costa Rica’s tourism demand.

“We consider that Expotur has great potential, and it gives us opportunities to create new business and maintain our presence,” commented Adolfo Vargas, e-commerce manager for Horizontes Nature Tours. “We also take advantage of the fair to find new products in hotels and tours in Costa Rica.
” Representatives of 393 tourism companies, so far, from 29 countries will attend the trade fair portion of the event on May 7 and 8, according to the ICT. On May 9 and 10, the tourism fair will be open to the public. Costa Rican hotels, tour companies and travel agencies will display their products and services hoping to attract local tourists with special prices and packages. ICT officials said this year there will be particular emphasis placed on cultural and rural tourism.

Being Costa Rica travel experts for 31 years, Horizontes is a leading travel agency in Costa Rica. Eco-tourism is at the heart of the company’s foundation, and they are certified in Sustainable Tourism. For travel plans to Costa Rica, contact Horizontes Nature Tours.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Enjoy yoga on vacation in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

“Find moments in your day to be grateful, to hold peace for a moment, appreciate beauty in the world, and remember to smile.”

Even if you don’t come to Costa Rica for a yoga retreat, you can still practice yoga on your vacation. Yoga has become so popular in Costa Rica that you can find a yoga class or instructor in nearly every part of the country. That is especially true on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast.

The areas of Puerto Viejo and Playa Cocles in the Southern Caribbean Costa Rica are excellent for practicing yoga. Easily some of the prettiest beaches of Caribbean Costa Rica, the really special thing about this region is that when you are on the beach, all around you there is only nature … and maybe the occasional person or pretty tropical bird or monkey. Here, there is harmony with the rainforest and ocean, and the widely-varied international population lives a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle. Perfect energy for yogis and yoginis.


Yoga in Puerto Viejo Costa Rica
Here are 3 options for yoga in the Puerto Viejo area:

Hotel Le Caméléon on Playa Cocles, just past Puerto Viejo, offers private yoga classes – whether you are just one person or have more in your group – with the hotel’s yoga instructor. Classes (scheduled upon request) can be held in the private second floor lounge above the Le Numu Restaurant, in a garden setting on the breakfast terrace, or in a shaded area on the beautiful beach of Playa Cocles. Coming in October 2015, Krama Yoga Center of Escazú, Costa Rica, will hold a yoga retreat at Hotel Le Caméléon.

Om Yoga Studio & Academy in Playa Cocles. Classes are offered seven days a week in a range of styles, languages and levels. You are sure to find a class that supports your mind, body and spirit, and may even find a new style to try or one not available at your home.
Cashew Hill Jungle Lodge in Puerto Viejo offers yoga classes and retreats.  



Where to stay in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Hotel Le Caméléon is an upscale Costa Rica boutique hotel featuring ultra-chic rooms, beautiful tropical architecture, a gourmet restaurant, and the fantastic beach club La Sula Sea Lounge right on Playa Cocles.

How to get to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Daily 30-minute flights on Nature Air or Sansa Airlines between San Jose and Limon make it easy to get to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. From Limon, it is a short drive less than an hour to Puerto Viejo and Playa Cocles. The drive from San Jose to Puerto Viejo is approximately 4.5 hours.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Santa Teresa Costa Rica hotel asks guests to pack with a purpose

Many guests at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas in Costa Rica – especially those who come on a Costa Rica yoga retreat – ask if there is anything they can do for our community they will be visiting.

The desire to give back or contribute to the place people visit as tourists is a fast-growing movement around the world. Volunteer vacations, or volunteerism, are a very popular way to take a vacation. Another way is to “pack for a purpose” and bring needed school and community supplies to your vacation destination.

“Every time there is a yoga retreat coming and they ask us if there is a way to help the community, we tell them to make a little space in their luggage and bring colored pencils, scissors, notebooks, coloring books, etc. to donate to the local schools,” commented Tania Bertolo, Concierge at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat.



The beachfront hotel on Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica has been cooperating with the program Pack for a Purpose, which connects travelers wanting to make meaningful contributions to help the places they visit and local community-based projects that receive and use the supplies. In 2014, Pranamar donated supplies to local schools in the nearby communities of Manzanillo and Montezuma that had been brought by hotel guests as donations.

“We would like to offer to our guests that if they would like to do something to help our community, and they can make a little space in their luggage, to bring supplies for the children. We have this great organization to give the donations to that is working with the children in our community,” said Bertolo.

That organization is the non-profit Aprendiendo Unidos (meaning “Learning Together” in Spanish). Since March 2014, Aprendiendo Unidos has been helping the local children of Santa Teresa and neighboring communities who attend schools that don’t have ample educational resources and school supplies.

Gabriela Medina, Director of Aprendiendo Unidos, said the organization currently helps four schools in the Santa Teresa area: Bello Horizonte in Manzanillo, Mal Pais, and two tiny rural schools of San Fernando and Bajos de Ario.
“They are doing great things and we at Pranamar are planning to work with Pack for a Purpose and donate all materials to Aprendiendo Unidos,” said Pranamar Villas’ manager, Mario Matarrita.

“We feel blessed to live in such a special community. Our hotel contributes to the volunteer lifeguards, to the security men at our beaches and to community events,” noted Pranamar Villas’ owner, Susan Money.”

 We have learned that the public schools are really lacking in books, paper, pens … all the things we take for granted as part of a school’s supply to the students. However, that is not the case in the public schools in Costa Rica. We invite our guests to pack a few notebooks, or any school supplies they can fit, into their suitcases for us to distribute to various schools. It sets a tone of appreciation not only from those of us who are residents, but from people all over the world who are able to spend time in this part of the world.”

“Pranamar will make sure your gifts go directly to the schools, and your kindness will make a difference long after you leave!” Money added.
What can you bring or give:
Ongoing needs:

• School supplies like pencils, notebooks, kids’ scissors, backpacks, etc.
• Art supplies for painting and coloring
• Children’s books in English or Spanish
• Ball caps, sun hats and sunscreen for kids
• Water filters and re-usable water bottles
• Games like puzzles, Scrabble, etc.
• Musical instruments
• Funds to help pay for school uniforms, assist with nutritional support at the schools, upgrade school facilities

Requests for 2015:

• 6 First aid kits for the schools
• 50 New or gently-used yoga mats to teach kids yoga
• IPod and speakers to use for dance lessons & yoga
• 50 Mini-computers or tablets for language lessons, etc.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat

On award-winning Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica, on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, Pranamar Oceanfront Villas specializes in Costa Rica yoga retreats and Costa Rica surfing vacations, with daily yoga classes for hotel guests and the public.

Article by Shannon Farley

Bocas del Toro Panama is the perfect Caribbean vacation

As I am flipping through the website for Laguna Azul eco-boutique hotel in Bocas del Toro, Panamá, I am more and more captivated by the images of turquoise Caribbean Sea, water that is impossibly clear, coral reef, dolphins, Caribbean beaches … and the beauty goes on and on. I want to go there. Now. Forget whatever it was that I was supposed to do this weekend, or next week or next month. I want to be at Laguna Azul, jumping off their sun deck into that gorgeous green-blue water. Maybe I’ll stay the rest of my life.

The description I like best is: “The romance and isolation of staying on a completely uninhabited island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Of course, the silence and isolation of Laguna Azul is at the heart of its appeal, so leave time for a swim out to the anchored platform at dusk — it’s a memory that will linger long after you return to the grid.”

The six-suite luxury eco-hotel is located on the blissfully remote Popa Island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago off the Caribbean Coast of northwestern Panama, very close to the border with Costa Rica. It is an area of incredible beauty, blue water, green jungle, and abundant animal and plant life. Thanks to the fact that Bocas del Toro Panama is outside the Caribbean’s “Hurricane Zone”, the coral reefs here have some of the best preserved hard and soft coral in the world – over 95% of the coral species found in the Caribbean Sea.

Most of the population of Bocas del Toro’s nine islands is concentrated on Colon Island, the largest and most developed island and the capital of the province. The town of Bocas del Toro is located here. Popa Island is 35 minutes away by boat.

Laguna Azul eco-boutique hotel is built on the edge of a beautiful, clear blue lagoon. All around are virgin mangroves, coral reefs and an endless stretch of translucent blue water. The nearest beach is an easy 15-minute boat ride. It is ideal for snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, swimming and relaxing, and there are plenty of fun day tours to do in Bocas del Toro.



Visitors from all over the world have discovered this hidden gem, rated with 5-star excellence by TripAdvisor.

“I cannot find the right words to describe this secluded portion of paradise. The place itself, the people just ready to help you always with a smile, the food, everything is just set to relax,” wrote one traveler on TripAdvisor. “If you want to unplug and get away from everything, this is the best place to do it. Amazing location, excellent service. Best place ever! Like heaven on earth! Will go again with my family as soon as possible,” wrote another recent traveler.



With only six rooms, it’s nearly like being at your own private island resort. Service is attentive with a personal concierge. Meals are all-inclusive. There are many open lounge spaces to enjoy the views and sea breezes. There is a really large swimming pool – it’s called the tranquil Caribbean Sea! You can enjoy sunbathing on the floating deck, or stargazing on a clear night. The hotel also has a Spa, TV lounge, pool table, table tennis, a fully-equipped gym and complimentary Wi-Fi in the lobby.

I’m going as soon as I can. How about you?


 

Reservations: Check availability and make reservations online.

How to get there: From Panama City, Air Panama flies to the Isla Colon International Airport on Colon Island. From there it is a 35-minute ride by private boat to Popa Island to Laguna Azul Hotel. From San José, Costa Rica, you can fly Nature Air to Colon Island in Bocas del Toro.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Try your own #AirBrady jump at these Costa Rica waterfalls

You don’t have to be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback like Tom Brady to enjoy Costa Rica’s waterfalls.

Sure, Brady was trying to impress the girl – his wife, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen – when he shocked the world with his #AirBrady leap off Montezuma Falls near his vacation home of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. And while Brady posted: “Never doing that again!” on his Facebook page under the video that went viral with close to 11 million views so far, there are plenty of other Costa Rica waterfalls that are spectacularly beautiful and fun to enjoy … with or without impressing anyone.



There are two fabulous waterfalls on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast at eco-community Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living. The largest is Cazuela Waterfall at Portasol’s Cazuela Park – spilling close to 20 feet (6m) into two pools. It is named after the bowl shape of the top pool; “Cazuela” means “cooking bowl” in Spanish.



Those who are adventurous jump 20 feet (6m) from the top of the falls into the 23-foot (7m) deep bowl-shaped pool. Non-adrenaline junkies walk down a path to get to the lower pool, which is about the size of a large swimming pool, crystal clear, and really refreshing. You can easily climb to swim in the upper pool.



“The place is so beautiful. And it’s an easy way to get down to the pools,” commented Portasol property owner Gary Kritzinger, who has jumped Cazuela Waterfall at least 20 times. “Standing at the top of the waterfall gives me a bird’s-eye view of the pools below ... a deep breath, and then 1, 2, 3, JUMP! A little scary, but really cool!” Kritzinger, who is originally from South Africa, operates snake tours with Bushmaster Adventures in the south central Pacific of Costa Rica.
Portasol’s second waterfall is on the Astua Creek behind the Waterfalls Spa. A trail leads from the massage area to the 6-foot-high (1.8m) waterfall with a small pool to swim.

Other nearby amazing waterfalls in Costa Rica:

• Pozo Azul Waterfall south of the town of Dominical by about 3 miles (5 km)
• Los Campesinos Reserve near Quepos
• Nauyaca Waterfalls by Dominical (200 feet high – 61m)

Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living Visit Portasol eco-community for an unforgettable vacation in one of their luxury Costa Rica vacation home rentals. Portasol is perfectly positioned in the rainforest between the famous Manuel Antonio National Park and the popular surf town of Dominical. The beautiful, uncrowded beaches of Playa Linda and Playa Matapalo are less than 15 minutes away.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

Costa Rica eco-lodge named cleanest beach in the country

The trash problem of the world’s oceans has reached epic proportions. However, in the small Central American nation of Costa Rica, 108 beach communities have taken a stand against litter and pollution and are working to make a difference in the world predicament.

The record number of Costa Rica beaches received Ecological Blue Flag Awards for 2014 for having good ecological practices, clean beaches, community cooperation and coastal protection. The annual awards were given out in a ceremony held in March 2015.

One of these Costa Rica beaches that are tackling the world problem of ocean pollution is Playa Nicuesa. The small beach on the Golfo Dulce in southern Costa Rica is home to Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, a sustainable Costa Rica eco-lodge known for its pristine tropical beach, beautiful rainforest, and jade green Pacific Ocean so clear you can see to the bottom. The region is a giant conservation area that includes the world-famous Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, the Piedras Blancas National Park and three other private reserves. The unique Golfo Dulce – “Sweet Gulf” – is a critical habitat for migrating Pacific Humpback Whales, and dolphins and sea turtles.



Keeping these beaches unspoiled is important, and is a full-time job that Nicuesa Lodge staff undertakes with conviction. This is the fifth time Nicuesa Lodge has been honored with receiving the Blue Flag Award for being one of Costa Rica’s cleanest beaches.

“We are proud to say that Playa Nicuesa is a very clean beach, where our guests can enjoy it without any danger. We constantly hold beach cleanups to keep our beach clean,” said Natalia Solis, Sustainability Coordinator at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. “These efforts to help nature are of the utmost importance to Playa Nicuesa since it is part of the philosophy and principles that we have as a sustainable hotel.”



Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is one of only three dozen hotels in Costa Rica that have received the highest rating in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program (CST) by the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT).
In addition to its participation in the 19-year-old Costa Rica Blue Flag Ecological Program (Bandera Azul Ecológica), Nicuesa Lodge is involved in many sustainable environmental projects:

• Beach cleanups every four to six weeks by staff and guests.
• Maintain five trash receptacles near the beach at Playa Nicuesa.
• Work with the Costa Rica Health Ministry campaign against dengue fever in the region.
• Hold workshops on environmental issues.
• Test the hotel’s potable water at least every three months to ensure its safe drinkability.
• Test the ocean water at Playa Nicuesa twice a year.
• Reforestation with native Costa Rican tree species to create a biological corridor.

“We know that we only have one planet and it is our home; this is why we try to improve our sustainable practices,” said Solis. “We hope that many more people join this program and that there are more beaches like Playa Nicuesa to set an example and motivate others to work together to protect our country’s precious natural resources.”



Playa Nicuesa Rainforest LodgeA true Costa Rica rainforest lodge, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge is located on a 165-acre private rainforest preserve. Being a unique adventure travel destination, the only way to get there is by boat across the pristine waters of the Golfo Dulce from either Golfito or Puerto Jimenez. Contact Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge to book your Costa Rica family vacation, honeymoon, nature and adventure vacation, or yoga retreat.

Article by Shannon Farley

New Costa Rica beach hotel opens in Playa Hermosa Costa Rica

It’s no wonder that Jacó Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica. There is so much to do on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica – beaches, surfing, outdoor adventure sports, the Carara National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, and the Tarcoles River with its famous huge crocodiles.

The thing about Jacó, though, is that it is one of the closest beaches to the capital city of San Jose, and is always really busy. If you’re like me, and you want to experience this spectacular region of Costa Rica without the tumult and chaos, all you have to do is travel a few miles past Jacó to the quiet surfing beach of Playa Hermosa. You are still close enough to enjoy Jacó’s shops, restaurants and nightlife, and yet have relaxing peace and quiet, and the beauty of an uncrowded beach.

Playa Hermosa is famous for its surf. The Costa Rica National Surfing Tournament Finals are held annually at Playa Hermosa in June. The 8 km long, dark sand beach also is great for long walks, relaxing, sunbathing and sunsets.

Up until now, there weren’t any upscale places to stay in Playa Hermosa Costa Rica . That changed last December when Hotel Tramonto opened. The stylish and modern hotel is located less than a mile (1 km) down a quiet dirt road fronting the beach from the little community of Playa Hermosa. Tramonto means sunset in Italian, and indeed the sunsets here are breathtaking.

“This is a nice change of pace from Jacó, which is more of a party/tourist city,” wrote one traveler on TripAdvisor. “If you took a big city hotel and put in on a small beach, it would be this place,” wrote another guest.

Perfect for families and couples, Hotel Tramonto offers 76 stylish and modern comfortable rooms in two three-story buildings surrounding an inner courtyard with a large swimming pool. There are rooms for disabled guests.



The ocean-view restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine, and there is a beautiful second-story sun deck and terrace lounge area. Free Wi-Fi access in public areas and free private parking are offered.

To get to Hotel Tramonto from San Jose (approximately 90 minutes), take Highway 27 toward Puntarenas. After the toll booth past Orotina, take the turn-off for Jacó Beach on the Southern Coastal Highway. Playa Hermosa Costa Rica is the town just past Jacó Beach. At the far edge of town by the Backyard Café, turn right and follow the access road along the beach to Hotel Tramonto.

Check Hotel Tramonto’s Facebook page for frequent special offers and promotions.

Article by Shannon Farley  

In honor of Earth Day, 4 Costa Rica National Parks you should visit

In celebration of Earth Day 2015 – celebrating its 45^th anniversary on April 22, 2015 – Horizontes Nature Tours in Costa Rica asked one of their long-time naturalist guides what was his favorite element of Costa Rica nature. Costa Rica’s national parks were his answer.

From a country that was nearly devastated by deforestation by the early 1980s, today over 52 percent of Costa Rica’s territory is protected between national parks, private reserves and wildlife refuges. Costa Rica’s progressive reforestation and environmental protection have earned not only world respect for the nation’s green policies, but also attracted more than 2 million visitors last year to experience Costa Rica’s nature.

“We created our national parks from our past leaders’ convictions to protect the richness of our amazing ecosystems,” noted Gustavo Abarca, who has been a naturalist guide for 22 years – 20 with Horizontes Nature Tours.



Gustavo says he has visited nearly all 25 Costa Rica national parks. He enjoys them all; and he has his favorites. Here are Gustavo’s top picks for Costa Rica national parks you should visit:
Tortuguero National Park

“I have had people who have traveled to the Amazon and they are amazed with the amount of wildlife that can be seen in a couple of hour’s boat trip in Tortuguero,” said Gustavo. “You can see three species of monkeys in less than two hours on a tour.”



Corcovado National Park

“Corcovado is such a sensation. In Manuel Antonio you can see all of the cute animals – the sloths, the monkeys – but in Corcovado you see pristine nature. You can get lucky and see a tapir, an ocelot, or a puma. You can be walking along and run into a big troop of spider monkeys,” Gustavo explained. “Corcovado is for people with a passion for nature, interested in seeing the best well-kept rainforests on the Pacific Coast of Central America. It is for people who want to be the most off the beaten path, isolated and in contact with nature.”



Piedras Blancas National Park “The Piedras Blancas National Park and the buffer zones of the Golfito Reserve and the other private reserves are very unique and are always a favorite with my clients,” Gustavo commented.



Rincon de la Vieja National Park

“I really enjoy Rincon de la Vieja. The contrasts between the fumaroles, boiling mud pits and waterfalls on one side, and then the light blue rivers and forest on the other side of the Continental Divide are completely different. This is one of the parks that are visually really unique,” Gustavo noted.


Isn’t it time you visited Costa Rica? Design your Costa Rica vacation with Horizontes Nature Tours. The Costa Rica travel experts offer four fantastic Costa Rica national park vacations, Costa Rica nature holidays, Costa Rica family trips and Costa Rica beach vacations. Let’s take care of our planet on Earth Day and every day.

Article by Shannon Farley

Costa Rica National Surfing Cup in Santa Teresa, April 18-19

Surfing hotspot of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica will be in the spotlight again next weekend, April 18 and 19, for the season’s fourth 2015 Costa Rica National Surfing Cup competition. Sponsored by ISAW Action Cameras of Australia, the ISAW Cup will be held on the spectacular beach of Santa Teresa in front of the Banana Beach restaurant.

Competitive surfers from all over Costa Rica will be in town to vie for the trophy and improve their rankings toward the Grand Finale in July. The favorite in the men’s competition with hometown advantage is Anthony Fillingim of Santa Teresa, who is currently leading in the No. 1 spot for the season. Four-time Costa Rica Men’s Surfing Champion, Gilberth Brown of Limon, is in 7^th place.

Current top rankings in the Costa Rica National Surfing Circuit are: Men’s Open competition

1. Anthony Fillingim of Santa Teresa, 1^st place
2. Carlos Munoz of Esterillos Oeste, 2nd place
3. David Herrera of Quepos, 3^rd place.

Women’s Open competition

1. Leilani McGonagle of Pavones, 1^st place in Women’s Open and Juniors Women (Leilani is defending the national women’s junior title.)
2. Emily Gussoni of Jacó, 2^nd place in Women’s Open and Juniors Women
3. Lisbeth Vindas of Jacó, 11-time Costa Rica Women’s Surfing Champion, 3^rd place

   


Surfing in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

On Costa Rica’s southern Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa and neighboring Mal Pais draw visitors from all over the world who come to surf, relax, do yoga, and enjoy one of Central America’s top tropical beaches.

The white sand beach of Santa Teresa and neighboring Playa Carmen, Playa Hermosa and Mal Pais offer consistent beach breaks and point breaks for experienced and beginner surfers. Water temperatures are usually 83-85°F; no wetsuit needed! Up-to-date surf conditions for Santa Teresa are reported daily by Magic Seaweed.


Where to stay in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Whether you are coming for the Costa Rica National Surfing Circuit competition, or to Santa Teresa Costa Rica Surf , your place to stay is Hotel Tropico Latino. The Santa Teresa beachfront hotel at beautiful Playa Carmen caters to surfers and yoga enthusiasts with Costa Rica surf vacations and Costa Rica yoga retreats. Playa Carmen was recently awarded the Ecological Blue Flag by the Costa Rican Tourism Board for being one of the cleanest beaches in the country.

Read our blog article on how to get to Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica from San Jose.

Article by Shannon Farley