Caribbean Coast Costa Rica big in the news in 2015

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica has been in the news a lot in 2015. The beautiful southern Caribbean Costa Rica region has received its share of media love this year as Costa Rica surges in the international news with new flights to the country, better travel opportunities, and newsworthy events happening.

IKEA films Caribbean Coast Costa Rica jungle wildlife

 

Costa Rican howler, white-faced capuchin and spider monkeys became famous starring in a new IKEA commercial filmed at the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo. The ad campaign launched on July 11, 2015, and promptly caused an international media furor. In the video, the tranquil Costa Rica jungle turns to mayhem when the monkeys (and other animals) come across a fully stocked IKEA kitchen in the middle of the forest. An upbeat song plays as the monkeys pull open drawers, test the sink and the coffee machine, throw cups and utensils, and discover the refrigerator full of bananas. The only strange anomaly was the out-of-place appearance of an elephant, which you cannot find in the Americas.

The Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo is a non-profit organization that works to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals with the aim of releasing them back into protected areas. Guided tours, where you can meet wild animals from Costa Rica while supporting a good cause, are offered Monday to Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Real-life Kermit the Frog discovered in Costa Rica

Another major uproar in social media networks and international news media happened with the news in April 2015 that a real-life Kermit the Frog had been discovered in Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean Talamanca mountains. The new species of glass frog, Hyalinobatrachium dianaeI, was found by Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center founder Brian Kubicki. People everywhere were quick to notice the unerring likeness of the new frog to the Muppet Kermit the Frog, and the news went viral.

Cahuita National Park honored in Costa Rica stamp

 

The Costa Rica Post Office focused on the protection of the coral reefs at Cahuita National Park by featuring a photo of the reefs in new stamps issued in early 2015. The coral reefs at Cahuita National Park are the largest in Costa Rica, and can be seen on snorkelingand scuba diving tours.

Visit the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast

Costa Rica Caribbean Summer, now in September and October, is a perfect time to visit the beautiful Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. This time of year when seas are calm it is ideal to go snorkeling or scuba diving in the clear waters of the Cahuita National Park, or sea kayaking in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Reserve.

The southern Caribbean Coast has everything you're looking for in a Costa Rica beach vacation – and at Hotel Le Caméléon by Puerto Viejo, you can enjoy the utmost in luxury.  Now is the time to visit the Costa Rica boutique hotel for special vacation offers in Caribbean summer.

During October, Hotel Le Caméléon is offering Caribbean vacation packages, with 20% discounts off rates for Superior and Deluxe rooms. A Romance Package includes one night in a Superior Room for two persons, breakfast, and one Caribbean lunch or dinner per person. And the Family Package includes one night in a Deluxe Room, breakfast, and one Caribbean lunch or dinner per person.

Hotel Le Caméléon is located on Playa Cocles just past Puerto Viejo on one of the prettiest Costa Rica Caribbean beaches. The upscale Puerto Viejo hotel features the Caribbean beach club La Sula Sea Lounge. An Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica, Le Caméléon received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2015.

Article by Shannon Farley

Costa Rica Caribbean vacation packages for Caribbean summer

The start of Caribbean Summer in Costa Rica is the time for Costa Rica Vacation Packages .

The climate on the Caribbean Coast varies from the rest of Costa Rica. Most of the year, the Caribbean Coast maintains its forever green landscape from regular tropical rain showers. Then, when the rest of Costa Rica enters peak rainy season in September and October, the sun comes out over the Caribbean.

Costa Rica's southern Caribbean Coast has everything you're looking for in a beach vacation – adventure, romance, decadent beaches, wildlife, new flavors and music, cultural exchange … and at Hotel Le Caméléon by Puerto Viejo, you have the utmost in luxury.



Now through the end of October is the time to visit Hotel Le Caméléon for special vacation offers in Caribbean summer. Through Aug. 31, 2015, Hotel Le Caméléon is offering a 30% discount off rates for Superior and Deluxe rooms (for rates over $168.00).

In September, in honor of Costa Rica’s Independence Day on Sept. 15, Hotel Le Caméléon is celebrating “Our Homeland Month”. In October, Costa Rica celebrates the month of cultures, and Limon, the “capital city” of Costa Rica’s Caribbean region, holds its annual carnival celebration. During both September and October 2015, at Hotel Le Caméléon you can receive a 20% discount off rates for Superior and Deluxe rooms.

There is a Romance Package that includes one night in a Superior Room for two persons, breakfast, and one Caribbean lunch or dinner per person, for $198.00 plus tax. There also is a Family Package that includes one night in a Deluxe Room, breakfast, and one Caribbean lunch or dinner per person. For two adults, the price is $218.00 plus tax. For families with two adults and up to two children (under age 12), the price is $253.00 plus tax. Children receive a surprise gift.

Costa Rica Caribbean Summer is a perfect time to visit the beautiful beaches of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo. The Southern Caribbean Coast offers some of the best surfing in Costa Rica, but this time of year when seas are calm, it is ideal for snorkeling or scuba diving in the crystalline waters of the Cahuita National Park, home of the largest coral reef on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. Now also is a good time for a boat tour to see wild dolphins or to go sea kayaking.

Hotel Le Caméléon is located on Playa Cocles just past Puerto Viejo on one of the prettiest Costa Rica Caribbean beaches. The upscale Costa Rica boutique hotel features modern rooms, beautiful tropical architecture, a gourmet restaurant, spa services, and the fantastic Costa Rica Caribbean beach club La Sula Sea Lounge. An Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica, Le Caméléon has been awarded the prestigious TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2015.

How to get to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica Daily 30-minute flights to Limon from San Jose on Nature Air or Sansa Airlines 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

Plan your dream Costa Rica destination wedding in the Caribbean

Costa Rica's Southern Caribbean Coast has everything could want for a destination wedding and honeymoon.

Imagine your dream wedding exchanging vows with your beloved in a stunning beachside ceremony overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, or under the canopy of a tropical garden with the ocean close by. Picture a romantic honeymoon walking on pristine beaches at sunset, torch-lit tropical gardens and balmy evenings, days full of adventure, personalized service, and Caribbean culture and warmth.


Costa Rica continues to be one of the most popular locations for destination weddings and honeymoons for couples from North America, due to its affordability, warm tropical weather, natural scenic beauty, excellent services, and ease of travel. According to wedding industry statistics, out of the 2 million people in the United States who get married each year,about 25% of those opt for a destination wedding in another country.
“And it is continuing to grow, especially with the current Millennial Generation that has traveled extensively,” commented Larissa Banting of Weddings Costa Rica . “This is a generation looking for unique, authentic experiences. The Costa Rica Caribbean Coast is a perfect location because it is a place where people can go and ‘wow’ their friends and family since it is so unique.”

The southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica features vibrant seaside towns, some of the prettiest beaches in the country, lush jungle, crystal-clear Caribbean Sea and amazing surfing waves. The relaxed lifestyle of beach towns like Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica have a unique blend of native Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures mixed with a widely-varied international population. Puerto Viejo has a great selection of international restaurants and delicious traditional Caribbean cuisine. The area also is known for excellent yoga studios.

“For me, the Caribbean is my favorite location,” noted Banting. “It’s still off the beaten path. The area is teeming with life with the ocean right there, and the backdrop is the mountains always green with jungle. It offers really authentic experiences and is a very magical spot.”

Banting founded her wedding planning company Weddings Costa Rica in 2003 from her personal experience planning her own wedding in Costa Rica. Weddings Costa Rica has helped more than 600 couples enjoy destination weddings in Costa Rica.

Banting said the best time for weddings and honeymoons in the Caribbean Costa Rica is from September to November during the Caribbean summer season. One of her favorite places to hold destination weddings is at the upscale Hotel Le Caméléon on Playa Cocles, a little south of Puerto Viejo.

“You have this very excellent boutique hotel with all of these unique features in a really unique setting. The lovely thing about Le Caméléon is that it offers all the comforts,” said Banting.


Hotel Le Caméléon is an Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica presenting luxury beach accommodations in the tropical forest of Puerto Viejo. The hotel’s 23 rooms border the pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens, across the street from Le Caméléon’s beach club, La Sula Sea Lounge. Le Numu Restaurant & Bar serves creative international dishes in a contemporary, chic ambience.


For honeymoons, there is a lot to do and see in the Caribbean, including the Cahuita National Park with its amazing coral reef snorkeling, the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, Sloth Sanctuary, chocolate tours, zip-lines, whitewater rafting,and great beaches for surfing and swimming. Whether you want a honeymoon of lying in the sun watching parrots and toucans fly overhead and soaking your feet in the warm Caribbean Sea; or hope to try new adventures, Hotel Le Caméléon can arrange the honeymoon of your dreams.

How to get to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Daily 30-minute flights on Nature Air or Sansa Airlines between San Jose and Limon; then drive less than an hour to Puerto Viejo and Playa Cocles. Driving from San Jose to Puerto Viejo takes approximately 4.5 hours.

Article by Shannon Farley

 

The flavors of Costa Rica Caribbean cuisine

The southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is a big melting pot of traditions and cultures. It is the heart and soul of the country’s Afro-Caribbean community, as well as home to indigenous populations of Bribrí, Carib, Miskito and Cabécar. There are descendants of Spanish conquistadors, North Americans who worked for United Fruit Company during the banana boom, and Chinese laborers who were brought to Costa Rica in the 1870s to work on the railroad along with the Jamaicans.

They mixed languages, customs and cuisine. In addition to Spanish, the main language spoken in Caribbean Costa Rica is Patois, a Creole blend of Jamaican English, West African dialects, French, Spanish and lots of local slang. Musical preferences are reggae and calypso. And the cuisine is very uniquely Costa Rican Caribbean. Coconut milk features in many dishes, along with ginger, curry, allspice, cinnamon, chili pepper and other strong spices brought to the Caribbean by spice traders.

When you visit Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean Coast, be sure to try these Caribbean cuisine favorites:

Rice and Beans: Not to be confused with gallo pinto, or the traditional white rice and black beans that are served everywhere else in Costa Rica; Caribbean Rice and Beans is a mixture of white rice, red beans and coconut. It is usually served with fresh fish, chicken, pork or beef.

Rondón: This seafood stew is named from the English word “run-down” – as in whatever the cook could “run down” or find that day to mix into the soup. Rondón is made with whatever seafood is available, tubers like sweet potato, cassava, taro and potatoes, plantains and coconut milk with spices

.Patí: A spicy meat pie in the shape of a turnover; usually made with ground beef, onion and chili pepper.

Agua de sapo: Literally meaning “toad water” (however, no toads are involved), it is a refreshing lemonade made with brown sugar, lime and ginger.

Pan Bon: Dark bread made with flour, dried fruit, walnuts, butter, egg whites, vanilla, hibiscus seeds, honey and sugar.

Johnnycake: Coconut bread

Plantintah: A pastry made with ripe plantains

Coconut-encrusted shrimp: Covered in crunchy coconut and fried, this is the best way to eat big, fresh Jumbo shrimp or fresh lobster.

You can enjoy Costa Rica Caribbean cuisine and creative international dishes at the elegant Le Numu Restaurant & Bar at Hotel Le Caméléon in Playa Cocles.
Just past Puerto Viejo, Playa Cocles is one of the prettiest beaches on the southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. The upscale Costa Rica boutique hotel features ultra-chic rooms, beautiful tropical architecture, lush jungle gardens and the fantastic beach club, La Sula Sea Lounge.
The Costa Rican airline Nature Air now operates daily flights to Limon from San Jose. From Limon, it is an easy drive under an hour to Puerto Viejo and Playa Cocles.

Article by Shannon Farley

Three beaches in the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean you have to visit

Three of the prettiest beaches on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica are Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. That is if you like long stretches of gorgeous picture postcard Caribbean coastline with warm turquoise ocean and graceful tall palm trees. When you are on the beach on the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean Coast, all you see are sea, sand, sky, trees … and maybe the occasional other person or pretty tropical bird or monkey.

There are no high-rise mega-resorts or unending rows of condos like on many of Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches. Here, everything blends in harmony with the rainforest.

Playa Cocles begins 1.5 kilometers (just under a mile) south of Puerto Viejo Costa Rica , a funky beach town and “capital” of the Southern Caribbean region of Costa Rica. Its soft golden beach stretches 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) to Playa Chiquita. There are trails that hug the beach passing under giant trees, past bright tropical flowers, sea grapes and lots of greenery. Watch for monkeys, colorful tropical birds, sloths, green iguanas and crabs.

Playa Cocles is a top Caribbean Costa Rica beach for surfing and boogie boarding. For lovers of the underwater world, the Southern Caribbean has some of the best coral reefs and marine life in Costa Rica. Coral reef extends along the coast from the Cahuita National Park to the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. 

The picturesque beaches of Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva, just past Playa Cocles to the south, are also excellent for snorkeling.

La Sula Sea Lounge of Hotel Le Caméléon is one of the best places to relax on Playa Cocles. Lounge on a day-bed by the sea. Sip a refreshing tropical drink from the bar and have a light snack, before grabbing a siesta in one of the hammocks under a palm tree.

The upscale Costa Rica boutique hotel at Playa Cocles features ultra-chic rooms and beautiful tropical architecture in lush jungle gardens; the elegant Le Numu Restaurant & Bar is one of the area’s top restaurants.

Getting to the Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica and Playa Cocles is now easier than ever with a new 30-minute flight by Nature Air between San Jose and Limon. Hotel Le Caméléon is offering a three-night vacation package until Mar. 27, 2015 that includes round-trip flights on Nature Air, accommodation, some meals, VIP access to the La Sula Sea Lounge, and a tour to the Jaguar Rescue Center.
 Article by Shannon Farley

Celebrate Costa Rica Cultures Day & Carnival on Caribbean Coast

While Christopher Columbus is remembered in the USA in the upcoming October holiday, many other countries take a much broader perspective for their celebrations.

The USA observes Oct. 12 (or the Monday closest to it) as Columbus Day for the date that explorer Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492. Spain commemorates Oct. 12 is Hispanic Day. But the holiday in the Bahamas is known as Discovery Day, in Belize as the Day of the Americas, and the Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity in Argentina. Chile and Mexico celebrate it as Day of the Races, and Venezuela lauds the Day of Indigenous Resistance. In Costa Rica, Oct. 12 honors the Day of Cultures (Día de las Culturas), in recognition of all of the cultures that have formed the Central American country.

Christopher Columbus did land in Costa Rica, in what is now the Caribbean port city of Limón on Sept. 18, 1502 – his fourth voyage to the New World. However, his “discovery” was purely from the European side, since indigenous peoples had already been living in the area for at least 10,000 years.

The Spanish had the greatest cultural influence over the majority of Costa Rica, but on the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast it was former African slaves from Jamaica who developed that region’s rich cultural style. They along with workers from China and other Caribbean islands were brought to Costa Rica in the late 19th century to build the railroad connecting the Port of Limón with San José.

Limón and the southern Caribbean Costa Rica towns of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo have a thriving Afro-Caribbean community. Costa Rica’s Caribbean culture is so unique that it’s almost like going to another country to visit the area.

October holidays in Costa Rica include Carnival on the southern Costa Rica Caribbean Coast. The Limon Carnival will be held Oct. 19 to 21. People everywhere come to enjoy Caribbean culture with parades, concerts, lots of drums and even more dancers in a huge street party.

While the rest of Costa Rica is rainy this time of year, October is Costa Rica Caribbean Summer. Get great Caribbean Summer special deals at Le Caméléon Hotel on the gorgeous beach of Playa Cocles by Puerto Viejo Costa Rica. Through Oct. 31, you can receive 30% discounts on direct bookings from Sunday to Thursday; and 20% off on Fridays and Saturdays. If you stay 3 or more nights, Le Caméléon will give you a $50 credit to use in the restaurant or the Spa. Make last-minute reservations on their website and you can possibly find discounts of up to 50% off.

Article by Shannon Farley

Sunshine and summer warm Costa Rica Caribbean Coast in October

It may surprise you, given that the Central Valley, Central Mountain Range and Pacific Coast of Costa Rica are swimming under a rain cloud, that today on the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean Coast it was hot and sunny, with blue skies and calm seas.

Costa Rica Caribbean Summer is in full radiant glory. While most parts of Costa Rica are in peak rainy season in September and October, the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica has a unique microclimate giving the region from Tortuguero to Manzanillo the best weather during these months.

“The weather is so sunny, so hot now. The ocean is flat and there are no waves. It is perfect for kayaking and snorkeling right now in Puerto Viejo and the Cahuita National Park,” commented Sylvia Mendes de Silva, operations manager for Hotel Le Caméléon by Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

The Costa Rica Caribbean Coast offers some of the best surfing in Costa Rica, but this time of year, when seas are calm, it is the time to go snorkeling. The crystal-clear waters of the Cahuita National Park are the site of the largest and only mature coral reef on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast.

Scuba diving also is excellent this time of year, with good visibility (20-30 meters or 60-90 feet) and no currents. There are more than 25 fixed dive locations in the Southern Caribbean, ranging from shallow coral gardens to deep, fringing reefs and vertical walls over 140 feet.

Now is the season for dolphin tours and great sea kayaking along the coast. October brings the famous annual carnival celebration in Limon, happening this year from Oct. 19-21.

Costa Rica Caribbean Summer is the time for special deals at Costa Rica boutique hotel Le Caméléon, the only upscale hotel on the southern Caribbean Coast. Available from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, take advantage of 30% discounts on direct bookings at Le Caméléon from Sunday to Thursday, and 20% off on Fridays and Saturdays. If you stay three or more nights, you can receive a $50 credit to use in the restaurant or the Spa. Make last-minute reservations on their website and you can possibly find discounts up to 50% off; restrictions apply.

Le Caméléon Hotel, on the gorgeous beach of Playa Cocles by Puerto Viejo Costa Rica, is an Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica. Le Caméléon offers chic, modern rooms and suites, and the La Sula Sea Lounge fronting Cocles Beach.

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

Puerto Viejo Costa Rica special vacation offers 2014

The Costa Rica Caribbean Coast has everything you're looking for on your holiday, whether rest and relaxation, romance, adventure, family time, fun with friends, or new beginnings like your wedding or honeymoon.

The southern Caribbean of Costa Rica has a decidedly relaxed vibe. Afro-Caribbean, Latino and Bribri indigenous cultures uniquely blend with customs of newer residents who have come to this paradise from all over the world. South of Limon, Costa Rica, the eclectic beach town of Puerto Viejo charmingly reflects this “melting pot” of lifestyles.

Warm sand in a rainbow of colors from gold to black, gray and white welcomes you to stretch out in the sun and soak in life’s radiance. Raucous parrots and vibrant toucans fly overhead and call out from the deep green forest. The Caribbean Sea is spellbinding with its spectrum of blue and turquoise; the rhythm of waves lulling you into a satisfying relaxation. Best yet, the sea is wonderfully warm, perfect for splashing, playing, surfing, snorkeling and a dozen other adventures.

You can go for long beach walks along the shore and coastal trails, or rent a bike and explore the little villages and neighborhoods. Perhaps, try out a new adventure – surfing, zip-lining, whitewater rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, or horseback riding. Or broaden your horizons by visiting a sloth sanctuary, jaguar rescue center, or indigenous reserve for a chocolate tour. This time of year, rain showers are a nice excuse for an afternoon nap or to indulge in a captivating novel from the comfort of a hammock.

The fabulous Le Caméléon Hotel on the gorgeous beach of Playa Cocles provides you with exclusive upscale lodging in Puerto Viejo Costa Rica. The Costa Rica boutique hotel sits in front of the sea surrounded by wild jungle, just 3 km from Puerto Viejo town center. 

Twenty-three ultra-chic rooms border the pool and lush tropical gardens. Decked out in impeccable white with striking touches of brightly colored accessories that change hue daily like a chameleon, rooms have all the comforts expected, such as A/C, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, rain shower, mini-bar, phone, iPod / iPhone docking station, and Yves Rocher amenities.

The Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica offers private yoga classes, spa services, reading/lounging areas, the elegant Le Numu Restaurant & Bar, and La Sula Sea Lounge beach club with its day-beds, hammocks, lounge chairs, bar and restaurant service right on Cocles Beach.

Le Caméléon Hotel is currently offering four steal-of-a-deal special offers:

Family Vacation Package

Web Last Minute Offers with up to 50% discounts

Three night stay for the price of two

Caribbean Summer special deal

Article by Shannon Farley

Surfing the southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Playa Grande, between Punta Uva and Manzanillo, is frequented by local surfers, as is Manzanillo Beach.

When visiting, be sure not to go surfing alone, and always check with local surfers about riptides, strong currents and reefs.

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

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

Article by Shannon Farley

Fascinating Puerto Viejo Chocolate Tour reveals ancient secrets

If you have not seen the film Chocolat, stop now and go rent / buy / download it so you know what I am talking about. If you have seen it, you know the expressions of ecstasy on the faces of the townspeople as they are transformed by Vianne’s exotic chocolate creations.

In the film – which is perfect for Easter Week – Vianne livens up the inhibited French town with ancient Maya secrets of chocolate preparation from Central America.

Prized by the Mayas, Aztecs and Inkas, and formerly reserved only for royalty in Europe, chocolate was once considered so valuable that cacao beans were used for currency.

In Costa Rica, cacao beans were used as currency by the indigenous tribes for thousands of years up until near modern times of the 1930s. You can learn about cacao’s long history in Costa Rica and its importance in the Bribri indigenous culture on the Bribri Chocolate Tour near Puerto Viejo, on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean Coast. The tour, easily booked through Le Caméléon Hotel, takes you to the fascinating Bribri Indigenous Reserve in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains.

The Bribri are one of Costa Rica’s few remaining indigenous tribes that are alive and thriving. For generations, the Bribri have cultivated cacao trees and their precious fruit, using cacao seeds and chocolate for rituals, food and also medicinal remedies. The Bribri consider the cacao bean sacred, and on the tour you will hear many stories about the tribe’s relationship with cacao.

Cacao originated in the Americas; growing and harvesting cacao was a major industry in Costa Rica before the introduction of coffee in the late 1700s. Unfortunately, fungus blight swept through Costa Rica’s cacao plantations in 1979, killing production by 95%. Cacao and organic chocolate production are now making a big comeback in the country.

On the Puerto Viejo Chocolate Tour, you will visit “the Chocolate House”, where the Bribri women will teach you about how they produce their organic chocolate using the tribe’s ancient methods. You'll get to try things like fresh dried cacao beans and homemade chocolate. Then, browse their selection of chocolate for sale – infused with nutmeg, cinnamon, spicy chili pepper, black pepper, mint, coffee, vanilla and more – to savor and remember your visit.

Puerto Viejo hotels

The place to stay when visiting Puerto Viejo, on the southern Caribbean Coast, is Hotel Le Caméléon. The vibrant Costa Rica boutique hotel fronts the dazzling, turquoise Caribbean Sea and golden sand of Playa Cocles – one of the area’s most beautiful beaches. Hip, modern and upscale, Le Caméléon features ultra-chic rooms, beautiful tropical architecture, and lush jungle gardens that create an ambience of intimate privacy. The elegant Le Numu Restaurant & Bar is one of the area’s top restaurants, and the newly remodeled La Sula Sea Lounge beach club is the place to hang out by the shore, meet friends for a cool drink or a light meal.

Article by Shannon Farley